Recommended by John Mabey

In THE PHYSICS FOR POETS CLUB, Nora Louise Syran takes us on a fantastical journey rooted in real-life women from history that's as educational as it is entertaining. And the core group of women feel like an updated version of The Breakfast Club while taking us back and forth in time. The inclusion of historical and scientific facts is such an interesting addition to the cast of vibrant characters, too.

Jillian Blevins writes urgent stories that need to be told and brought into the light. MERE WATERS is amazing in that regard and also special on several levels, starting with the inspiration of Gisella Perl's real-life and memoir about her time in Auschwitz. Hers is a heartbreaking story but also filled with glimmers of hope that the playwright cultivates and carefully expresses throughout. The characters of the Prophetesses are also expertly written here, providing comfort and wisdom for both characters and audience. This is a play that deserves all of its accolades and is not to be missed.

I knew I had to read this play as soon as I saw the description. In BEES, Aly Kantor weaves together an intricate tapestry of relationships explored through such an excellent pairing of 2 characters. Themes of identity, family, health, and climate change are explored through a masterful interconnectedness, and one of the most poignant and emotionally truthful representations of queer elders in modern times too. I'm left with a sense of both urgency and hope by the end of the play as I consider the metaphorical and literal meanings of 'seeds' over a lifetime.

A beautiful monologue that provides glimpses into a family home while delicately revealing even more just below the surface. In ESSIE AND WILLIE, Morey Norkin captures the atmosphere of another time and awakens many of our own senses along the way.

Memories and metaphors come together so powerfully in FRUIT OF THE BANYAN TREE by Cam Eickmeyer. And even if you don't have experience with the type of therapy described, Eickmeyer finds ways to dramatically ground the action in the present moment for both audience and characters. And by the end, trauma hasn't been resolved in a simplistic way but instead addressed with delicate complexity and hope.

Mark Harvey Levine's SURPRISE is comedy at its best with an amazing premise and hilarious wordplay throughout. The clever story could go in so many directions and ends with a wonderful 'surprise' of its very own. Levine is a writer who never disappoints and it's clear why this fun, high-energy play has enjoyed so much success, too.

This is a an urgent and compelling work of art with layers upon layers of meaning that are revealed throughout. In ABIGAIL by Sarah Tuft, the backdrop of The Crucible connects so vividly and sharply with a modern-day production of that work, bridging together two worlds that aren't so very far apart. With incredible clarity and vision, Tuft brings fresh insight to a classic work while creating a new play that entertains on multiple levels.

The story, dialogue, and poetry of FAMILY BY NUMBERS by Arianna Rose leaps off the page instantly. This is that perfect kind of play where the rhythms of the lines are so clear that you can visualize the production upon first reading. Arianna has a unique way of weaving the comedy with the drama at just the right moments, too. This is a special play so deserving of all the accolades it has received.

Mistaken Identity has never been so much fun as in SECONDHAND SOUL by Ava Love Hanna. The comedy unfolds brilliantly as a delightful queer love story also takes focus. The pacing is wonderful, too, as the 3 characters make reveals and each discovery builds on the previous. I'd love to see this one staged.

This is a delicate and urgent story that unfolds at such expert pacing in AN ESTUARY by Nick Malakhow. The structure of this play is very dynamic as secrets are revealed and hard truths are explored without flinching away from the raw emotions underneath. I was especially taken with the character of Lia and how she's depicted with such complexity, especially as she's making discoveries at the same time as the audience. The dialogue is also incredibly beautiful and sharp at the same time, making this a piece that both moves and entertains.