Recommended by John Bavoso

The struggle between elderly parents and their adult children in terms of moving them into assisted living versus maintaining their independence is one that's full of dramatic potential... which is why I appreciate that Marj went in the other direction and led with humor in this charming short comedy. A true "slice of life" play, FINDING HELP has great roles for three actors and is sure to be a hit at short play festivals everywhere!

I heard a reading of this play and an interview with Michelle on The Parsnip Ship podcast and absolutely loved it! Michelle explores how complex and fraught the field of genealogy and the act of tracing one's roots can be for African Americans while infusing her dialogue with wit, humor, and pop culture references. Set in the future, the relationships and characters are recognizable in any time period. I hope I get to see this play on stage one day!

Abley has crafted a camp-infused love letter to a very specific art form and time period as well as an entire city and an industry. This script is well-plotted and chock full of wit, foreboding, and characters you grow to care for deeply. A fine example of an “inspired by true events” play, I imagine POPCORN GIRL would be a blast to bring to life for actors and designers alike. Highly recommended!

I was initially drawn in by the BRILLIANT title of this play, but it’s the way Omer Abbas Salem takes an almost sitcom-esque approach to tackling heavy issues like sexuality, religion, intergenerational conflict, and immigration that kept me reading. Mosque4Mosque contains laugh-out-loud moments right next to heartbreaking ones; these are the kinds of queer stories we need to be producing now!

Fantastic and fantastical, THE BOOK OF MOUNTAINS AND SEAS is a warm and funny exploration of grief, parent-child relationships, cultural and generational divides, and what we owe to one another. I instantly fell in love with the characters and found them to be relatable yet full of individual quirks. A joy to read and, I hope, to one day see on stage as well!

With A SPIRITED MANOR, Danley has created an exemplary addition to a familiar and beloved genre, but with a feminist twist. Infused with horror, humor, and melodrama, what’s really exciting about this script is the unique staging and opportunities for innovative and adventurous design it presents. Perfect for a theatre company looking for a larger-cast production, this play would surely be a hit in October or any time of the year!

In Even If it Gets Us Nowhere, Perez has create something patently absurd and wildly original, as thought-provoking as it is hilariously clever. Perez has a dazzling grasp of language, using humor to explore philosophy a la Michael Schur. I can imagine this would be a fun challenge for some gifted actors and a joy to see performed live — read this play!

Kaplan has created a delightfully absurd world filled with quirky characters and some hilarious lines! This play kind of reminds me of one of my favorite favorite books as a kid, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, in the best way. I imagine this would be an absolute blast for high school students to put on for their parents! Bravo!

A beautiful piece about growing up, growing apart, and living with regret. As someone for whom large bodies of water have always equaled nostalgia and introspection, I find the staging simple but extremely effective. This would make a stunning, more earnest addition to any short play festival!

A familiar story at first, Meet Me in the Bathroom goes to a much darker place. Seinuk has created a world in which nothing is black and white and no one is innocent, and then fills it with exciting theatrical flourishes. While this would be great at a professional or community theatre, I would love to see this performed by teens for teens in high school around the country. A true conversation starter for sure!