Recommended by John Bavoso

Mamma Mia! This is so much campy, murderous, punny fun! With this smörgåsbord of vignettes, Razavi answers the question that weighs heavy on everyone's mind at all times: What would happen if your favorite Swedish pop group went on a homicidal rampage in an unsuspecting hotel (or multiple hotels? the same hotel?). In the process, the playwright shows his incredible range and pokes at questions of morality amidst the gore and wordplay. Give this play a read and then produce it; it's sure to make a... killing.

Beneath the frenetic, satirical, fabulously referential exterior of this play (so many knives!) there’s a poignant meditation on expectations—society’s, our family’s, and our own—and what happens when you fail to meet them. In a script full of striking images, Todd and Todd Too’s fights (“You’re just one of those gay people who judges other gay people for things they would do if they could.”) and the final, quiet scene will stick with me the longest. I hope an ambitious group of artists brings this to life and I’m there to see it!

This play is epic in scope, language, themes… just epic, really. A frenetic, metatheatrical satire with real teeth and surprising heart. I tried to picture myself in the audience as this piece slips deeper and deeper into absurdism while shining a brighter and brighter light on the deeply uncomfortable truths of modern gay culture. I sincerely hope to one day be in an actual audience, watching this play; until then, read it!

‘Jar of Fat’ tackles issues of anti-fatness and body image (not to mention religion, parental expectations, sibling relationships, and much more) in a way that is both incredibly culturally specific yet also resonates universally. At turns darkly hilarious and profoundly painful, the varied structure keeps the reader on their toes, and I imagine it would make for a fast-paced, exciting presentation on stage. Read this play, and then produce it so I can see it live!

Gardner’s characteristic, constantly-surprising use of language is on full display in this two-hander. The audience is confidently dropped into the middle of a bewildering conversation and left to find their sea legs. The setting of a spa requiring one be naked in public is the perfect backdrop for two people (re)discovering one another and laying their vulnerabilities bare. A really unique piece that I’ll be thinking about for a long time!

Wow. This complex two-hander packs a lot of emotion and questions about life, death, parenthood, regret, marriage, and more into a deceptively small package. And, for a play filled with so much pain and sorrow, there are also so many darkly hilarious lines sprinkled throughout. I can’t even imagine how powerful this would be to watch in person—having just read it, I’m sure I’m going to be thinking about it for a long time.

This fast-paced two-hander is firmly rooted in the #MeToo era, but will resonate with audiences far into the future. Bentley-Quinn shows us two women at the height of their success, yet both are trapped—literally and metaphorically—by the choices they have made to get themselves there. A great read and what I can imagine is be great material for two powerhouse actors!

‘The Porno Basement’ is possibly the most absurd, violent, ‘A Christmas Carol’-esque story I’ve ever read… and I mean that in a good way! For a play packed with hapless torturers, hit men, asexual porn stars, puppet shows, and a wolf-owned donut shop (just to name a few), there are still surprising moments of introspection and ideas about the difficulty of connecting. Mostly, it’s just darkly hilarious. I can’t even imagine what this would look like on stage, but I’d like to be there to witness it myself!

I was hooked on the premise for this musical before even reading it. Sam has created a world that reflects driven, thoughtful young people and never panders or talks down to them. The setup has immediate stakes, you get invested in the characters, and the ending is incredibly satisfying. I can't wait to see how this pieces continues to develop—well worth a read!

Well, this is just plain fun! Despite premiering nearly three decades ago, this campy send up of horror flick and gay culture cliches still strikes satiric gold today. If you’re looking for a spoof-y romp and a boatload of laughs, give this play a read!