Recommended by Tom Moran

  • Tom Moran: Leave It by William J. Goodwin
    “

    What a fascinating and clever conceit. Goodwin takes a family's personal story of heartbreak and universalizes it by making it about one of America's most beloved (and wholesome) sitcom clans. This well-crafted piece really hits home. Also, perfect title.

    What a fascinating and clever conceit. Goodwin takes a family's personal story of heartbreak and universalizes it by making it about one of America's most beloved (and wholesome) sitcom clans. This well-crafted piece really hits home. Also, perfect title.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: TFW THE PUBLIC BATHROOM SINK HAS BETTER SECURITY THAN MY NEW IPHONE by Anthea Carns
    “

    Funny, pointed, and very, very relatable. And would be a hell of a lot of fun to stage too.

    Funny, pointed, and very, very relatable. And would be a hell of a lot of fun to stage too.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Bottle Episode by Maximillian Gill
    “

    A uniquely memorable bit of anthropomorphism. Streaked through with funny lines and imagery, but with a deep sadness at its core. Despite its repetitive structure, I never knew what the piece would throw at me, which is the highest of compliments.

    A uniquely memorable bit of anthropomorphism. Streaked through with funny lines and imagery, but with a deep sadness at its core. Despite its repetitive structure, I never knew what the piece would throw at me, which is the highest of compliments.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Tarantulanche! by Evan Baughfman
    “

    A wonderfully goofy title concealing a solid character study, buoyed along by a series of both personal and global revelations. Fun to read and would certainly make for a great visual at the end.

    A wonderfully goofy title concealing a solid character study, buoyed along by a series of both personal and global revelations. Fun to read and would certainly make for a great visual at the end.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: A Play Within a Play Within a Play by Hilary Bluestein-Lyons
    “

    Fun, cute and a little mind-bending, with a lot of content elegantly packed into a short piece. Would be great to see it staged, as I could see some actors really taking this and running with it.

    Fun, cute and a little mind-bending, with a lot of content elegantly packed into a short piece. Would be great to see it staged, as I could see some actors really taking this and running with it.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Maria and Little Joey Have a Baby by George Sapio
    “

    A gripping, sardonic reinvention of the Nativity, replete with some genuinely enthralling action and great puns, often at the same time. Sapio deserves credit for retelling a story everyone knows without belaboring the point. And the script is just damn clever, what with three wise guys and the blink-and-you-missed-it reference to Bethlehem. Way fun.

    A gripping, sardonic reinvention of the Nativity, replete with some genuinely enthralling action and great puns, often at the same time. Sapio deserves credit for retelling a story everyone knows without belaboring the point. And the script is just damn clever, what with three wise guys and the blink-and-you-missed-it reference to Bethlehem. Way fun.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Phones by Darrin Friedman
    “

    An absorbing piece that develops at a solid pace and leaves the audience wanting more. The piece makes the smart move of never quite revealing its mystery, but giving enough clues for the reader to make an educated guess.

    An absorbing piece that develops at a solid pace and leaves the audience wanting more. The piece makes the smart move of never quite revealing its mystery, but giving enough clues for the reader to make an educated guess.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: The Matrimony Experiment by Conor McShane
    “

    A well-sculpted play built on two strongly drawn characters and an intriguing premise. Lots of credit for it not going where I expected.

    A well-sculpted play built on two strongly drawn characters and an intriguing premise. Lots of credit for it not going where I expected.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: When I Fall in Love, It Will Be..., a 10-minute play by Susan Middaugh
    “

    A quiet, understated, deeply human piece about tackling a particularly painful type of separation and grief. Solidly made and quite affecting.

    A quiet, understated, deeply human piece about tackling a particularly painful type of separation and grief. Solidly made and quite affecting.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Carhenge by Samara Siskind
    “

    A well-put-together bit of family bonding, told through the POV of a mom escorting her uninterested kids to one of the Great Plains' more famous roadside attractions. SIskind does a great job of introducing real substance and character arcs into a brief one-sided exchange. I also appreciated the many actions and external references in the piece - it's more of a one-sided dialogue than a monologue, which keeps it brisk and absorbing. Well done.

    A well-put-together bit of family bonding, told through the POV of a mom escorting her uninterested kids to one of the Great Plains' more famous roadside attractions. SIskind does a great job of introducing real substance and character arcs into a brief one-sided exchange. I also appreciated the many actions and external references in the piece - it's more of a one-sided dialogue than a monologue, which keeps it brisk and absorbing. Well done.

    ”