Recommended by Audrey Lang

I read ALLOND(R)A for the first time more than a year ago, back when I was still too shy to write NPX recommendations, and I've thought about it ever since. Rereading it now was just as enthralling as the first time, and I fell in love all over again. Watching Allonda come into herself and her identity is a remarkable experience, and witnessing the moments of vulnerability and tenderness that each other character has is equally lovely. This is a truly magnificent play.

"The Man in the Sukkah" does a great job in addressing the nuances that come along with having Judaism as a part of your identity, and so much more. The parallels between Elaine and Aviva, and between lives and stories, are compelling. The role that color and colorblindness play in this story is also so interesting, and unlike anything I've ever read or seen before!

"The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls" was such an exciting play to read. The way that Meg Miroshnik blends the magic and mystery of the Russian fairy tales with the "real world," and the way that the lines between the two are blurred more and more as the story is told, are stunning.

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this play on NPX. Lady M and all of the other characters she takes on during the play have compelling, unique storytelling voices, tackling vital issues connected to their identities as African-American women.

In "Off White; Or the Arab House Party Play," Alyssa Haddad addresses post-9/11 Islamophobia with authentically teenage voices and doesn't feel the need to redeem any character who doesn't deserve to be redeemed. The humorous moments of the play made me laugh out loud while reading it, but they also draw vital attention to the moments when a joke stops being a joke.

This play about grief and deep connections and friendship and family made me laugh and cry over the course of reading it. I especially appreciated how Esther and Anthony talked openly to each other about big topics like race, and were willing and able to change their minds because of their profound connection and love for each other.

This is one of the best plays I've ever read about the emotions and reactions related to experiencing trauma. Yuli's journey of sorting through what happened to her and figuring out how to heal is powerful, as are her interactions with the complex, layered people she finds along the way.

My jaw DROPPED reading this play. But even before that moment, "small town icons" has such clarity in its characters. They're fun to listen to until they're not, but they are always compelling. And I love the way that SMJ's story fills a whole space. Even though I was reading the play rather than seeing it, I could visualize the action and physicality in a way that makes me excited to see the play performed!

Reading Stoop Pigeons felt like reading time and place - like watching an incredibly detailed, incredibly powerful time lapse video. Christin Eve Cato's play depicts the gentrification of a neighborhood clearly and theatrically, with characters who I want to keep on watching long after the final scene. I would love to see this play produced!

A great ensemble piece for young actors that really does give everyone a chance to be seen and heard from in a meaningful way. "The Importance" has a lot of characters, but I really was able to keep track of all of them. Accuardi has done a wonderful job of making every single one character a distinct, unique, and interesting person.