Recommended by Stephen Kaplan

  • ELEVATOR GIRL
    5 Jul. 2019
    Surprising and unexpected moments throughout starting with a surprising and unexpected approach to the subject matter. Hoke takes on rape culture and sexual objectification through the lens of comic books and superheroes and the resulting piece forces new perspectives and a very necessary reexamination of these important topics.
  • The Space Between Her Legs
    2 Jun. 2019
    I LOVE this play! It checks off so many boxes - hysterical, provocative, witty, low brow and high brow humor, relevance, great dialogue, great characters, satirical... Antone's ability to tackle important subjects as reproductive rights, sexual expression, and gender equality (among others) in such an inventive and exciting way awes me. I would love to see this performed and hope that theatres everywhere will embrace this brilliant play.
  • Smiling Cat Candy Heart
    2 Jun. 2019
    What starts out as a seemingly cute and innocuous concept quickly blossoms as Webb holds many surprises up her writer's sleeves. She totally nails "teen-speak" and reveals the difficulties that people of all ages have in trying to communicate.
  • The Cages We Build
    1 Jun. 2019
    A brilliantly written play that masterfully captures the themes of bullying and ostracism and their effects and causes. With multiple parts for young actors to dive into, Hageman avoids the stereotypical tropes that often come with this subject matter and shows that she really understands the psyches of teenagers and what school feels like for so many of them. And just when things feel like they're at their darkest, she shines a light on the things we all can do to better understand and help each other and ourselves.
  • Egg Timer
    1 Jun. 2019
    What a fun and funny piece! Would be a blast for any audience (and a welcome addition to any evening of one-acts). It's rare to find a larger cast ten-minute play with each character providing so much fun for an actor to play. The tempo and pacing are brisk and the jokes smart and surprising.
  • Got a Light?
    1 Jun. 2019
    A great examination of a situation we know well, but Koppen finds even more modern relevance and connection than one may have noticed before. We sadly see how little things have changed in society, but the play still sparks (no pun intended) hope and possibility for how things could and should be, and how we all could learn more from history.
  • El Yunque in English
    1 Jun. 2019
    A startlingly simple and beautiful play that delves into the devastation that comes after a natural disaster (in this case, a hurricane in Puerto Rico). Diaz-Marcano finds the humanity that is often forgotten in these situations and creates a funny and touching tale of loss and hope.
  • FUTURE, HERE
    1 Jun. 2019
    Students of mine (high school seniors) chose this play to direct for their senior project and the actors and audience really enjoyed it. It's a Black Mirror/Twilight Zone-esque world that speaks to the anxieties and realities of teenagers today. The characters are fantastic and rich for young actors to explore and there is a lovely balance of humor mixed in with the seriousness of the situation in which the characters find themselves. Highly recommended.
  • Frozen Foods
    1 Jun. 2019
    A fantastic piece! Totally surprising - just when you think you know where it's going you're delighted to be thrown a brilliant curveball - and then another. Hilarious and simultaneously provocative and deeply philosophical. A pure joy to read and I'd love to see a production of it!
  • Better (Short)
    30 May. 2019
    Gatton immediately creates a full world peopled with fully developed characters that jump off the page - something so hard to do in a short piece. The dialogue is truthful and funny and biting and sad and honest...all at once. A brilliant piece.

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