Recommended by Elizabeth A. M. Keel

Borderline is potent stuff. The blending of monsters and myths with the very real and traumatic mess at the border is an incredible way of dealing with such a complex issue. I love that the heroes are children, standing up to dragons even when the desert feels so endless all around them. Please stage this play. You will feel its beating heart, even just by reading.

What a story. I fell in love with J.J. and Bithiah's marriage. They were so realistic: a true blend of passion, humor, and pride that surpasses a lot of spouse-dialogue I've read! Also, Delia is destined to steal the show with her humor and soulful songs. The adults' universal exhaustion, their dedication to their child, and Bithiah's steady love and forgiveness are a welcome tonic. This is a well-written play.

This play speaks to the heart of the woman who wants to have it all. It exquisitely portrays the tides in relationships, and the fact that people won't stay the same as when you first meet them. I congratulate the playwright on exploring not only poignant humans, but also our relationships with deities, knowledge, and raw purpose. I would be excited to direct The Buddha's Wife, to act in it, or to watch it, and that's quite the hat trick!

What an enchanting play this is. The ensemble is incredibly well balanced, and each of the characters has a journey of growth despite their individual reluctance for change. The shifting family dynamics are intelligently tempered with inspiration found in botany, exposure to nature, gardening, and Jewish ritual. I felt full when the play ended, like I had spent time beneath the trees.

I love the tidiness of this script and its night-time structure. It serves to underscore the enormity and complexity of the issues which it addresses, including the animal overpopulation. Each of the characters are unique, quirky stand-outs, driven by their love of animals (and each other) to be better people. A compelling read!

There's a volatility to this play that is remarkable. Ms. Dawes will inspire a lot of heartfelt conversations within the communities that stage this piece! Hairy & Sherri is an unflinching examination of race, privilege, and the pressures of parenthood. The theatrical halves of Ryshi will stay in my mind for a long time.

I flew through this play. It captures the real essence of the bizarre culture/religion of hunting, and its intertwined state with masculinity and the desire to feed the family. The language is realistic but sneakily beautiful: it’s spoken by real people, who have no idea they're letting such elegance burst out of them. Thank you for sharing it!

This play is poetry in motion. It showcases Ms. Kenah's nimble intelligence and daring use of premise. Throughout my time reading it, I was aware of smiling, tearing up, wrestling with wonder, dismay, fury, and loneliness. I ran the sympathy gamut, and you will too. (Especially for MIchael Collins.) This one is ready for take off.

As someone who also deals with auto-immune disease, I was impressed by many of the vast, sprawling emotions that Ms. Freni found words for. The five women are each distinct without being cookie cutter archetypes. I also appreciated how their relationships ebbed and flowed, finding space for forgiving each other’s weaknesses where connections were forged. The exposition and world-building is interesting and well-woven!

I've loved Cyrano since I saw the Wishbone adaptation as a child. What a treat to read this imaginative next chapter in Cyrano's story. Ms. Cross makes the most of her flexibility of storytelling on stage. I also applaud her for allowing Roxanne a chance to speak and write for herself! Three cheers for mi panache.