Recommended by Nora Louise Syran

  • Nora Louise Syran: The Curse by Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend
    “

    Dellagiarino Feriend always has a terrific way of turning her tales into "more of a thing than I was prepared for"! Love the openness of the ending.

    Dellagiarino Feriend always has a terrific way of turning her tales into "more of a thing than I was prepared for"! Love the openness of the ending.

    ”
  • Nora Louise Syran: Cremains to Be Seen by Anastasia Wild
    “

    Dark and delightful! You had me at the opening line: "I bet you are just dying to meet Mr. Murphy" ! Brava.

    Dark and delightful! You had me at the opening line: "I bet you are just dying to meet Mr. Murphy" ! Brava.

    ”
  • Nora Louise Syran: A RAINY NIGHT IN HOLLYWOOD - one-act based on actual events in 1940's Hollywood. by Tom Erb
    “

    Sweet! I so enjoyed my time with these two characters. Lovely characterizations of both Rita and George. Bravo

    Sweet! I so enjoyed my time with these two characters. Lovely characterizations of both Rita and George. Bravo

    ”
  • Nora Louise Syran: Better Call Shoenstein by John Busser and Morey Norkin
    “

    Totally Bonkers! But as I recalled these two characters mentioned only once in each of these playwrights' original Roman confections, I had to read this -- and oh, the sweet smell of success...or is that roasted lamb? It doesn't matter. Want a laugh? You can't go wrong with Busser and Norkin. Borkin? Bousskin? Norsser? No matter.

    Totally Bonkers! But as I recalled these two characters mentioned only once in each of these playwrights' original Roman confections, I had to read this -- and oh, the sweet smell of success...or is that roasted lamb? It doesn't matter. Want a laugh? You can't go wrong with Busser and Norkin. Borkin? Bousskin? Norsser? No matter.

    ”
  • Nora Louise Syran: The Adventures of Uta, the Wandering Uterus by Tom Moran
    “

    Great fun! Wish I'd had this play for my students to read while studying Medea -- they were skeptical and never believed me about the Wandering Uterus theory and the ridiculous claims men have had about women's bodies throughout the centuries...but Moran does it, he takes his (!?) uterus on a literal "road trip" and the results are "hyster"-ical (pun intended)! Favorite line: "Do the testes ever have to deal with this shit?" Brilliant.

    Great fun! Wish I'd had this play for my students to read while studying Medea -- they were skeptical and never believed me about the Wandering Uterus theory and the ridiculous claims men have had about women's bodies throughout the centuries...but Moran does it, he takes his (!?) uterus on a literal "road trip" and the results are "hyster"-ical (pun intended)! Favorite line: "Do the testes ever have to deal with this shit?" Brilliant.

    ”
  • Nora Louise Syran: We'd Rather Know If You Weren't Coming Back by Dave Osmundsen
    “

    Osmundsen takes us on a contemporary ghost tour which blurs the boundaries of mystery, history, suspense and poetry. Good cyclical storytelling with tales of ghosts throughout. Well-drawn characters, a compelling and empathetic storyline with a satisfying conclusion full of release, promise and... ghosts. Bravo.

    Osmundsen takes us on a contemporary ghost tour which blurs the boundaries of mystery, history, suspense and poetry. Good cyclical storytelling with tales of ghosts throughout. Well-drawn characters, a compelling and empathetic storyline with a satisfying conclusion full of release, promise and... ghosts. Bravo.

    ”
  • Nora Louise Syran: Black River: A Love Story by Ken Love
    “

    Haunting. In just reading BLACK RIVER, I felt swept along with the flow of the poetry of Love's dialogue and imagery which is, for me, so reminiscent of Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" and Meeropol's "Strange Fruit" and would love to see it on stage. This one will stay with me a long time.

    Haunting. In just reading BLACK RIVER, I felt swept along with the flow of the poetry of Love's dialogue and imagery which is, for me, so reminiscent of Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" and Meeropol's "Strange Fruit" and would love to see it on stage. This one will stay with me a long time.

    ”
  • Nora Louise Syran: Tea with Marie (Antoinette) by Dawn Branch
    “

    "If you are a composer, you write music. If you are an actor, you act. If you are a painter, you paint. The world owes you nothing. But you do owe yourself the decency to try "-- wise words from Marie Antoinette; from one woman to another woman across time.

    "If you are a composer, you write music. If you are an actor, you act. If you are a painter, you paint. The world owes you nothing. But you do owe yourself the decency to try "-- wise words from Marie Antoinette; from one woman to another woman across time.

    ”
  • Nora Louise Syran: The Beatrix Potter Defense Society by Janine Sobeck Knighton
    “

    Teenage Beatrix Potter has "come to [her] spot to figure out a way to stay at the Lakes - forever." Janine Sobeck Knighton's lovely imagery and dialogue captures the beauty of the Lakes, the humor and joy of Benjamin Bunny and his friends in clogs and coats, the isolation of a young artist and the wisdom of a new friend who will help her see that "it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks." If you adore stories about artists and tales full of magic, this play is for you.

    Teenage Beatrix Potter has "come to [her] spot to figure out a way to stay at the Lakes - forever." Janine Sobeck Knighton's lovely imagery and dialogue captures the beauty of the Lakes, the humor and joy of Benjamin Bunny and his friends in clogs and coats, the isolation of a young artist and the wisdom of a new friend who will help her see that "it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks." If you adore stories about artists and tales full of magic, this play is for you.

    ”
  • Nora Louise Syran: Falling Off the Edge (Full Length) by Paul Donnelly
    “

    "It’s not rational. It’s also not complicated. It’s a great and simple truth." This, for me, is what sums up Donnelly's lovely, unique rom-com with its beautifully rendered characters and crisp dialogue. There's a time and place for everything and while they don't always align just as we think or hope they will, things work out, especially when we have the courage to face our deepest fears.

    "It’s not rational. It’s also not complicated. It’s a great and simple truth." This, for me, is what sums up Donnelly's lovely, unique rom-com with its beautifully rendered characters and crisp dialogue. There's a time and place for everything and while they don't always align just as we think or hope they will, things work out, especially when we have the courage to face our deepest fears.

    ”