Recommended by Dianne Nora

I’m dying to see this beautiful play staged! Tjioe has constructed these characters with such nuance and grace, and the friendship holding them together is beautiful and compelling. The script addresses issues of race and sexuality and identity with humor and a great depth of humanity and a wealth of imagination and tenderness.

This clever, touching play tackles serious issues with warmth and gentle humor. Norkin’s quick dialogue and cut-to-the-chase pacing will surely thrill audiences, and give his collaborators a great deal of material to mine despite the play’s brief length. I hope this reaches the audiences that so need to hear it!

With After Another, Donnelly has given audiences many tantalizing glimpses into contemporary romance, with humor, tenderness, and a deep empathy for these many characters. By casting a wide net, exploring many types of relationships across a large range of ages, the play invites audiences to think deeply about the nature of love, sex, and romantic relationships. It would be wonderful to see an ensemble of actors perform these deftly written scenes.

This is a fun, fast-paced read, propelled by quick dialogue and an intriguing, ever elusive plot that zigs each time you expect it to zag. I’d love to see it staged, and I’m confident collaborators will be drawn to its complex characterizations and inviting thematic provocations.

This delightful, heartwarming story will give audiences the feeling of Christmas magic any time of the year. It moves quickly, with great jokes peppered among tender moments of nostalgia and warmth.

This play is hilarious, touching, and cutting in its wit. The characters surprise you with their depth and tenderness, despite a sheen of sarcasm and cool detachment. Its poignancy sneaks up on you while you’re busy laughing.

In Alyssa, Palladino has given us a rich, fascinating character of a young woman grappling with sexual harassment at work and turmoil in her personal life. While the play’s conversations on science, attraction, politics, and art are compelling and often downright fun, it was the three complex characters at its core that really had me hooked. Witty dialogue and palpable tension drive the story forward with both urgency and ease.

This two-hander is both clever and heartfelt, a thoughtful look at how far we're willing to go to satisfy the person we love. Hyland brings both nuance and relatability to both characters, offering great opportunities for two strong actors.

I saw the production of this play at First Floor Theatre in Chicago, and was blown away by its originality and irreverence. It was so refreshing to see a dark comedy that was equally as enjoyable to watch as its commentary was refreshing and necessary.

This clever retelling of Titus Andronicus is at turns chilling and hilarious, with quick, wry wit and many laugh-out-loud moments. Zlatos manages to turn the revenge tragedy on its head, provoking its audience to reconsider the value of revenge fantasies, the cost of trauma, and whose voices are ultimately heard, both in the theatrical canon and in our present moment. The Even More Lamentable Tragedy of Lavinia has no shortage of meaty roles for actors and offers fantastic provocations for directors and designers. I'm dying to see it produced.