Recommended by John Mabey

As a novice birder myself, I was immediately drawn to this play. And in the expert hands of Abraham Johnson, MIGRATION SEASON uses metaphor and bird migration to tell a powerful story about the journey of grief through friendship. This is also a very funny play with incredible roles for young performers. And the innovative staging offers so many opportunities for YA theatre too.

Revelations come to us in many ways, and the most interesting methods are the unexpected. In CARDINAL VISITATION, Donald Baker delivers an entire world of a story in 3 revelatory minutes. The characters are instantly real and their relationship complex. I'd also be excited to read more about these characters battling and connecting as well with the theme of cardinals at the core.

Surprises definitely abound in BILLIE'S LEAP DAY BIRTHDAY by Bruce Karp, keeping us guessing at every turn. The high comedy of a man in his 30s celebrating his 8th technical birthday leads into a more layered and poignant story about emotional growth and responsibility toward those who raised you. Karp has a sharp sense of finding the underlying emotion in any comedy and it certainly shines here.

Plays that are full of subtext and metaphor stay with me long after the last line. And in NOT LIKE THIS by Emmet L.F. Cameron, we meet 2 characters who are encountering a very changed world but who are much more preoccupied with their changing relationship. Questions of the trouble with actually getting what you want and struggles of the fantasy vs the reality in relationships thrive in this sci-fi dark comedy that incorporates open casting to make every production unique.

I really enjoy plays with high comedy and deep emotional honesty mixed together. And in LADY LAZARUS by Haley Basil, each character is revealed in their wonderful flaws and complexities. The examination here of sexuality and gender is sharp and funny with such a distinct point of view. And the monologues within are great character pieces even on their own.

Family dynamics are layered and complicated over time, even in the best of relationships. And in (NOT) LETTING GO by Paul Donnelly, we see the relationship between two sisters unravel as they differ in approaches to parenting. Donnelly also mirrors their own relationship to each other with their parenting styles, demonstrating that any family fight has deeper significance beneath the surface. This piece would also make a great scene in a longer play exploring these engaging characters.

Letters across time both separate and connect two characters in the moving and epic play, YOURS UNTIL NIAGRA FALLS, by Claudia Haas. Using a style inspired by Gurney's 'Love Letters,' Haas makes the form her own by centering the narrative on a friendship that crosses borders and boundaries. Haas writes amazing insight by active exploring antisemitism and betrayal in the lives of her characters. And the ability to stage this with 2 to 10 actresses provides so many opportunities too. Wonderful!

The settings change fast and the comedy comes faster in THE IMPOSSIBLE NARRATOR by James Binz. As each scenario unfolds, the audience is also treated to a farcical take on tropes in each genre, laughing along at them with the characters. There's lots of action throughout, making this short play high energy for any festival.

There is such beautiful creativity and themes woven together in THE PECULIAR PUPPETS OF PHILIP PLATT by Brenton Kniess. The heavy themes of death and grief are balanced by comedy and humor as the power of connection is explored throughout. There's a strong element of hope that carries through as the play itself is a joy to read or watch. And there's so much room here for directors, performers, and prop teams to have as much fun as those in the audience. Well done!

There's so much that's exciting and special about THE SMUGGLER, OR A NEW JANE by S. Dylan Zwickel. I was immediately invested in the strong point of view of the characters and the nuanced way bodily autonomy and abortion access are explored as the story unfolds. Through each revelation, the characters collide with each other and themselves while an emotional honesty grounds the story throughout. This play is entertaining and daring and will lead audiences in urgent conversations long afterward.