Recommended by Chris Gacinski

This play was intense! Sickles immerses you in a dystopian world with the first beat and carries it all the way through the end with poignant dialogue and well-written characters. Sickles has created a complexly woven tapestry of emotion as we witness the growth of these two young boys, and the decline of their countries. Ultimately, Sickles’s has an important didactic element encapsulated in “Marianas Trench:” finding positivity in times of turmoil and oppression. This piece is an array of flowers that bloomed in a wasteland. One of the best I’ve read in recent memory.

Current, comedic, and engaging, Wagner chronicles a young woman’s method of passing time during quarantine. “Warrior, Level Eleven” blends theatre and video games for an overall unique theatre experience. Any actresses looking for a current monologue should look no further than this piece! I cannot wait to dig deeper into Wagner’s oeuvre.

If you know, you know. This had me rolling.

Dave Osmundsen has created a scenario we are all familiar with: forced to reside within the four walls of our abodes. This sense of isolation is exemplified through “Only You Can Reject Jelly Beans,” and Otis’s way of passing the unknown amount of time he’s encapsulated in his place may make you laugh, but it will most definitely make you think.

Gill’s “Cold Dead Heart” explores two lovers separated by mortality. The writer’s firm grasp of relationships plays heavily into the success of the piece, as the fantasy elements amplify the story and provide a unique reading experience. Those interested in a contemporary approach to the inclusion of vampirism in literature should look towards this play. It’s a one of a kind play by a one of a kind writer.

Sickles has flawlessly executed the blend of poetry and theatre in “Bulletproof Love.” Each line flows beautifully into the next with very detailed prose outlining this relationship separated by prison bars. A powerful display of Scott Sickles’s writing ability and his rich, complex characters.

Philip Middleton Williams pairs two unlikely people in a desert, and what follows is a hopeful and comedic exchange that discusses art, life, and their futures endeavors. It’s a play that’s simply excellent; a blend of the minimalist found in the absurd, but delivered with this maximum exuberance found in Williams’s writing style. On top of all of this, “Tucumcari Tonite!” would be very easy to stage and produce, which is an added bonus to an already fantastic script. Any writers who are looking to do a lot with a little should consider reading this script.

This play hit me over the head with a brick. It was an unbelievable experience reading this intense and unforgiving play. This piece will leave you in tears and breathless for the complex characters Osmundsen has crafted. The stories they have to tell about their relationships and the painful fact that life can be unforgiving. There is an emotional opulence within “Something for Sondra,” which would be an unforgettable experience to watch live.

For those who are not familiar with the writing of the immeasurably talented Philip Middleton Williams, “Can’t Live Without You” is a great first piece. This piece is relatable, and discusses the importance of authenticity and creativity. I’m sure we’ve all envisioned our characters in some capacity, but Philip takes it to the next level in his pristine writing style. A must-read for today’s writer.

What a wild ride, and it was only 21 pages long. Bryan Stubbles creates a disturbing scenario. One man, five girlfriends, and a whole lot of drama boils over as his partners are all together in one room. Discoveries these characters make will make you laugh, make you gag, and make you think. If you’re looking for a fresh and unique voice within playwrighting, Bryan Stubbles’s “Bloodstained Marigolds on a Perverse Landscape” will most definitely deliver.