Recommended by Jan Rosenberg

  • Jan Rosenberg: marked green at birth, marked female at birth

    I really loved these characters and particularly connected with Star, who doesn't yet have the language or life experience to put a name to what it is they're feeling every time they use food or drugs or exercise to push it away. There's something painfully familiar about these characters-the play is specific to 2008 but could take place any time. I loved how brave and vibrant these "girls" are and wanted to wrap them all in a big hug!

    I really loved these characters and particularly connected with Star, who doesn't yet have the language or life experience to put a name to what it is they're feeling every time they use food or drugs or exercise to push it away. There's something painfully familiar about these characters-the play is specific to 2008 but could take place any time. I loved how brave and vibrant these "girls" are and wanted to wrap them all in a big hug!

  • Jan Rosenberg: Dance Moms

    Loved this play about a bunch of Moms putting their all into dance while covering up the darkness inside all of them. Made me laugh, surprised me, educated me. I was really moved by all of these women. It's mystical and hilarious.

    Loved this play about a bunch of Moms putting their all into dance while covering up the darkness inside all of them. Made me laugh, surprised me, educated me. I was really moved by all of these women. It's mystical and hilarious.

  • Jan Rosenberg: Banya

    All you know walking in is "Spa...and GO!" Two strangers basically naked and at their most vulnerable point discovering all the ways they relate to one another. What's unique about this particular meeting between socially awkward Brian and Darlene, who knows exactly what she want? You'll have to read on to see what comes out. This play is many things at once. It's sweet and bittersweet and perverse and tragic and hilarious.

    All you know walking in is "Spa...and GO!" Two strangers basically naked and at their most vulnerable point discovering all the ways they relate to one another. What's unique about this particular meeting between socially awkward Brian and Darlene, who knows exactly what she want? You'll have to read on to see what comes out. This play is many things at once. It's sweet and bittersweet and perverse and tragic and hilarious.

  • Jan Rosenberg: Ada

    This is an exciting, frightening, and all too topical play. Aeneas has created a world that feels all too close to ours, and it's the journey of getting to know Ada and her superiors (and maybe sometimes allies) was thrilling and heartbreaking. This is a play that will challenge and get under the skin. It will quite literally grab you in a robot-grip vice, especially in the last few scenes.

    This is an exciting, frightening, and all too topical play. Aeneas has created a world that feels all too close to ours, and it's the journey of getting to know Ada and her superiors (and maybe sometimes allies) was thrilling and heartbreaking. This is a play that will challenge and get under the skin. It will quite literally grab you in a robot-grip vice, especially in the last few scenes.

  • Jan Rosenberg: Shadows in the Dark

    This solo show is a brilliant, brutal, sad, and surprisingly funny nightmare of a literal and figurative transition. As Harley tests out how safe the waters are outside her bedroom door, we see just how toxic and flawed her cis peers are, even when they think they have the best intentions. I loved the structure of this play, I loved Harley (and poor Bubba). I hope there's a world beyond this play where she gets her own place!

    This solo show is a brilliant, brutal, sad, and surprisingly funny nightmare of a literal and figurative transition. As Harley tests out how safe the waters are outside her bedroom door, we see just how toxic and flawed her cis peers are, even when they think they have the best intentions. I loved the structure of this play, I loved Harley (and poor Bubba). I hope there's a world beyond this play where she gets her own place!

  • Jan Rosenberg: exceptional

    Every time I read a play by Mak Shealy I am more awed and impressed by how big they go. I love this dark, queer story. What struck me most in this play that revolves around a missing missing girl is how Jay's biggest fear is not that Addie might be dead, but that she may have chosen a life without them. Filled with Shealy's haunting poetry-you'll never hear dialogue like this in any other play.

    Every time I read a play by Mak Shealy I am more awed and impressed by how big they go. I love this dark, queer story. What struck me most in this play that revolves around a missing missing girl is how Jay's biggest fear is not that Addie might be dead, but that she may have chosen a life without them. Filled with Shealy's haunting poetry-you'll never hear dialogue like this in any other play.

  • Jan Rosenberg: I and You

    I was going full speed with this play, and the ending hit me right in the face. Beautifully and brilliantly crafted.

    I was going full speed with this play, and the ending hit me right in the face. Beautifully and brilliantly crafted.

  • Jan Rosenberg: be mean to me

    17 and 27 are pretty similar, and that's scary. So are ghosts and Bright Eyes. Love a good toxic female friendship story.

    17 and 27 are pretty similar, and that's scary. So are ghosts and Bright Eyes. Love a good toxic female friendship story.

  • Jan Rosenberg: Bunyip

    This is fantastic. Scary, sad, mysterious, funny, and incredibly atmospheric. Very much in awe!

    This is fantastic. Scary, sad, mysterious, funny, and incredibly atmospheric. Very much in awe!

  • Jan Rosenberg: good friday

    I don't think I breathed while reading this. This is brutal and unflinching. Makes you question how far we need to be pushed to become violent. Really shook up, especially by that final stage direction.

    I don't think I breathed while reading this. This is brutal and unflinching. Makes you question how far we need to be pushed to become violent. Really shook up, especially by that final stage direction.