Recommended by John Mabey

  • THE MADNESS OF MEMORY (from the MAD FOR MYSTERY Collection)
    2 Apr. 2021
    This thrilling play from Vivian Lermond will leave you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. THE MADNESS OF MEMORY takes the topic of dementia from heartbreak and loss into something mysterious and even more complex. Also the line 'I have keys that unlock kingdoms' is one of my favorites.
  • Bandera, Texas
    1 Apr. 2021
    I greatly enjoyed BANDERA, TEXAS, for it's wonderful writing and great use of humor to explore family dynamics and expectations of women across generations. Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend writes each character with such realism and perspective as they navigate identity shifts and challenges in marriage and life. This play would also be a delight for a director and performers to bring alive on stage with its magical realism and poignant storytelling.
  • PerSEVERance
    31 Mar. 2021
    David Lipschutz combines a perfect blend of comedy and horror in 'PerSEVERance.' Each moment creates additional suspense and tension that drives toward a thrilling conclusion. Virtual festivals would have scary fun producing this piece.
  • Light Switch
    29 Mar. 2021
    LIGHT SWITCH by Dave Osmundsen is a play I highly recommend. The voices of each character are incredibly distinct and layered, especially the character of Henry and explorations of intersectional identity. References to 19th Century British Literature are woven beautifully throughout and utilized so uniquely in this play as a sources of connection and understanding. The storytelling in this play is also thrilling as queer characters navigate intersections of neurodiversity and relationships in such original ways. LIGHT SWITCH took me on an amazing journey of laughter, tears, and everything in between.
  • Dark Twist
    29 Mar. 2021
    From the opening stage directions of DARK TWIST, Philip Middleton Williams transports you to a prep school world that feels incredibly real and textured. The memories that the characters both share and suppress are woven into the setting itself, with dilapidated desks and classrooms becoming metaphors for all the trauma within. Navigating through the lives of these dynamic characters is fascinating and the revelations about bullying and abuse are explored with such great perspective through different lenses of sexuality and status.
  • Wish You Were Here
    8 Mar. 2021
    This is such an exquisite short play. Claudia Haas crafted a world of possibilities in WISH YOU WERE HERE for both the characters as well as the audience. It's challenging to make Paris even more romantic, but the writing here greatly succeeds by adding dimension and depth to the location where street lamps become a character themselves. Such a delight to read and exciting to envision a production on stage as well.
  • Many Happier Returns
    8 Mar. 2021
    This is such a wonderful short play for two actresses to explore all the nuances of a mother-daughter relationship. Christine Foster writes comedy with such great attention to detail, and the personalities of both women collide in such surprising ways. MANY HAPPIER RETURNS also delights in its use of language to explore their differing worldviews while also providing a focused understanding of how they ultimately connect.
  • CONTES DU CAMP CANADIEN
    8 Mar. 2021
    Vivian Lermond writes such vivid and exciting monologues. And in CONTES DU CAMP CANADIEN she's given so much flavor and realism to a vast Canadian environment that you'll swear you've visited, too!
  • PRETTY QUEER
    6 Mar. 2021
    Emma Goldman-Sherman has written such a powerful monologue in PRETTY QUEER. This piece gripped me from the start, particularly with its urgent and multidimensional exploration of sexuality and identity. As the character of Margaret navigates her own sexuality, she also negotiates her roles as wife and lover in situations that both threaten and support her needs. A phenomenal monologue for an actress to perform with its intimate exploration of gaslighting and questioning assumptions in relationships.
  • A Moment of Clarity
    5 Mar. 2021
    In A MOMENT OF CLARITY, there are so many beautiful moments and bittersweet recollections that its hard to believe the play is only 10 minutes. Philip Middleton Williams created a universe of memories between father and son with revelations that make their relationship so dynamic and meaningful. This play is a delight for actors and a director to interpret the moments that shine so brightly on the page.

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