Recommended by Arianna Rose

I had the great pleasure of seeing a reading of 500/501 at the 2022 William Inge Theatre Festival Playlab. Playwright Taylor Sklenar has crafted a touching, wise, funny and serious piece about the cycle of life. You'll come to feel great compassion for the characters and the situation they find themselves in. Though powerless to determine their fate, they do have power over how they approach it. A play about connection, the life cycle, and friendship. Highly recommended.

I can give no higher praise than to say I wish I had thought to write this play! I had the great pleasure of seeing a reading of Some Specter at the 2022 William Inge Theatre Festival Playlab. Equal parts laugh-out loud comedy and a serious depiction of survivor's guilt - not an easy task, but playwright John Adams pulls off the feat with great craft and love for his characters. I would happily sit through an extended series of Ben's Sleuths. Would love to see this produced!!

I had the great pleasure of seeing a reading of DISCHARGED at the 2022 William Inge Theatre Festival Playlab. Playwright Charles Ranum has crafted a gripping, intense, compassionate look at war veterans and the challenges they face with PTSD and coming home. A highly recommended read - and please produce!

I had the great good luck to see a reading of this play at the 2022 William Inge Theatre Festival Playlab in Independence, Kansas. A gorgeous piece of writing that resonates with authenticity, compassion, and philosophy. It will break your heart and uplift you in the same sentence. Kudos to playwright Franky Gonzalez. He's been winning all the awards and residencies and deservedly so!

I had the great pleasure of seeing a reading of Gun Story at the 22nd Annual William Inge Playlab Festival in Kansas. Playwright Karen Saari has expertly crafted a short play that takes us from peals of laughter to stunned silence. Her characters are relatable, flawed, and seeking commonality. Gun Story is about so much more than the title implies. Would love to see a full production.

As someone who has long been fascinated by crop circles, I thoroughly enjoyed playwright Charles Scott Jones' foray into Love, Alien Style. Chock full of laugh-out-loud lines, yet presenting a true conflict in Wilbur's inability to find a mate. The ALIEN FARMER'S WIFE is clever yet speaks truth about courtship and what women want. Playwright Jones had me at "(Peggy tucks his antenna under his hat)". Would love to see this produced!

Oh my goodness. I really need to go pee now. Playwright John Busser has written a funny, no-holds-barred (literally) satire on the corporate ladder. This would be hysterical to stage and watch. What a hoot!

"We are all many things". John Mabey is many things; but for sure he is an accomplished playwright who moves us, educates us and challenges us with his work. A Tragedy of Owls is a story that needed to be told. I will hold these characters in the light and express my gratitude to John for writing about them. Read it, produce it and share their story.

I can give no higher praise than to say I wish I had written this play. The richness of the dialogue with many brilliant lines; the pathos of the two women, the backdrop of art, muse, the underratedness of women painters, the jealousy of men, the price women pay to stay alive...loneliness. All set against the backdrop of the Automat, and IN the Automat painting. Pure genius. Playwright Aly Kantor is one to read, follow, and savor.

Reading - and seeing - a Jennifer O'Grady play is always a treat. Whether it's thought-provoking, confrontational, funny or romantic, they are all well-crafted to a T and enormously affecting. EXPECTATIONS is no exception. The sparseness of the language, the rhythm and pace of this short play, belie the layers and layers of sadness, betrayal and angst. Playwright O'Grady masterfully leaves those spaces for the audience to use their imagination and has created an incredibly satisfying play. MY expectations were more than met!