Recommended by jose sebastian alberdi

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    A roadtrip play that drives us through a rich brother/sister emotional landscape. A play about competition, the stories we tell ourselves about our siblings, and growing older and realizing you haven't had a real conversation with a sibling you'd die for in years. It's a sneaky play in that although there's a lot of humor in it, it ultimately lands in a place of seeing the two siblings in the play cracked open. But don't worry, Majule's play consistently has an eye towards joy, love, & healing.

    A roadtrip play that drives us through a rich brother/sister emotional landscape. A play about competition, the stories we tell ourselves about our siblings, and growing older and realizing you haven't had a real conversation with a sibling you'd die for in years. It's a sneaky play in that although there's a lot of humor in it, it ultimately lands in a place of seeing the two siblings in the play cracked open. But don't worry, Majule's play consistently has an eye towards joy, love, & healing.

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    I love this play. I love this theatrical event. I love this piece. A text about class, mothers & daughters, friendship, and how horribly big and isolating the West Coast feels sometimes. I was lucky enough to witness two readings of this play at the O'Neill National Playwrights Conference and each time I found something new and exciting in the plays intentional repetitions of "scenes" or "episodes". I can't wait to see where this play goes. Dana is constantly elevating what theatre's doing.

    I love this play. I love this theatrical event. I love this piece. A text about class, mothers & daughters, friendship, and how horribly big and isolating the West Coast feels sometimes. I was lucky enough to witness two readings of this play at the O'Neill National Playwrights Conference and each time I found something new and exciting in the plays intentional repetitions of "scenes" or "episodes". I can't wait to see where this play goes. Dana is constantly elevating what theatre's doing.

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    A diva machine. A hilarious romp. Ms. Cleary's Last Supper is the type of show that's ready to entertain every cross section of any audience. But to be clear, Malley isn't after entertainment only. Sure, the play is hilarious and fun to watch (I saw it twice at the O'Neill!), but it also has a very strong emotional heart at its center. This is the type of play that'll make you want to call your sister, your mom, your aunt--or better, if you're lucky to have them still, bring them to the theatre!

    A diva machine. A hilarious romp. Ms. Cleary's Last Supper is the type of show that's ready to entertain every cross section of any audience. But to be clear, Malley isn't after entertainment only. Sure, the play is hilarious and fun to watch (I saw it twice at the O'Neill!), but it also has a very strong emotional heart at its center. This is the type of play that'll make you want to call your sister, your mom, your aunt--or better, if you're lucky to have them still, bring them to the theatre!

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    A modern masterpiece. Malley starts us in a place of fast and furious intergenerational comedy before expertly and methodically ratcheting up the tension and unease of Walid's predicament, slowly stripping away any and all comforts and leaving us in a place of deeply upsetting, real life horror. (Although if we've been paying any attention, we'd know it was inevitable.) In a just world this play would be slated for production immediately.

    A modern masterpiece. Malley starts us in a place of fast and furious intergenerational comedy before expertly and methodically ratcheting up the tension and unease of Walid's predicament, slowly stripping away any and all comforts and leaving us in a place of deeply upsetting, real life horror. (Although if we've been paying any attention, we'd know it was inevitable.) In a just world this play would be slated for production immediately.

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    A play about Korean, and a laugh until you cry elegy that holds anyone who failed to learn a language well enough core (Kor) to their identity. I saw a reading of this play last night and it blew me away, the scene with Grandpapoots is theatrical brilliance & did that rare theatrical thing where you're like "Jesus Christ, I'm laughing, & I'm meant to be, but it's so awful! What the f---!" Ashil is a mad genius with a giant heart; I can't wait to see this play fully realized, hopefully very soon.

    A play about Korean, and a laugh until you cry elegy that holds anyone who failed to learn a language well enough core (Kor) to their identity. I saw a reading of this play last night and it blew me away, the scene with Grandpapoots is theatrical brilliance & did that rare theatrical thing where you're like "Jesus Christ, I'm laughing, & I'm meant to be, but it's so awful! What the f---!" Ashil is a mad genius with a giant heart; I can't wait to see this play fully realized, hopefully very soon.

  • jose sebastian alberdi: Melt.Punish by James La Bella
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    WOOF! (And not just a sound hungry furries make ((read the play b4 you get mad at me)). A deceptively harrowing night of theatre that looks at the "justice" doled onto the villain(s) that shaped (y)our youth and early adulthood. Kaleidoscopic in feeling but simple like a magic trick in its playing--just two people on a stage playing pretend--Melt.Punish is scary, sad, and quietly answers its own thirst for blood and answers. Is it true? I don't know... but the witch will still melt regardless.

    WOOF! (And not just a sound hungry furries make ((read the play b4 you get mad at me)). A deceptively harrowing night of theatre that looks at the "justice" doled onto the villain(s) that shaped (y)our youth and early adulthood. Kaleidoscopic in feeling but simple like a magic trick in its playing--just two people on a stage playing pretend--Melt.Punish is scary, sad, and quietly answers its own thirst for blood and answers. Is it true? I don't know... but the witch will still melt regardless.

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  • jose sebastian alberdi: DEAD GIRL’S QUINCEAÑERA by Phanésia Pharel
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    A snappy, hilarious, and ultimately heart-gripping play about teenaged girls on the brink of symbolic 15 year old womanhood trying to find their place--and missing friend-- in our often messed up world. Touches upon a bunch of different topics in a way that feels deft, natural, and best of all, story motivated. + an amazing P.S.

    A snappy, hilarious, and ultimately heart-gripping play about teenaged girls on the brink of symbolic 15 year old womanhood trying to find their place--and missing friend-- in our often messed up world. Touches upon a bunch of different topics in a way that feels deft, natural, and best of all, story motivated. + an amazing P.S.

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  • jose sebastian alberdi: French Boy Cigarettes by R. Forest Malley
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    A play that's as funny as it is distressing. There is so much to admire and enjoy in Malley's play--from the dialogue, to the humor, to the theatricality, to the poetry--but the thing I find most moving, the thing I keep coming back to, is the rare depiction of a grandmother and her grandson grappling with the ways in which the men in their romantic lives have used and hurt them. Like grandmother like grandson. A play that lets every actor shine. I can't wait to see it produced.

    A play that's as funny as it is distressing. There is so much to admire and enjoy in Malley's play--from the dialogue, to the humor, to the theatricality, to the poetry--but the thing I find most moving, the thing I keep coming back to, is the rare depiction of a grandmother and her grandson grappling with the ways in which the men in their romantic lives have used and hurt them. Like grandmother like grandson. A play that lets every actor shine. I can't wait to see it produced.

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  • jose sebastian alberdi: Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them by A. Rey Pamatmat
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    One of my favorite plays of all times. When I first read it I remember knowing that I was deeply moved and enamored with the play, but I also feared thinking about it too much because I was afraid that it would unlock some eternal wailing inside of me, or make me reckon with something I'm still too afraid to touch inside of my heart. That's a very dramatic way to say this play is beautiful gem we should all experience at one point in our lifetime because we're all better people after it.

    One of my favorite plays of all times. When I first read it I remember knowing that I was deeply moved and enamored with the play, but I also feared thinking about it too much because I was afraid that it would unlock some eternal wailing inside of me, or make me reckon with something I'm still too afraid to touch inside of my heart. That's a very dramatic way to say this play is beautiful gem we should all experience at one point in our lifetime because we're all better people after it.

    ”
  • jose sebastian alberdi: The RENT Play by Jan Rosenberg
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    This play made me laugh and fed my often-emotional nostalgia monster. A love letter to every theatre lover who started loving theatre because of musicals / online & IRL communities that touched and knew our deepest secrets and desires. This play exists as a deeply entertaining archive and snapshot of a bygone (very special but did we realize?) time in Broadway history and I'd love to see it on its feet. Thanks for this, Jan.

    This play made me laugh and fed my often-emotional nostalgia monster. A love letter to every theatre lover who started loving theatre because of musicals / online & IRL communities that touched and knew our deepest secrets and desires. This play exists as a deeply entertaining archive and snapshot of a bygone (very special but did we realize?) time in Broadway history and I'd love to see it on its feet. Thanks for this, Jan.

    ”