Recommended by Bethany Dickens Assaf

A treat from start to finish: from the first few lines, I found myself completely enraptured by Szymkowicz's confident and colorful world-building. I also appreciated the oxygen the play gives each moment to develop into something hilarious and human (examples abound, from a wildly funny scene between two nurses to the "doughnut" conversation). These are not digressions; rather, they sum up to a very fine exploration of the joys of life: ever present if we would only embrace them.

A engaging and rich meditation on the intersectionality of science and faith, told through the lens father/daughter relationships, and the miraculous echoes they leave in the world. Willett tells this story masterfully and with empathy for her characters, as they try to make sense of the world through the prisms of religion, relationships, and the universe, only to find answers in their own being. An absolute pleasure to read and a refreshingly authentic perspective on tense political and cultural subjects.

Clever and sweet, with one heck of a delightful twist ending, "The Jinx" would be a welcome component of any play festival. Audiences will immediately connect to Joe and Mike (and Gracie!) and anyone who loves sports - or loves a sports fan - will empathize with their plight. A gem of a short play!

The design and concept of this play is breathtaking: it both evokes a naturalistic feeling of people watching and also works together in thematic harmony. The concept of the audience as participating in meaning-making is also terrifically exciting. I was personally struck by Marchant’s interest in fragmented lives (many characters in the play are on the cusp of starting something or making a change that may or may not occur) and the echoing of that idea in the script’s construction. This is a work that would be thrilling to produce and experience.

I had the privilege of leading a workshop on and then producing this play - at each show, the play’s verve and unexpected twists kept the audience in stitches! The theme of growing up and becoming self-reliant (as well as reliable for others) unfolds beautifully and pairs well with the existential surrealism (Ranger Phil being a stand-in - perhaps - for the fear of what’s “out there” - and wow, he is SUCH a delight!). A piece that more than delivers on the cleverness and creativity of its title!

WOW. This is one of those plays that just might change you: Crim’s work deftly addresses multiple issues with both an empathetic and uncompromising voice. Each of these six women has an authentic perspectives on the subjects of motherhood and womanhood, and is on a compelling personal journey that intersects with the others’ in fascinating ways. I recommend this play in particular for actors seeking monologues: there are several, and each is stunning. I also loved the way humor is woven expertly throughout; in general, there’s not one forced or false beat in this play: highly recommended.

I had the privilege of producing and directing this piece for Whiskey Theatre Factory in 2021, where it brought down the house with laughter and cheers from the audience! Katie Thayer is so masterful at weaving emotionally honest beats into mile-a-minute laughs. I hope the play enjoys the rich production life it deserves!

Bavoso is such a clever, confident, and witty writer, and "The Morning After the Fall" showcases these qualities to great effect. I had the privilege of producing the piece for Whiskey Theatre Factory's 2021 reading, which was a huge success and elicited both big laughs and knowing sighs from the audience during its bittersweet beats. I would highly recommend this piece for any short play festival.

I had the privilege of producing and directing this short play for Whiskey Theatre Factory in 2021. WOW. Each of the three characters is beautifully complex and their relationships to one another are deep and multi-faceted. The actors and I had so many wonderful conversations as we prepared to bring this to the stage and the audience response was tremendous. McKelvie is a truly a master at relationship tension and her dialogue is stunning. Cannot recommend highly enough!

One of the things I admire most about Scott Sickles is his excellent, Chekhovian mastery of subtext in dialogue and this piece shows this to gorgeous effect. The midpoint twist comes at the perfect moment and is absolutely gutting as the inevitable end draws near. A soulful meditation on the rarity of love and the inevitability of its loss.