Recommended by Bethany Dickens Assaf

  •

    This fascinating, character-driven play unfolds with a compelling blend of empathy and righteous anger. Gardner expertly uses the world of crafting to reveal tensions between characters who each need something different from their now-closed Joann Fabrics. I found Lynn's journey particularly compelling as she struggles to articulate what her need even is, and open herself up to it being met by new realities and new relationships. Actors will find a great deal to dig into in this rich work!

    This fascinating, character-driven play unfolds with a compelling blend of empathy and righteous anger. Gardner expertly uses the world of crafting to reveal tensions between characters who each need something different from their now-closed Joann Fabrics. I found Lynn's journey particularly compelling as she struggles to articulate what her need even is, and open herself up to it being met by new realities and new relationships. Actors will find a great deal to dig into in this rich work!

  •

    As a science fiction enthusiast, I could not be more thrilled with this claustrophobic, seriously creepy concept and the potential it would bring to a staged production. The world building here is precise and unique, asking whether or not a world-ending event could actually be an opportunity for reinvention and new life. The pages leading up to the end of Act 1 gave me chills, leading into a fascinating pivot that breaks open the play’s central question.

    As a science fiction enthusiast, I could not be more thrilled with this claustrophobic, seriously creepy concept and the potential it would bring to a staged production. The world building here is precise and unique, asking whether or not a world-ending event could actually be an opportunity for reinvention and new life. The pages leading up to the end of Act 1 gave me chills, leading into a fascinating pivot that breaks open the play’s central question.

  •

    I had the pleasure of seeing this play in Orlando, Florida and appreciated the work's dynamic dialogue and well-crafted characters. Joel and Connor are incredibly rich voices - broken and endearing, flawed and vulnerable - and I was rooting for them as a couple and as individuals. A tragically realistic portrait of a relationship in trouble, "After Party" is gripping and thought-provoking theatre.

    I had the pleasure of seeing this play in Orlando, Florida and appreciated the work's dynamic dialogue and well-crafted characters. Joel and Connor are incredibly rich voices - broken and endearing, flawed and vulnerable - and I was rooting for them as a couple and as individuals. A tragically realistic portrait of a relationship in trouble, "After Party" is gripping and thought-provoking theatre.

  •

    Easily one of the most gripping and well-crafted short plays I've had the pleasure to read! The theatrical device Levine utilizes is arresting and incredibly clever, with a twist that somehow manages to feel like a gut punch and also totally inevitable. I'm grateful to Levine for allowing my playwriting group to read this as an example of a short play, and the entire group laughed and gasped the entire way through.

    Easily one of the most gripping and well-crafted short plays I've had the pleasure to read! The theatrical device Levine utilizes is arresting and incredibly clever, with a twist that somehow manages to feel like a gut punch and also totally inevitable. I'm grateful to Levine for allowing my playwriting group to read this as an example of a short play, and the entire group laughed and gasped the entire way through.

  •

    There is so much going on in this play that is fascinating to me. Dina/Elliot represents so much about how our imaginations and creativity can help us process difficult topics - death, gender, sexuality - both as children and adults. That theme is beautifully nuanced and woven authentically throughout. I also appreciated the characters’ balance of wisdom and innocence, which rang true and was wonderful to experience. The dialogue is tack-sharp, terrific pacing.

    There is so much going on in this play that is fascinating to me. Dina/Elliot represents so much about how our imaginations and creativity can help us process difficult topics - death, gender, sexuality - both as children and adults. That theme is beautifully nuanced and woven authentically throughout. I also appreciated the characters’ balance of wisdom and innocence, which rang true and was wonderful to experience. The dialogue is tack-sharp, terrific pacing.

  • Bethany Dickens Assaf: Why We Go to Florida by Kenneth Jones
    “

    I’m so grateful this play exists - it spoke deeply to me personally and is filled with such shattering beauty. All three characters are incredibly rich, containing full worlds. Their pasts are fully realized and deeply expressed without detracting from a compelling, well-motivated story in the present. Florida itself is drawn with equal depth and care. I cannot express the beauty of the end of the penultimate scene and everything it represents. A tour de force of characterization!

    I’m so grateful this play exists - it spoke deeply to me personally and is filled with such shattering beauty. All three characters are incredibly rich, containing full worlds. Their pasts are fully realized and deeply expressed without detracting from a compelling, well-motivated story in the present. Florida itself is drawn with equal depth and care. I cannot express the beauty of the end of the penultimate scene and everything it represents. A tour de force of characterization!

    ”
  • Bethany Dickens Assaf: SAPIOSEXUAL XENOPHILE by Monica Cross
    “

    A clever gem of a short play! I loved the ultra-specific Star Trek references that will delight fans and the less-initiated alike. Sharp humor with a very fun and unexpected premise that packs a lot of visual humor.

    A clever gem of a short play! I loved the ultra-specific Star Trek references that will delight fans and the less-initiated alike. Sharp humor with a very fun and unexpected premise that packs a lot of visual humor.

    ”
  • Bethany Dickens Assaf: Swiped (full-length) by Samara Siskind
    “

    This is a deeply layered, character-driven work with so much to recommend it. From the first scene, the tension and pacing is terrific as characters grow deeper and plot reveals unfold - always logical and filled with emotional honestly. I thought the structure was perfect and applaud the playwright for avoiding easy or simplistic answers to a myriad of complex questions on race, gender, addiction, and loss.

    This is a deeply layered, character-driven work with so much to recommend it. From the first scene, the tension and pacing is terrific as characters grow deeper and plot reveals unfold - always logical and filled with emotional honestly. I thought the structure was perfect and applaud the playwright for avoiding easy or simplistic answers to a myriad of complex questions on race, gender, addiction, and loss.

    ”
  • Bethany Dickens Assaf: Queen of the Sky by Scott Browning
    “

    I absolutely adore the characters in this piece- immensely lovable with rich and layered histories that add nice flashes of tension, warmth, and hilarity. The staging is also fantastic - the playwright has thought through the scenic picture very creatively and beautifully, with the framing of a balloon ride providing ample opportunities for creative production design. I could’ve spent another several hours in this world.

    I absolutely adore the characters in this piece- immensely lovable with rich and layered histories that add nice flashes of tension, warmth, and hilarity. The staging is also fantastic - the playwright has thought through the scenic picture very creatively and beautifully, with the framing of a balloon ride providing ample opportunities for creative production design. I could’ve spent another several hours in this world.

    ”
  • Bethany Dickens Assaf: Wait by Scott Browning
    “

    Intelligently crafted and plotted, this play contains multiple gut punches. Without giving anything away, the power dynamics here are well thought-out and unexpected. A piece that you could easily see staged to great impact: eerie ambiance, a slow burn, and twisted pet names add to the sense of dread.

    Intelligently crafted and plotted, this play contains multiple gut punches. Without giving anything away, the power dynamics here are well thought-out and unexpected. A piece that you could easily see staged to great impact: eerie ambiance, a slow burn, and twisted pet names add to the sense of dread.

    ”