Recommended by Emily Russell

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    Had the privilege of hearing this play at a digital reading with the Dragon Theatre. Ridgeway creates robust character arcs in this humorous play where the setting -- of sharing a building with a lover -- complicates the relationship between the two. Femme power in this story!

    Had the privilege of hearing this play at a digital reading with the Dragon Theatre. Ridgeway creates robust character arcs in this humorous play where the setting -- of sharing a building with a lover -- complicates the relationship between the two. Femme power in this story!

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    Watching this play debut with Alleyway was such a highlight of quarantine! This one-man show is so captivating, I never wanted to miss a line or detail. A seriously important, timely piece.

    Watching this play debut with Alleyway was such a highlight of quarantine! This one-man show is so captivating, I never wanted to miss a line or detail. A seriously important, timely piece.

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    The awards tacked onto this play speak for themselves — this is a story with abundant importance. Harmon's critical perspective of a dark time of our human past is told by a protagonist who faces unique, identity-based challenges as a young boy who is mute. It is a remarkable story told with all of our senses, bringing the theatre into a new understanding about how we communicate as individuals, families, and societies. Despite its heavy themes, the play is characteristic of Harmon's style with wit, laughter, and youth intact.

    The awards tacked onto this play speak for themselves — this is a story with abundant importance. Harmon's critical perspective of a dark time of our human past is told by a protagonist who faces unique, identity-based challenges as a young boy who is mute. It is a remarkable story told with all of our senses, bringing the theatre into a new understanding about how we communicate as individuals, families, and societies. Despite its heavy themes, the play is characteristic of Harmon's style with wit, laughter, and youth intact.

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    I had the joy of attending a debut virtual reading of this captivating piece, and was especially taken by the humanizing of the bottle. Emotive imagery and tongue-in-cheek descriptions give the bottle a humanlike experience of mortality, eternal sunshine, and the emptying feeling we hold as we approach it.

    I had the joy of attending a debut virtual reading of this captivating piece, and was especially taken by the humanizing of the bottle. Emotive imagery and tongue-in-cheek descriptions give the bottle a humanlike experience of mortality, eternal sunshine, and the emptying feeling we hold as we approach it.

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    Simple and poignant imagery make this short piece a wonderful, soulful interaction between what was and what is for two people separated by distance and time.

    Simple and poignant imagery make this short piece a wonderful, soulful interaction between what was and what is for two people separated by distance and time.

  • Emily Russell: CREATIVE LITTLE GARDEN by Rachael Carnes
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    An endearing piece with real-world discussions in a captivating setting. It makes audiences consider how we spend our money, time, and space in a world where all are limited.

    An endearing piece with real-world discussions in a captivating setting. It makes audiences consider how we spend our money, time, and space in a world where all are limited.

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  • Emily Russell: SISTERS THREE & the tree by Jaisey Bates
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    A fascinating short piece that manages to characterize each individual, while also telling a story of collectivism. Magical feminine energy reigns!

    A fascinating short piece that manages to characterize each individual, while also telling a story of collectivism. Magical feminine energy reigns!

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  • Emily Russell: Parts of Parts & Stitches by Riti Sachdeva
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    Sachdeva's play tells the gripping historical story of Partition with high personal stakes relevant to any contemporary audience. Oases of love are built beautifully into the story, and punctured by violent realities. Altogether, the play is of nations and persons, their bloodiness and their worthiness. Captivating, particular, and moving.

    Sachdeva's play tells the gripping historical story of Partition with high personal stakes relevant to any contemporary audience. Oases of love are built beautifully into the story, and punctured by violent realities. Altogether, the play is of nations and persons, their bloodiness and their worthiness. Captivating, particular, and moving.

    ”
  • Emily Russell: the end and the end and the end by Brandy N Carie
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    An increasingly-real slate of apocalyptic fears is woven together expertly in this captivating and witty play, where mayhem and chaos reign. Through the overlapping tales of our individual and collective dooms, Carie perfectly crafts short lines which conjure raw feelings of fear, disbelief, preparedness, and injustice. It's over a hundred times, and still too soon.

    An increasingly-real slate of apocalyptic fears is woven together expertly in this captivating and witty play, where mayhem and chaos reign. Through the overlapping tales of our individual and collective dooms, Carie perfectly crafts short lines which conjure raw feelings of fear, disbelief, preparedness, and injustice. It's over a hundred times, and still too soon.

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  • Emily Russell: Poured Over by Matt Harmon
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    I had the joy of seeing this short piece's debut performance in an evening of comedy where it was an audience and personal favorite. The characters are witty and believable, and the humor is derived from contemporary, political truths. It perfectly captures the insanity one sometimes feels living in a world inundated with choices that are always moral ones, and personal problems which are always political.

    I had the joy of seeing this short piece's debut performance in an evening of comedy where it was an audience and personal favorite. The characters are witty and believable, and the humor is derived from contemporary, political truths. It perfectly captures the insanity one sometimes feels living in a world inundated with choices that are always moral ones, and personal problems which are always political.

    ”