Recommended by Arianna Rose

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!

Rome is indeed ready for a woman war correspondent! Lenny Hort's clever satire on the stabbing of Julius Caesar, and the resulting media coverage, bears some striking resemblance to what happened to the United States on January 6 2021. Playwright Holt effectively conveys an all too familiar scenario between co-workers Terence and Claudia, and brings us right into the moment, which is still shocking even though we know what happens. I was lucky enough to see a zoom production of this by Rainy Day Artists Collective. Produce it!

A comic delight about the harsh realities of internet dating when you reach a certain age. Playwright O’Neill-Butler delivers another impeccably crafted piece with relatable characters and some very humorous lines. Read it and produce it!

Playwright Charles Scott Jones has also mastered the fine art of the logline/synopsis. Just reading about THE BIG NAP made me download it. The originality, craft, and homage to the film noir genre are spot-on and so enjoyable. On a side note, it made me miss Hawaii! Hope and Finn are intriguing, multi-layered characters and that's quite a feat for a 10 minute play. Kudos to the playwright. I'd write more, but I feel a pineapple martini calling my name...

A lovely play about father-daughter relationships, a daughter ready to spread her wings out in the world, and her stuffed bear that helped her through her childhood. The characters arcs for Jenny, her father and Fwuffels are so beautifully and cleanly defined; this is a treat for actors to play and for directors to stage. Playwright Jim Moss deftly reminds us of our own childhoods and talismans. I hope this play receives many productions and so does Fwuffels I dare say!