Recommended by Riley Elton McCarthy

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    This gorgeously written deep dive into a darkly funny outlook on what it means to be a girl and, conversely, what it means to become a woman. Jan is unafraid to broach into the all-encompassing matters that follow this-- addiction, eating disorder culture, body image-- with sensitivity but also a little mischief and mirth that from a young girl would entail. I was thoroughly moved. Produce this play.

    This gorgeously written deep dive into a darkly funny outlook on what it means to be a girl and, conversely, what it means to become a woman. Jan is unafraid to broach into the all-encompassing matters that follow this-- addiction, eating disorder culture, body image-- with sensitivity but also a little mischief and mirth that from a young girl would entail. I was thoroughly moved. Produce this play.

  • juice

    by Mackenzie Raine Kirkman

    Kenzie beautifully confines these characters in a disturbing, unsettling, and riveting adventure of claustrophobic spine-chilling self-sacrifice. This is "juicy" and delicious for any actor to sink their teeth into.

    Kenzie beautifully confines these characters in a disturbing, unsettling, and riveting adventure of claustrophobic spine-chilling self-sacrifice. This is "juicy" and delicious for any actor to sink their teeth into.

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    This colorful and bright play about adolescence and coming of age is navigated through Judy Blume, evoking a whimsical and empowering sense of nostalgia through conjuring a familiar literary safe haven for young girls learning how to transition into adulthood through examining HOW we come of age. It's messy, it's great fun, and it's deeply moving.

    This colorful and bright play about adolescence and coming of age is navigated through Judy Blume, evoking a whimsical and empowering sense of nostalgia through conjuring a familiar literary safe haven for young girls learning how to transition into adulthood through examining HOW we come of age. It's messy, it's great fun, and it's deeply moving.

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    What I love about Trade Federation is how it captures that nostalgic feeling of what excited us as a child and then turns into a serious and dark interrogation of memory under an adult lens. The Trade Federation forces us all to confront the rose-tinted glasses of what stories our young selves felt comfort in, and reexamine whether or not we can coexist with those stories today. It's really fun. Highly recommend.

    What I love about Trade Federation is how it captures that nostalgic feeling of what excited us as a child and then turns into a serious and dark interrogation of memory under an adult lens. The Trade Federation forces us all to confront the rose-tinted glasses of what stories our young selves felt comfort in, and reexamine whether or not we can coexist with those stories today. It's really fun. Highly recommend.

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    I was privileged enough to see the premiere of Notes. Em has a natural wit to her writing that is both tongue in cheek and quippy. The formatting of this play supports the intimacy between these three characters-- forcing them together through text alone so they never leave the page with beautiful balance. Notes is personal, honest, and exudes confidence in its honest portrayal of the effects of decay from mental illness.

    I was privileged enough to see the premiere of Notes. Em has a natural wit to her writing that is both tongue in cheek and quippy. The formatting of this play supports the intimacy between these three characters-- forcing them together through text alone so they never leave the page with beautiful balance. Notes is personal, honest, and exudes confidence in its honest portrayal of the effects of decay from mental illness.

  • Riley Elton McCarthy: THE DEFECTORS by Nick Malakhow
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    Okay. I am OBSESSED with the way this play handles “online” language versus “offline” and how each character aligns with Malakhow’s own mission to tell stories with specific identity in his characters. This twisting, turning, dark yet hopeful play captures raw honesty in its characters and is just a delightful read on page. I’d kill to see this on a stage. As a performer as well as writer, the characters are also so delectable I want to sink my teeth into this text and read it aloud myself.

    Okay. I am OBSESSED with the way this play handles “online” language versus “offline” and how each character aligns with Malakhow’s own mission to tell stories with specific identity in his characters. This twisting, turning, dark yet hopeful play captures raw honesty in its characters and is just a delightful read on page. I’d kill to see this on a stage. As a performer as well as writer, the characters are also so delectable I want to sink my teeth into this text and read it aloud myself.

    ”
  • Riley Elton McCarthy: (Un)Missed Connections by Mark-Eugene Garcia
    “

    This beautifully intimate play balances the nuances of intersectionality in queer vignettes of scenes, and a twist of a murder ploy that unravels through its powerful ensemble. I was extremely enraptured by the diverse array of storytelling that perfectly captures community through tragedy, while still having enough humor to let in the light.

    This beautifully intimate play balances the nuances of intersectionality in queer vignettes of scenes, and a twist of a murder ploy that unravels through its powerful ensemble. I was extremely enraptured by the diverse array of storytelling that perfectly captures community through tragedy, while still having enough humor to let in the light.

    ”
  • Riley Elton McCarthy: Eight Tales of Pedro by Mark-Eugene Garcia
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    Oh how I wish I had seen this staged. Beautiful artistry, poetry, and whimsical storytelling here from Mark where human connection takes precedence over circumstance. I loved the interlocking, overarching and connecting stories that wove into one grand tale of love of the human condition.

    Oh how I wish I had seen this staged. Beautiful artistry, poetry, and whimsical storytelling here from Mark where human connection takes precedence over circumstance. I loved the interlocking, overarching and connecting stories that wove into one grand tale of love of the human condition.

    ”
  • Riley Elton McCarthy: Blanche & Stella: A Sequela by A.A. Brenner
    “

    Oh gosh, where to begin? First off, the choice to call this a "sequela", or "an aftereffect of a disease, condition, or injury", or "a secondary result"... just hits every single beat of this play all the way through. This play is not just about chosen sisters, it is a SISTER play to Streetcar down to the fiber of its being while being irrevocably original, unique, and bitingly painful. And that ending! I'm going to be thinking about this play for a while. How badly I want to see it staged...

    Oh gosh, where to begin? First off, the choice to call this a "sequela", or "an aftereffect of a disease, condition, or injury", or "a secondary result"... just hits every single beat of this play all the way through. This play is not just about chosen sisters, it is a SISTER play to Streetcar down to the fiber of its being while being irrevocably original, unique, and bitingly painful. And that ending! I'm going to be thinking about this play for a while. How badly I want to see it staged...

    ”
  • Riley Elton McCarthy: AFFINITY LUNCH MINUTES by Nick Malakhow
    “

    The dichotomy that Nick Malakhow balances between activism in PWIs and the intoxicating near-bystander effect that we're conditioned into as allies, victims, and seekers of justice is propulsive, dynamic and deeply powerful. The chain is broken in this play, and both the tension between and healing process for Jasmine and Ben's friendship is nuanced and thoroughly engaging-- I could not stop reading once I had started. I absolutely loved this play.

    The dichotomy that Nick Malakhow balances between activism in PWIs and the intoxicating near-bystander effect that we're conditioned into as allies, victims, and seekers of justice is propulsive, dynamic and deeply powerful. The chain is broken in this play, and both the tension between and healing process for Jasmine and Ben's friendship is nuanced and thoroughly engaging-- I could not stop reading once I had started. I absolutely loved this play.

    ”