Recommended by David Beardsley

When a nightmare leaves Sam feeling a little shaken, they demand an apology from Alex, whose dream-self was the source of Sam's fear. This quirky, fast-paced, light-hearted relationship comedy explores how the people we love can drive us crazy, set us on edge, and ease our fears--sometimes simultaneously.

What starts seemingly as a play about a raucous reunion of old friends takes a dark and difficult turn when we learn one of them is very ill and is asking the near-impossible of the others. As the conflict escalates, these friendships are pushed to the very limit, and we’re left to ask: What are our obligations as a “friend”? And, what constitutes a life “well-lived”?

This is an ambitious and timely play that explores the importance, potential costs, and complexities of using one’s platform and privilege to call out and amplify demands for justice. I loved the theatricality of Moreno and would love to see the football moments staged. I also admired how deftly Wilkins mixes fact with fiction. This is a play that should garner lots of attention.

This play really moved me. It’s gentle and quiet and real. The characters jump off the page, and all five make significant transformations by the end—no easy feat in 60 pages. Sure, it’s a play about pregnancy and becoming a mother, but at a deeper level it’s about learning to trust, loving yourself, and being open to genuine connections with others—all traits of good parents and good people. I laughed out loud at times and teared up at the end. What else can you ask of a play?

This is a really fun revenge play that would make a wonderful full length. It’s a great premise, with interesting characters who clearly have a history and enough twists and turns to keep audiences guessing all evening long.

Mr. Bennet’s Bride is a worthy prequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice—a fun yet ultimately heartbreaking origin story for one of the more ill-advised marriages in the literary canon: James and Emily Bennet. Wood captures the language of the time with perfect pitch, and like Jane Austen, finds the humor in the heightened manners. Her characters have a depth and complexity that makes them real and human. You root for them, and you mourn for James, whose own apathy makes his ultimate unhappiness inevitable.

This is a beautiful, heart-wrenching play that has the rare effect of making you smile and cry all at the same time. It's beautifully written and nicely plotted. You learn what the "unexpected agenda" is surprisingly early, but that's okay. It allows Weibezahl to explore the emotional implications of his story to full effect. It's play that makes you want to go hug someone you love.

A city bus driver tries to persuade a young passenger not to kill a rival. Logic and rationalization seem to have little effect on this jealous young man, and we soon realize that what this young man really needs is to make connection, to hear was that he matters and has value. Just a Bus Driver is a good reminder of the importance of engagement, of not turning a blind eye to the situations we encounter.

Dating as a contact sport, boxing to be precise, in which the unwritten rules of engagement prevent real engagement. It’s a terrific play that was made into a fun short film in 2020 by The Hive Collective. We watch the protagonists shift from a fancy restaurant table to their respective boxing corners for pep talks and strategy sessions. Brilliant and funny, but also heartfelt. This is everything a ten minute play should be.

I love this short (and naughty!) musical about two older women staring down late middle age and refusing to blink. It’s written so efficiently, with great dialogue and fun, funny lyrics. It’s a joyful, optimistic, unflinching, unapologetic musical on important themes. It deserves to be produced—a lot.