Recommended by Jordan Bird

Oh, I like this play very much. The relationship between Him and Her feels very specific and simultaneously universal, as does their conflict. In this piece, Haymer makes the expected seem kind of extraordinary -- a slice of the life of a couple learning the ropes of being tethered together in more ways than one: that they are both moved in the same way to take the same actions without discussing it first. They create a problem for themselves, but at the end of this play you feel confident they can face the challenge together.

What a beautiful, heart-felt exploration of kinship between two men: their conflict is real, immediate, and visceral because the love between them feels so true. There are so many gems tucked inside this short play.

This play beautifully uses folklore to comment on contemporary relationships: when two women fight for a cheating man's attention, neither woman wins. There are so many really powerful images in this play -- Iku (Death) becoming the supper table; Obba sacrificing a part of her body to win the affections of her husband. And the characters' narration of events as they happen highlights the circular repetition of this story. Frazier's dialogue is both poetic and grounded, striking a really unique balance. I would love to see this play onstage!

What a lovely play about connection, vulnerability, and possibility. Leona and Jack come to each other under strange circumstances, but they end up connecting in surprising ways. Jordan Ford's dialogue is air-tight, natural, and -easy- : there's such a wonderful ease about the way these character's communicate. And Ford captures really perfectly how disorienting it is to be 26-years-old without a plan or sense of purpose. I love Jack and Leona; I'm excited to read more of Jordan Ford's work.

This play is so intriguing and inspiring; it asks deep questions about humanity (and, thankfully, offers no simple answers). I love the conversation about genetic and machine code -- how all code is capable of evolution, adaptability, and change. A fascinating look at where world militaries are headed, and what that means for human nature.

Absolutely gut-wrenching, and necessary. A deep exploration into the rituals of grief -- how we say goodbye, how we begin to heal. The image of laying out Travis' clothing on the bed is theatrically beautiful, and also so human. Holly's fear that if she begins to scream, she'll never be able to stop... how many mothers in this country are thinking the same thing? And how many more will feel that way in the future before things change? A call to action and a call to listen to the voices of the mothers who have lost their babies to violence.

Wow. This play hurts -- it's beautiful and fierce and brave. The visual of Saleem putting on his mother's robe to become a warrior is simple but so rich. And Sabina's attempts to give her son a male role-model by encouraging him to engage in corporate prayer at Mosque is, again, such a simple but profound image: a mother choosing peace and ritual to strengthen her son, and a son choosing his mother's robe to make himself feel strong. A really brilliant short play.

DELIVERY is a beautiful and heart-breaking exploration of the lives of three students whose worlds have been touched by police violence. Robinson has gifted us with the opportunity to spend some time with three incredible, funny, talented, goofy young artists -- it hurts when it's over.

This play is a punch in the gut. Deep, rich characters and lovely musical rhythms make this play shine. A story about sacrifice and memory that is specific to these characters and their situation while being simultaneously universal.

This play was lovely and extremely timely. I'm grateful to have spent some time with these characters, particularly Yvette and Nina -- it feels like a rare treat when you read a play with characters you wish you could interact with in life. A beautiful exploration of deep love and mutual respect between a mother and daughter who are navigating the waters of their identity and place in history. And the ending moment is so magnificently intimate, it felt like eavesdropping on someone else's treasured memory. I wish I could spend more time with these people.