Recommended by Jennifer Kokai

  • Jennifer Kokai: Ripped

    I saw a brilliant production of this at Z Space Theatre in San Francisco. Tightly constructed and brilliantly plotted, it presents a complicated situation with no easy answers and provoked a great deal of conversation in those seated around me.

    I saw a brilliant production of this at Z Space Theatre in San Francisco. Tightly constructed and brilliantly plotted, it presents a complicated situation with no easy answers and provoked a great deal of conversation in those seated around me.

  • Jennifer Kokai: Dolly

    What starts as a funny and somewhat surreal concept (Dali would approve) turns touching. Always true, the play hums with excellent dialogue and insights into the disappointments of love. "We think we understand the world, and then the rug gets yanked out from under us. The clocks start melting. You love this guy, so you marry him. And then one day you wake up and it has never once occurred to him that he should ask you if you want a cup of coffee." Great parts for two women in their 40s, and how often can you say that?

    What starts as a funny and somewhat surreal concept (Dali would approve) turns touching. Always true, the play hums with excellent dialogue and insights into the disappointments of love. "We think we understand the world, and then the rug gets yanked out from under us. The clocks start melting. You love this guy, so you marry him. And then one day you wake up and it has never once occurred to him that he should ask you if you want a cup of coffee." Great parts for two women in their 40s, and how often can you say that?

  • Jennifer Kokai: The Hampton Years

    We were fortunate to do a reading of this at Weber State University a few years ago. This is a beautiful play that vividly brings to life important history about the fraught relationship between academic institutions, the well meaning missions they claim, the compromises they make that undermine those claims, and the many ways that institutions can and should learn from their students and faculty. I highly recommend all theatres, but perhaps especially academic institutions right now, read and produce this play.

    We were fortunate to do a reading of this at Weber State University a few years ago. This is a beautiful play that vividly brings to life important history about the fraught relationship between academic institutions, the well meaning missions they claim, the compromises they make that undermine those claims, and the many ways that institutions can and should learn from their students and faculty. I highly recommend all theatres, but perhaps especially academic institutions right now, read and produce this play.

  • Jennifer Kokai: Sweetheart, Come

    This play manages to capture both a historical period and timeless truths about loneliness and mental illness. I felt deeply for all three of the characters in the play, but of course especially for Emma. The dialogue is beautiful and insightful without being too writerly or cloying. This is a wonderful play that I highly recommend to all for productions.

    This play manages to capture both a historical period and timeless truths about loneliness and mental illness. I felt deeply for all three of the characters in the play, but of course especially for Emma. The dialogue is beautiful and insightful without being too writerly or cloying. This is a wonderful play that I highly recommend to all for productions.

  • Jennifer Kokai: To Fall in Love

    A lovely tour de force for two actors. The characters are authentic and engrossing from start to finish. The technical demands are simple, so the audience is able to focus on the words, the characters, and the emotions.

    A lovely tour de force for two actors. The characters are authentic and engrossing from start to finish. The technical demands are simple, so the audience is able to focus on the words, the characters, and the emotions.

  • Jennifer Kokai: Rock Egg Spoon

    This is a wonderful, imaginative script. There were so many beautiful, surprising moments and I loved it from beginning to end. I'd love to see it on the stage and I highly encourage theatres to produce it.

    This is a wonderful, imaginative script. There were so many beautiful, surprising moments and I loved it from beginning to end. I'd love to see it on the stage and I highly encourage theatres to produce it.

  • Jennifer Kokai: The Final Debate

    I was lucky enough to direct the first performance of this for Plan-B this fall. Bublitz has created two sharply distinct female teenage characters. They are smart, serious, and great roles for actresses to play. The audience responded very strongly to this piece and it was clear it had a significant impact. Strongly recommend this ten minute.

    I was lucky enough to direct the first performance of this for Plan-B this fall. Bublitz has created two sharply distinct female teenage characters. They are smart, serious, and great roles for actresses to play. The audience responded very strongly to this piece and it was clear it had a significant impact. Strongly recommend this ten minute.

  • Jennifer Kokai: The Book of Mountains and Seas

    I read this play and recommended it for an award at one point. It was outstanding. Funny, and emotionally rich, and had such a great premise. Highly recommend.

    I read this play and recommended it for an award at one point. It was outstanding. Funny, and emotionally rich, and had such a great premise. Highly recommend.

  • Jennifer Kokai: Failure: A Love Story

    This is a wonderful play. It is such a playground for designers, actors, and directors. The story telling is crystal clear, every character sharply drawn. It should be a go to for college theatre.

    This is a wonderful play. It is such a playground for designers, actors, and directors. The story telling is crystal clear, every character sharply drawn. It should be a go to for college theatre.

  • Jennifer Kokai: DOLPHIN KID: A MONOLOGUE (POOLSIDE)

    This recommendation is from Oliver who is 11 and an actor/playwright: This is a good monologue. It hits you hard because of what's happening in the world right now. It gets kids this age right. There aren't many monologues for kids, mostly for adults. It displays a lot of emotions in a short amount of time and would be an interesting role to take on. Which again, there are not many of for kids my age.

    This recommendation is from Oliver who is 11 and an actor/playwright: This is a good monologue. It hits you hard because of what's happening in the world right now. It gets kids this age right. There aren't many monologues for kids, mostly for adults. It displays a lot of emotions in a short amount of time and would be an interesting role to take on. Which again, there are not many of for kids my age.