Recommended by John Mabey

This time of year I love reading holiday plays and my favorites are the poignant kind that have a mixture of something sharp with the sweet. In IF ONLY IN MY DREAMS, Paul Donnelly expertly weaves a much longer story into 10 minutes, delivering reveals and surprises at the perfect moments. It's a story of guilt and forgiveness that's creatively explored through both dialogue and action. And the characters he's created will stay with you long afterward, too.

There is so much richness to be explored within ABANDON ALL HOPE by Peter Fenton, especially his parallels between life and death as we form relationships. The structure is both innovative and exciting as the afterlife is envisioned as an escape room, complete with a brilliantly devised character in the form of a trickster demon. There are also so many thrilling ways to stage this piece, complete with 'memory sequences' that expand the world of the story even further.

Healing comes in all sorts of unexpected shapes and forms, and never quite looks the same even for a couple. In DIVIDED REQUIEM, Paul Donnelly beautifully and poignantly captures what this moment looks like for a gay couple experiencing the loss of their son. As the men forget their own paths through grief, Donnelly shows how both are valid even as they diverge. This is a delicate play with so much subtext for actors, directors, and lighting designers to explore.

Arianna Rose is a writer who not only creates such poignant and beautiful plays, but also constructs works with such dynamic and elegant structures. In THE DATING POOL, we meet multiple selves of a woman who is living an active life. Through each of their perspectives, we learn about her journey as well as the shifting perspectives we have as we age. There is such richness in this play that makes it a wonderful playground for creative teams and captivating for the audience.

What an outrageously funny play and wonderful tribute to the art of improv. In ANNND SCENE (OF THE CRIME) by John Busser we get the joy of improv with the solid structure of funny whodunit. It'll not only be a hit with audiences but great fun for performers who enjoy physical comedy and spontaneity.

SEAHORSE by J.C. Pankratz is an exquisite play that explores life and hope in the midst of grief and questions. The character of Reuben is so clearly and expertly drawn while also being completely new and unseen before on stage. Beyond the beautiful representation of a trans man in a story about insemination, this play breaks even more ground with the appearances of mythological, religious, and literary figures who all continue to reveal the story. This is a production I'd love to watch unfold on stage, and a dream for creative teams to explore and realize.

The best comedies make us laugh and think at the same time. And in SPACE LASER, IN SPACE by Jillian Blevins, we meet two characters who hilariously and earnestly wrestle with themes of faith, Judaism, and antisemitism while confronting each other and themselves about their own sense of identity. The high stakes throughout juxtaposes beautifully with the absurdity of the situation itself based on antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes, making a play that's not only wildly entertaining but also incredibly poignant.

My favorite kinds of plays involve multilayered characters driving the story in surprising ways. And in IS THIS ALL THIS IS, Dave Osmundsen absolutely delivers in crafting a poignant and intimate story about relationships and identity. Especially notable are the dynamic characters who are wholly original and authentically imperfect throughout. This play also shines in its exploration of gender identity and autism with emotional truth and beautiful complexity, revealing how no identity presents in a singular way. The characters will stay with me long after the final scene.

In RED WINE by Peter Fenton we meet a complex character with layers of both intriguing backstory and fiery subtext. The setting conjures much creative inspiration for staging and the sharp dialogue will be a delight to deliver. This is a character who truly extends beyond the page.

Love isn't always easy, but it doesn't need to be taken so seriously either. In FLOATING BUBBLES, Jack Levine takes us on a love journey of when Dick met Jane. And along the way, the absurd meets the unexpected between these two comedic characters. A delightfully charming play to make you smile as it makes you consider the magic of bubbles in your own life, too.