Recommended by Aleks Merilo

I wouldn’t call this a tribute to Brecht’s epic theater, I would call this the real-thing. The hugely ambitious premise of utilizing the Epic Theatre to dramatize a school shooting sounds impossible, yet somehow through placards, songs, alienation, multiple story lines, and tests of moral complexity, Downs manages to embody every facet of Brecht’s artistic vision. Both humorous and tragic, I found myself gasping and laughing during the absurdity that plays out at break-neck speed. The German theorist would be proud, and, I’m guessing, a little envious of Downs’ mastery.

Erie, ambiguous, and sweet is not a description I've used before, but then again, LGBTQ and post-apocalyptic is not common territory to be explored on stage. Bravoso has created a moment in an unknown time and place that somehow manages to be compassionate and relatable. In this unique setting, inhibitions are shed and characters develop into richly unique individuals. Unanswered questions and just enough exposition give the audience plenty to discuss in the afterglow.

An uncompromising and merciless look at the dark secret lives of adolescent girls. I always admire scripts that can take us to world we’ve never experienced before, and Turnage manages to immerse the audience in purity culture and all of its harrowing facets. There are few scripts that address teen girl issues in such an unvarnished way, and I feel it took real courage for the playwright to do so. I look forward to reading more scripts by Caitlin Turnage.

At times funny, at times infuriating, but always thought provoking “Accomodation” is an intelligent, fast-paced debate on the flaws of the educational system. Burdick's play is made even more complex by the fact that every character believes they are doing the right thing. But what really hits the mark about this script is the depth of the characters revealed over time – The teacher and student share parallel struggles, but also endearing strengths. That emotional core makes the play even more resonant and provocative. I can only imagine the post show talkback after this play.

A vision of the future so close, yet unlike any I've seen before. Salsbury is able to create a fascinating world with the simplest of exposition, allowing us to feel as though we are experiencing a small part of a much larger national story. Salsbury astutely avoids any easy answers and comforting platitudes, and even the characters' supposed catharsis is met with suspicion. This is a brave, thought-provoking, and riveting piece that I hope to see onstage soon.

In this ghostly and vivid script, Partain manages to bridge the gap between Sailor lore, mythology, and the stark reality of a nautical life. The immersive writing places the audience alongside the lonely scene at the edge of the known world. Characters are robust, and the cast is rounded out by a fascinating female lead. This feels like a play from another place and another era. Those who attend theater to see a world they’ve never seen before would relish this play.

There are so few good monologues for young women, this refreshingly frank, no-holds bared, and wonderfully blasphemous rant heads straight for the top. Imogene is so unapologetic, it is impossible not the feel that she is the smartest one in the room. I want to spend more time with this character. Favorite line "Jesus was such an alcoholic his blood literally turned into wine."

I heard a selection of this play at the DG conference this summer, and I am so pleased to have found it here. From its first moments, this richly atmospheric play takes you into 15th century London, surrounding you with all its mutually appealing and appalling qualities. The characters are historical giants, yet Rinear manages to render them with a sense of compassion that allows us empathize with people who regularly would relegated to the wall of a royal portrait gallery. Despite the richness of the setting, it feels very contemporary in subject matter. Hope to see it onstage soon.

Frank, unsentimental, surprising and powerful, "How to be a Respectable Junkie" avoids the expected path of an addiction-narrative and presents us with a compassionate look into a subject most of us would seek to avoid. The play is almost voyeuristic; It feels as though we are overhearing a confessional that we should not be present for, but cannot stop listening. The little details are breathtaking, and the structure of an online testament is perfect. Though I am not generally a fan of one-man shows, and addiction as a subject matter, Vovos has completely won me over with this tender revelation.

This reminded me of growing up, assuming there was nothing more to the lives of teachers than what we saw in the classroom. The playwright deftly takes us behind the scenes, showing the frustrations, politics, compassion, and beauty of the profession. This script is proof that the most brutal violence can be delivered as a soft spoken comment from a superior looking for someone to blame, and real love can be just the act of not quitting. The ever present undercurrent of irony is a system requiring teachers to be humane while negotiating an educational system that is anything but.