Recommended by Aly Kantor

The city of Anchorage may not make out so well in this madcap, surprisingly prescient comedic charmer, but it's a real treat for audiences, who will be rolling in the aisles as they're hit with this brilliantly over-the-top morning show! It's packed with larger-than-life characters who are just trying to do their jobs amidst a backdrop of billionaire-created chaos... which is, frankly, relatable! And it's full of surprises! You never know what silliness is on the horizon! A delectable delight!

It takes tremendous skill to write something that is simultaneously this spare and this downright kind. Somehow, even with the minimal, punchy, fast-moving dialogue, this play achieves some massive laughs. This is truly an actor's script, with opportunities for comedic timing to shine through—but the real charm is in the heartwarming final image. Plus, I just love the idea of a youth actor dressed as an "old clown," no matter the creative interpretation! You will love this intimate heart warmer!

OoooOOoh! This compelling, twisty, hilarious, dark thriller had me making flowcharts and spreadsheets to organize character motives from page one—and would certainly keep an audience equally engaged and on the edge of their seats! There is so much complexity, and like a finger trap, the threads only get tighter and more treacherous the more you tug on them! There are so many great, messy, awful, wonderful characters who I absolutely loved to hate! Contemporary and compelling, this mystery rocks!

In a world in which anything can be AI, I find myself approaching everything from images to articles with a sense of suspicion. Somehow, Busser captures what it's like to live in this odd, post-ChatGPT world with this clever sci-fi premise! When is suspicion warranted, and when is it dangerous? This piece asks a lot of great questions, making it wonderfully rich, compelling, and very funny fodder for post-show lobby chat! Fantastic dialogue and a fun twist make this timely play a winner!

How does a control freak handle grief? By trying to exert her agency on every detail in the aftermath of loss, of course! This is an honest and cathartic character-driven play about authentically drawn siblings who handle responsibility very differently. A silly anecdote (and the subsequent response to it) reveal so much about these characters and what they really need to persist and find fulfillment after this major loss. Both funny and moving, this would be a gift for actors and audiences!

The spare, focused nature of this monologue is fascinating. As in a macro photograph, every last word on the page matters, holding meaning—but also providing the subtlest clues to what might be beyond the confines of this tight moment. It's that mystery that is so engaging for an audience. Even the intake of breath matters here, serving as punctuation. Ultimately, the piece feels like a gorgeous meditation on the desire for control in a world where control is scant. A quiet but mighty monologue!

This liminal play could have been tense and full of angst. My favorite thing about it is that it isn't. Somehow, the action of the piece is tender, genuine vulnerability, creating an almost magical sense of connection between strangers in only ten minutes... and those strangers are rich, specific characters with relatable problems and familiar, delightful quirks! I loved getting to know them. Plus, the satisfying structure, with its heartwarming button, is a charming end to a charming piece!

Ha! I love this! I've long been fascinated by Stephen Hawking's time traveler party - and, frankly, it made me sad that there were no attendees. This play offers a humorous, air-tight explanation about why. The dialogue is rich and natural, with a really awesome monologue post-reversal that I just had to read aloud and feel in my body! It's a grounded, engaging, sci-fi world, but it would be incredibly easy to stage with a touch of simple theatrical magic! Taut, thought-provoking, and fun!

Ah, yes - the masculine urge to push your beds together and slumber next to your bro in the moonlight! We've all been there. Somehow, a bizarre, absurd observation transitions seamlessly into a moment of sweet, genuine vulnerability. It's a sweet, silly, tender scene, and though I know things might look different when the sun is in the sky (and less alcohol is in some veins), I'm left with hope for these two "buddies!"

This play is a structural snare, and it's brilliant. Detail by tiny, agonizing detail, a spirited island get-together transforms into something more sinister. As an audience member, it felt like eavesdropping, creating a sense of powerful intimacy. My giddiness over these secret connections was at war with my sense of dread - and the painful reversal was the nail in the coffin. Ultimately, this smart, subtle piece is painfully prescient and effective - necessary storytelling for this moment!