Recommended by John Bavoso

A beautiful play that deftly puts a familiar structure to perfect use. Finley lets us in on so much about his characters in such a short amount of time. Great roles for four actors as well. Highly recommended!

IN THE CLOSET puts a theatrical spin on the idea that coming out of the closet isn’t a singular event for member of the LGBTQ+ community—it's something we have to do over and over again at different points in our life. Fuchs' take on the metaphorical closet as a “warm, lovely place that’s safe and feels like home” is unique and strangely comforting. With opportunities for four versatile actors to shine, IN THE CLOSET would make a great addition to a queer festival or perfect pick for Pride Month.

“Every second you hesitate, every moment you’re not writing, furiously writing, or dancing, or singing, things are getting worse. So hurry. Up.” With SING TO ME NOW, Dauterman has transformed the muse of epic poetry into a burned-out pencil-pusher, all hard edges gained from working too hard for too little recognition. In doing so, she has created a meditation on what the role of art is in a cruel, chaotic world; whether the human race is even worth fighting for; and how we cope with unimaginable grief. See a production of this show if you can!

I saw a production of this recently in Washington, DC, and had an absolute blast. An out-of-this-world, all-ages play that’s not afraid to engage with more serious subject matter, ANNIE JUMP is a genuine celebration of nerdiness, empowerment, and love! Also, Hardy’s created lots of exciting opportunities for talented designers to play and show off. Highly recommended!

This brisk comedy begs the question: What would happen when an affable serial killer meets a true crime fanatic? The answer is a lot of laughs and some surprising twists and turns. I can imagine this being a really fun two-hander for a pair of actors to tackle, and I’d love to see it realized on stage some day. Recommended!

This is an incredibly fun one-act for young audiences that I can only imagine would be a blast to produce! Filled with lessons about not underestimating those who are different from you and some wild superpowers, THE SECRETARIES is a winner for sure.

A beautiful short play that uses a (wisely) unspecified apocalyptic event to grapple with ideas of love, loneliness, and mortality, but still features luminous moments of tenderness and levity. A great addition to any short play festival that’s looking for something a little more earnest. Recommended!

Telling the tale of pretty much the worst camping trip ever, LOOK UP feels like a dramatic ‘90s TV show — in the best way possible. Vaughn has created characters that are recognizable yet unique, and who banter easily just like long-time friends should. Full of dramatic moments and exciting design challenges, I’d love to see this produced.

This short monologue achingly captures the disorientation of experiencing the death of a friend at a time when it feels like your lives are just beginning. Timms raises some very real and painful questions about who gets to “own” grief and subtly highlights the painful sting of regret. A great challenge for an actor to show true vulnerability, this should be produced often.

A heartbreaking meditation on the nature of art, solitude, technology, and utility, LONELINESS WAS A PANDEMIC tackles some very big themes on an intimate scale. Haller does a remarkable job portraying the futility of attempting to explain the value of creativity and importance of empathy. Both timely and timeless, this play gets you invested in its characters in a way that sneaks up on you. Highly recommended!