Recommended by John Mabey

The meanings of family and happiness are often more complex the older we become. And in this moving monologue from Debbie Lamedman, they're at the core of a confrontation between mother and daughter. So much is revealed in these lines about their relationship and history, and it resonates so truthfully on the page and in performance. The battle between what we say we want for our children versus what we secretly hope is at full force here, and with an ending that shines a glimmer of hope in the conflict.

Such poetic and authentic writing about an era that was filled with both chaos and hope. In Memorial Day, Paul Donnelly expertly crafts the journeys of a group wrestling with a crisis that affected all in different ways. For those who either lived through the early days of the AIDS crisis or are looking to explore it, this play offers a captivating story that entertains as much as it informs.

From the opening lines of the Author's Note, I knew I was in great hands. Hayley St. James set the stage for an authentic representation of mental health and identity with a gentleness that opened this world of imagination and LGBTQ+ romance. Their knowledge and empathy about living on more than one spectrum shines through their writing in a story that's both magical and incredibly real. They write with insight about autism and masking in ways I've not read in plays before, and this is one I'd love to see staged.

I watched this play as part of an online play series and it was so gripping and well-written. The explorations of what it means to be from a place and the ways in which we do/don't belong to it were especially meaningful, too. And the stage directions were so poetic they really created a vivid world.

This play had me actually laughing out loud and falling in love with each of the characters. The story itself is so joyful and positive, while the name-wordplay within is comedy gold. Ken reawaKENs the unspoKEN desires of the heart with a tale that's taKEN play festivals by storm - and for good reason!

This is how you write a monologue! In fact I've read this piece more than once because it is layered with such emotional complexity and honesty. Scott Sickles takes us on a journey that is both tragic and beautiful, and expertly explored with a delicate touch.

Steven Martin has crafted a beautiful short play. Delightful and original, the characters take us with them on a journey that is so wonderfully captured through narration. Physicality is imbued with emotional resonance as one character takes on the movements of the other at a pivotal moment, providing new meaning to the act. I greatly look forward to watching this production staged and with actors of any age.

Paradise indeed! Jack Levine takes us on a fun ride with this whimsical play where absurdism is the perfect backdrop for exploring the many gifts of marriage. The stage directions also provide a good time for those reading the play and imagining the comic staging therein.

Emily McClain creates such a rich world in this skillfully crafted play. Even the opening stage directions provide so much information about mood and worldview, and the relationship between the half-brothers is complex and layered in the best ways. The themes of connection and complicated grief resonated so strongly with me, and I was both laughing at the comedy while also so moved by their journey together. Definitely a play I'd love to watch on stage.

BLIND LARKS gripped me from the start as it raced toward the end with incredibly high stakes throughout. Christine Foster crafted a powerful play that explores the ways we cope, the ways we comfort, and the ways we make sense of our own mortality. The dialogue was natural and realistic, especially in revealing how humor emerges even in the most dire of situations. I'd also love to watch this play produced as the movement and physicality of the characters is original and exciting.