Recommended by Nora Louise Syran

Seeing the source of our pain and facing it takes such courage. But epiphanies are essential to moving forward in life. A lovely short piece with lots of heart. Listen to a super audio production on Theatrical Shenanigans: https://theatricalshenanigans.podbean.com/e/international-womens-day-sp…

Great fun. You'll be cheering on team #7. Do they win the writing competition? No spoilers here, but there's more at stake for these lovingly crafted characters than just winning a writing contest and being published. This musical is packed with catchy tunes, a large cast perfect for highschool productions, and plenty of heart.

Who is the bereavement leave for when we're trapped in a world of quotas and nothing else matters? While reading this play, time, while precisely indicated throughout, strangely enough becomes meaningless and you're caught up in the whirring blur of a frighteningly godless routine punctuated by precisely crafted moments of real humanity --both the hopeful and the despicable. One week. Glimmers of the threatening and chaotic world outside the room are echoed within its walls and yet moments of humanity's strength and propensity to awareness shine through. Stunning.

Prillaman takes Harold and Kumar to an entirely new level--an out-of-theatre experience. Four lovable characters and Petunia the Bong remind us that it's not the destination that's important, but the journey. And what a meta-theatrical trip this is. A "creation" that is all at once a "mess" and super fun. And sweet. And freaky. And physical. And yeah, fun. Nope, there are way too many things running our "walking twig" anxious lives. Prillaman reminds us to stop, listen to the corn.

So mooooving!!!! Loved it. Thank you, Mr Martin. "So what does a herd need with a dairy cow who doesn’t give milk?" I love this short tale of self discovery. Bravery to dare to dream. I was clapping along with Suzie and want to give Beau a great big hug for his encouragement.

Haunting and visceral and yet strangely hopeful in the inevitable cycles to come. Daniel Prillaman's darkly poetic "The Ashen Crown" was "mesmerizing." It reminded me of Macbeth, but from a feminist angle. Weird Sister(s), barrenness, violence, greed for power and land, balanced by the need for sacrifice and regeneration. Darkly poetic. A stage combat designer's dream. Strong female leads. Not my usual thing to chose to read, funny enough, but in Prillaman's hands, I was utterly drawn in and never lost my way, the "cardinal" directions clear. Bravo. A deep bow of respect to this playwright.

What a lovely tribute to art and love. Subtle portrayals of the characters, natural dialogue and exposition make this easy to stage play a real work of art. Bravo.

I love the urgency in this short monologue. This piece drew me in. I feel I know her very well. Ellis feels she does not have agency in her own life. But she's been working toward this moment for some time now. It seems to me that Ellis knows exactly what she wants. And is daring to ask herself the tough question: "Should I stay or should I go." Wanderlust is a marvelously dangerous thing. Travel, no heal-all. But Ellis needs to find this out. For herself.

Wow! This short three-hander roped me in from start to finish...is it, finished? Nope, you can't unhear this one. Bravo, Daniel Prillaman.

This rodent doesn't get enough respect. An adorably angry monologue. Well done.