Recommended by Tom Moran

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    It's hard to build up to a decent scare in such a short piece, but Boogie Man succeeds, and ends at just the right moment. Excellent piece for a short Halloween festival.

    It's hard to build up to a decent scare in such a short piece, but Boogie Man succeeds, and ends at just the right moment. Excellent piece for a short Halloween festival.

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    I heard this read at the Valdez Theatre Conference and it was definitely one of the best pieces on offer at the event. Equal parts quirky small-town ensemble piece and full-grown horror story, the play starts small and continually builds in stakes and tension until the fate of the world sits on these characters' shoulders, and we're with them every step of the way. Equal parts funny and horrifying, and spectacularly timely, with a fantastic coda at the end.

    I heard this read at the Valdez Theatre Conference and it was definitely one of the best pieces on offer at the event. Equal parts quirky small-town ensemble piece and full-grown horror story, the play starts small and continually builds in stakes and tension until the fate of the world sits on these characters' shoulders, and we're with them every step of the way. Equal parts funny and horrifying, and spectacularly timely, with a fantastic coda at the end.

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    Saw this in the 10-minute play slam at the Valdez Theatre Conference and enjoyed the heck out of it. Clever, funny, biting, timely, and just the right length to make the central joke. Some of the best political satire and comedy succeeds by simply displacing our contemporary concerns to a discordant place and time, and Gernand has done this here to great success. Worth your time.

    Saw this in the 10-minute play slam at the Valdez Theatre Conference and enjoyed the heck out of it. Clever, funny, biting, timely, and just the right length to make the central joke. Some of the best political satire and comedy succeeds by simply displacing our contemporary concerns to a discordant place and time, and Gernand has done this here to great success. Worth your time.

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    A fascinating slice-of-life piece set during a momentous evening for film director Fritz Lang, who must confront both his wife’s infidelity and an invitation to make films for Hitler. Cathro’s two-hander starts off strong and maintains tension throughout as its leads argue compellingly about their futures, both personal and professional. The piece succeeds on its own merits, but also feels incredibly timely as so many people now face an impossible choice between their integrity and their jobs.

    A fascinating slice-of-life piece set during a momentous evening for film director Fritz Lang, who must confront both his wife’s infidelity and an invitation to make films for Hitler. Cathro’s two-hander starts off strong and maintains tension throughout as its leads argue compellingly about their futures, both personal and professional. The piece succeeds on its own merits, but also feels incredibly timely as so many people now face an impossible choice between their integrity and their jobs.

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    A childhood bully begs for absolution from his victim in this affecting, LGBTQ-themed two-hander. The piece succeeds based on the strength of its well-drawn, relatable and sympathetic characters, who both journey through entirely believable arcs. It’s a play about (belatedly) growing up, and about just how lived experience can change a person – or calcify them. Recommended for anyone who’s ever experienced bullying, either as a victim or a perpetrator.

    A childhood bully begs for absolution from his victim in this affecting, LGBTQ-themed two-hander. The piece succeeds based on the strength of its well-drawn, relatable and sympathetic characters, who both journey through entirely believable arcs. It’s a play about (belatedly) growing up, and about just how lived experience can change a person – or calcify them. Recommended for anyone who’s ever experienced bullying, either as a victim or a perpetrator.

  • Tom Moran: The World's Most Boring Murder written by Fernando Buzhar Segall
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    A dark, ridiculous, laugh-a-minute farce about a small town filled with small people. Segall's ensemble piece is a sort of modern spin on commedia del arte, featuring a small cast playing multiple characters (even in the same scene), an over-the-top plot, and elements of music and broad physical comedy. It's a joy on the page and I expect a staging would be relentlessly entertaining. Recommended for any theatre wanting to get back to the basics.

    A dark, ridiculous, laugh-a-minute farce about a small town filled with small people. Segall's ensemble piece is a sort of modern spin on commedia del arte, featuring a small cast playing multiple characters (even in the same scene), an over-the-top plot, and elements of music and broad physical comedy. It's a joy on the page and I expect a staging would be relentlessly entertaining. Recommended for any theatre wanting to get back to the basics.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Crawl Space by Kyle Walker
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    Walker's two-hander sets out to address a question horror films never ask: What happens to the "final girl" after the credits roll? The answer reveals itself over the course of this absorbing and unsettling mix of horror film, police procedural and psychodrama. The dialogue is underlain and amplified by the expressionistic staging, which lets us into the head (sort of!) of the main character as she recounts her story. Visually striking, full of surprises and engaging throughout.

    Walker's two-hander sets out to address a question horror films never ask: What happens to the "final girl" after the credits roll? The answer reveals itself over the course of this absorbing and unsettling mix of horror film, police procedural and psychodrama. The dialogue is underlain and amplified by the expressionistic staging, which lets us into the head (sort of!) of the main character as she recounts her story. Visually striking, full of surprises and engaging throughout.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Take Me Away: A train wreck with monsters by Heidi Kraay
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    I saw this piece at the Valdez Theatre Conference, and it was as emotionally affecting as anything I saw all week. It unfolds like a series of gut punches, as the entirely relatable protagonist finds herself sucked deeper and deeper into the delusions of her malignant narcissist lover/captor. You could hear a pin drop for the entirety of this gripping piece - and this was only a reading. Seeing it fully staged, complemented by the (sub)titular monsters, would truly elevate the experience.

    I saw this piece at the Valdez Theatre Conference, and it was as emotionally affecting as anything I saw all week. It unfolds like a series of gut punches, as the entirely relatable protagonist finds herself sucked deeper and deeper into the delusions of her malignant narcissist lover/captor. You could hear a pin drop for the entirety of this gripping piece - and this was only a reading. Seeing it fully staged, complemented by the (sub)titular monsters, would truly elevate the experience.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: HypergaMater by Marjorie Muller
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    I had the privilege of participating in a reading of this piece at the Valdez Theatre Conference and enjoyed it immensely. It is thought-provoking, timely, thoroughly modern in conception and yet timeless in structure, and full of characters that are somehow both archetypes and well-rounded, relatable individuals. It's also constantly surprising and gut-bustingly hilarious. What a pleasure.

    I had the privilege of participating in a reading of this piece at the Valdez Theatre Conference and enjoyed it immensely. It is thought-provoking, timely, thoroughly modern in conception and yet timeless in structure, and full of characters that are somehow both archetypes and well-rounded, relatable individuals. It's also constantly surprising and gut-bustingly hilarious. What a pleasure.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Do Not Resuscitate: A Mini Play About The Able-Bodied by H. Avery
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    Pointed satire that is simultaneously ridiculous and scary. Would love to see it staged, especially to watch the physical comedy.

    Pointed satire that is simultaneously ridiculous and scary. Would love to see it staged, especially to watch the physical comedy.

    ”