Recommended by Emily McClain

  • Emily McClain: Tucumcari Tonite!

    I thoroughly enjoyed hearing this play at the Valdez Theatre Conference! Williams brings his wit and humor to a stressful situation of two men, seemingly at odds and with nothing to offer each other, and we get the wonderful experience of watching their friendship and connection blossom in real-time over the run time of this one act play. Beautiful work!

    I thoroughly enjoyed hearing this play at the Valdez Theatre Conference! Williams brings his wit and humor to a stressful situation of two men, seemingly at odds and with nothing to offer each other, and we get the wonderful experience of watching their friendship and connection blossom in real-time over the run time of this one act play. Beautiful work!

  • Emily McClain: Kill Shelter

    I had the sheer pleasure of hearing this read at the Valdez Theatre Conference and very few plays activated my "director brain" more than this one. The characters are beautifully drawn and deliciously complex. The relationships that drive the action of the play are heightened by the circumstances of their occupations and situations- but for me, the way Wellman handles moral and philosophical questions with such a gentle touch is an absolute triumph. This is a play that will create the kinds of "parking lot conversations" we need to be having. Produce this play!

    I had the sheer pleasure of hearing this read at the Valdez Theatre Conference and very few plays activated my "director brain" more than this one. The characters are beautifully drawn and deliciously complex. The relationships that drive the action of the play are heightened by the circumstances of their occupations and situations- but for me, the way Wellman handles moral and philosophical questions with such a gentle touch is an absolute triumph. This is a play that will create the kinds of "parking lot conversations" we need to be having. Produce this play!

  • Emily McClain: Uncovered: A Mostly Monologue Play About Women and Books

    We all have *that one* book that came into our lives at just the right moment and spoke something magical into us and changed the way we fundamentally look at the world (for good or ill). UNCOVERED allows those experiences to be taken out and examined within the context of a monthly book club meeting. The characters are beautifully drawn, the dialogue between the women is so sharp and the monologues are all so strong and so different, it would be a director's dream. Read and produce this play-- it's a celebration of the power of words!

    We all have *that one* book that came into our lives at just the right moment and spoke something magical into us and changed the way we fundamentally look at the world (for good or ill). UNCOVERED allows those experiences to be taken out and examined within the context of a monthly book club meeting. The characters are beautifully drawn, the dialogue between the women is so sharp and the monologues are all so strong and so different, it would be a director's dream. Read and produce this play-- it's a celebration of the power of words!

  • Emily McClain: The Springboard, or: What a Play Is or Can Be or Will Be, or: a Thank-You Note to Matthew Weaver

    This play captures the way a vocal group can easily overwhelm your own creative vision, influencing us in ways we don't want. But the play points out the remedy for those unhelpful-yet-impossible-to-ignore-completely voices: the support of a fellow artist. Martin's (very accurate) portrayal of Matthew Weaver reminds us of the power of an understanding voice and the importance of surrounding yourself with artists who care about you as a fellow creative. It's a love letter to the playwriting community. May we find it for ourselves and may we be it for others. Read this beautiful and uplifting...

    This play captures the way a vocal group can easily overwhelm your own creative vision, influencing us in ways we don't want. But the play points out the remedy for those unhelpful-yet-impossible-to-ignore-completely voices: the support of a fellow artist. Martin's (very accurate) portrayal of Matthew Weaver reminds us of the power of an understanding voice and the importance of surrounding yourself with artists who care about you as a fellow creative. It's a love letter to the playwriting community. May we find it for ourselves and may we be it for others. Read this beautiful and uplifting play!

  • Emily McClain: Action Figures

    I love this sweet and touching 1-minute play! I appreciate the emphasis on the messages that we send our children through toys and the lasting impact those messages can have. Beautiful work!

    I love this sweet and touching 1-minute play! I appreciate the emphasis on the messages that we send our children through toys and the lasting impact those messages can have. Beautiful work!

  • Emily McClain: SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY

    I received this play in my DPS Book Club this quarter and I absolutely loved it! Hutchinson's dialogue is genuine and the core relationships of the play are so unique. Tino is such an incredible protagonist, and his connection both with Bernadette and Deja makes the ending of the play so powerful. It's an uplifting story without being saccharine or "after-school-special." Beautiful work- I'd love to see it produced here in Atlanta!

    I received this play in my DPS Book Club this quarter and I absolutely loved it! Hutchinson's dialogue is genuine and the core relationships of the play are so unique. Tino is such an incredible protagonist, and his connection both with Bernadette and Deja makes the ending of the play so powerful. It's an uplifting story without being saccharine or "after-school-special." Beautiful work- I'd love to see it produced here in Atlanta!

  • Emily McClain: 100 Things I Never Said To You

    As a high school theatre teacher, I always appreciate Szymkowicz's approach to teen characters and dialogue and this play is no exception. The loss of a student named Julie prompts a kaleidoscope of emotions and responses from the student body. Memories (some funny, some heartbreakingly mundane, some touching and poignant) are shared as well as reflections on her death and how it impacts the larger community as well. It's as honest a portrayal of the many, many shades of grief as I've read in a long time. Beautiful work!

    As a high school theatre teacher, I always appreciate Szymkowicz's approach to teen characters and dialogue and this play is no exception. The loss of a student named Julie prompts a kaleidoscope of emotions and responses from the student body. Memories (some funny, some heartbreakingly mundane, some touching and poignant) are shared as well as reflections on her death and how it impacts the larger community as well. It's as honest a portrayal of the many, many shades of grief as I've read in a long time. Beautiful work!

  • Emily McClain: CHANGELING

    This play is full of rich and gorgeous language and the characters' conflict, while supernatural in origin, could not be more grounded in the reality of mothers and their children. So many amazing moments throughout, and it's a sound & lighting designer's playground! Cross deftly weaves lyrical verse with human emotion and the result is simply magical. I love this play!

    This play is full of rich and gorgeous language and the characters' conflict, while supernatural in origin, could not be more grounded in the reality of mothers and their children. So many amazing moments throughout, and it's a sound & lighting designer's playground! Cross deftly weaves lyrical verse with human emotion and the result is simply magical. I love this play!

  • Emily McClain: Ron Don Jon Juan

    Fox takes a humorous and unflinchingly honest look at a pattern of failed relationships in this short play. I really appreciated the use of the "What To Expect When You're Expecting The End" pamphlet framing device to move the piece along. Dark and very funny!

    Fox takes a humorous and unflinchingly honest look at a pattern of failed relationships in this short play. I really appreciated the use of the "What To Expect When You're Expecting The End" pamphlet framing device to move the piece along. Dark and very funny!

  • Emily McClain: MORTALS

    This experimental piece is a treasure trove for a creative team: lights and evocative soundscapes build the world that contains these two characters. Their journey is experienced and takes its own shape in a beautiful and poignant way. I can only imagine how moving it would be to see in production. Incredibly powerful work!

    This experimental piece is a treasure trove for a creative team: lights and evocative soundscapes build the world that contains these two characters. Their journey is experienced and takes its own shape in a beautiful and poignant way. I can only imagine how moving it would be to see in production. Incredibly powerful work!