Recommended by John Bavoso

In a white haunting, Brian takes the tropes of the slasher genre and deftly uses them to deconstruct the way white privilege and internalized racism can wreak havoc on queer people of color. Vacillating between hilarious and horrific—except when it’s both simultaneously—this play is visceral and highly theatrical, and would, I imagine, be thrilling and harrowing to see on stage. It’s sure to give audience members a lot to discuss on the way home from the theater, hopefully over pineapple pizza… I know I’ll be thinking about it myself for a long time to come.

Based on the title alone, I thought this play would be about the supernatural; instead, it’s a grounded dark comedy centered on very human characters struggling to connect. Guerra has created a structure and roles that would truly let a talented group of actors shine. The details are just fuzzy enough to give the whole thing a slightly sinister feel, but the characters are so engrossing that it doesn’t even matter. Highly recommended!

This script is an absolute gift to the ambitious casts and creative teams who take it on… and I hope I get to see the results on stage one day soon! Wetzell has created a highly theatrical world and infused it with comedy, philosophy, and, ultimately, tragedy. Truly a masterclass in world-building and allegory. Everyone should read this play—and then produce it!

In LIFE BOAT, Khaner explores how capitalism can turn even those of us with the best of intentions into monsters. As a room full of executives shift blame and deflect responsibility, we see that each one has his or her reasons to do what they did, even if there are no valid excuses to be found. The real-time nature of the action adds an urgency and claustrophobia to an already fraught situation. This play is like being a fly on the wall as backroom deals are being made, and leaves the audience with lots to think about and discuss.

In Rx Machina, Violette takes something as complex and overwhelming as a massive opioid epidemic and deftly brings it down to a human scale, where ambition, desire, and profits drive people to make decisions that have unintended, cumulative consequences. This piece never feels like an “issue” play; the characters and their needs and actions are always at the heart of the story. Overall, a very timely play with five great roles for women actors and lots for directors and designers to get excited about.

This play is a delight to read and, I imagine, an absolute joy to see on stage! Suffused with magic, humor, and dance, this script is nevertheless rooted in important questions about who gets to celebrate a culture, in which ways, and for whom. Andrei has crafted a sprawling piece that is both a celebration and critique, written from a place of personal experience yet epic and relatable. Read this play… and then produce it!

This ambitious, original, surprising, and highly theatrical play contains shades of Her, The Matrix, and other sci-fi touchstones, but Stull deftly combines them to make something wholly unique. Via sharp and fast-paced dialogue, this script asks thought-provoking questions about technology vs. art, identity, free will, and more—and does so while employing an innovative structure and even method of writing. I’m a big fan of the play-within-a-play format and the opportunities for genuine improvisation within a scripted piece. I’d love to see this one on stage; highly recommended!

This is a dramatic comedy that covers a lot of ground including workplace drama, bi erasure, and more, but keeps its very real-feeling characters always at its center. I particularly appreciate getting a fat gay character who struggles with body image and insecurity, but that’s not the entirety of his identity. Highly recommended!

What starts as a book club meeting that feels like the most uncomfortable audience talkback in history quickly becomes something much more fantastical and metatheatrical in this quick-witted and sharply observed piece. Mendoza has created a script that asks big questions about the nature of storytelling while throwing in lots of humor and biting satire. It would be so much fun to watch an ambitious director and cast bring this play to life!

This is such a gorgeous play about grief, growing up, and moving on (or not). At its center is a complicated relationship between sisters as they both attempt to figure out their plans for the future while grappling with the past. The dialogue flows so naturally and is suffused with just enough humor and edge to feel like a real, lived-in sibling relationship—despite being surrounded by supernatural elements. I think this play would be a joy for actors and designers alike to tackle. Highly recommended!