Recommended by Emily McClain

  • Emily McClain: Marianas Trench (Part One of The Second World Trilogy)

    An achingly beautiful portrait of adolescent first-love managing to grow, despite the dystopian world Teddy and Anzor find themselves existing within. From the first otherworldly description of the anglerfish to the final monologue, it is a deeply impactful and IMPORTANT story. I am so grateful to have experienced this story by reading it, and I cannot wait to see it realized on stage.

    An achingly beautiful portrait of adolescent first-love managing to grow, despite the dystopian world Teddy and Anzor find themselves existing within. From the first otherworldly description of the anglerfish to the final monologue, it is a deeply impactful and IMPORTANT story. I am so grateful to have experienced this story by reading it, and I cannot wait to see it realized on stage.

  • Emily McClain: Glint

    An excellently paced, quirky 10-minute play. Think Cyrano de Bergerac meets The Exorcist. Humorous and heartfelt! Wonderful work!

    An excellently paced, quirky 10-minute play. Think Cyrano de Bergerac meets The Exorcist. Humorous and heartfelt! Wonderful work!

  • Emily McClain: The Parking Lot

    A really interesting spin on the classic "Couple Defining/Redefining Their Relationship" within the framework of our new (but hopefully temporary) normal. Experiencing this story in a drive-in venue will expand our definition of how live theatre can work now while maintaining the purity of what propels good theatre in the first place: our need for authentic human connection. Major kudos to Szymkowicz for creating an intensely relatable couple, both in their humor and their heartache. Looking forward to seeing future productions of this play!

    A really interesting spin on the classic "Couple Defining/Redefining Their Relationship" within the framework of our new (but hopefully temporary) normal. Experiencing this story in a drive-in venue will expand our definition of how live theatre can work now while maintaining the purity of what propels good theatre in the first place: our need for authentic human connection. Major kudos to Szymkowicz for creating an intensely relatable couple, both in their humor and their heartache. Looking forward to seeing future productions of this play!

  • Emily McClain: Courtesy and Consideration

    Delving right into deliciate territory but with humor and genuine warmth, Hardy's two-hander about ensuring you aren't caught with expired condoms "should the need arise" is a wonderful peek into the psyche of male friendship, aging, and the ebb and flow of sexual prowess. Simple to stage but with snappy dialogue, it would be a fun & welcome addition to ten minute play festival. Excellent work!

    Delving right into deliciate territory but with humor and genuine warmth, Hardy's two-hander about ensuring you aren't caught with expired condoms "should the need arise" is a wonderful peek into the psyche of male friendship, aging, and the ebb and flow of sexual prowess. Simple to stage but with snappy dialogue, it would be a fun & welcome addition to ten minute play festival. Excellent work!

  • Emily McClain: TITANIC TOO (from the STILL FEISTY COLLECTION)

    This is a wonderful and surprisingly gentle comedy about an older woman, her adult son, and the nuances of their relationship that are explored over a series of fishing trips. The dialogue is grounded and the characters are authentic. The play features great roles for mature actors and would be a great fit in a summertime 10 Minute Play festival!

    This is a wonderful and surprisingly gentle comedy about an older woman, her adult son, and the nuances of their relationship that are explored over a series of fishing trips. The dialogue is grounded and the characters are authentic. The play features great roles for mature actors and would be a great fit in a summertime 10 Minute Play festival!

  • Emily McClain: 38 COOKIES, 39 REASONS [A MONOLOGUE]

    Wow! I was so impacted by this play! The premise is simple: an actor consumes almost an entire package of cookies while listing specific reasons why they eat. And yet beyond that simple idea hides the truth of our relationship with food: taking pleasure from food, comfort, solace, or soothing a part of ourselves that never seems to be "full." It's darkly comedic but so incredibly meaningful. In the monologue's final, powerful image we see a person in defiance of society's expectations as well as embracing the complex relationship we have with food and with our bodies. Excellent work!

    Wow! I was so impacted by this play! The premise is simple: an actor consumes almost an entire package of cookies while listing specific reasons why they eat. And yet beyond that simple idea hides the truth of our relationship with food: taking pleasure from food, comfort, solace, or soothing a part of ourselves that never seems to be "full." It's darkly comedic but so incredibly meaningful. In the monologue's final, powerful image we see a person in defiance of society's expectations as well as embracing the complex relationship we have with food and with our bodies. Excellent work!

  • Emily McClain: Demon Eyes

    A wonderful allegorical tale about the search for identity that can sometimes expose rifts and secrets within families, DEMON EYES has an epic fantasy scale boiled down into a family drama. The relationship between Julessa and Cassie is very believable in its complexity and depth of feeling. These characters are faced with such high-stakes choices throughout and the play has a satisfying but not predictable conclusion. Very well written! Thank you!

    A wonderful allegorical tale about the search for identity that can sometimes expose rifts and secrets within families, DEMON EYES has an epic fantasy scale boiled down into a family drama. The relationship between Julessa and Cassie is very believable in its complexity and depth of feeling. These characters are faced with such high-stakes choices throughout and the play has a satisfying but not predictable conclusion. Very well written! Thank you!

  • Emily McClain: BLEED

    Such a powerful range of emotion packed into a short play! Grief and its gut-wrenching partner-in-crime, resentment wreak havoc on a married couple who, despite their flaws, are real and raw and unflinchingly portrayed on the page. Beautiful work! Thank you!

    Such a powerful range of emotion packed into a short play! Grief and its gut-wrenching partner-in-crime, resentment wreak havoc on a married couple who, despite their flaws, are real and raw and unflinchingly portrayed on the page. Beautiful work! Thank you!

  • Emily McClain: George's Radio

    In just a few short pages, this play manages to capture a dystopian landscape of misinformation and confusion- both in the large-scale, global sense and in the intimate confines of a couple. The rising anxiety of the world outside creates a real sense of dread for the main character and the audience. Excellent work and (sadly) so very, very, VERY relevant. RIP dear leader. Long live woman with kabob skewer!

    In just a few short pages, this play manages to capture a dystopian landscape of misinformation and confusion- both in the large-scale, global sense and in the intimate confines of a couple. The rising anxiety of the world outside creates a real sense of dread for the main character and the audience. Excellent work and (sadly) so very, very, VERY relevant. RIP dear leader. Long live woman with kabob skewer!

  • Emily McClain: FOUR POINTS

    The dialogue in this play has a haunting rhythm to it and the details of the events that led the characters to their current situations unfold at such a natural, but still unexpected, pace. The strained relationships between the women create such an undercurrent of tension and conflict, all the while remaining straightforward and businesslike. Excellent work! Thank you for this play!

    The dialogue in this play has a haunting rhythm to it and the details of the events that led the characters to their current situations unfold at such a natural, but still unexpected, pace. The strained relationships between the women create such an undercurrent of tension and conflict, all the while remaining straightforward and businesslike. Excellent work! Thank you for this play!