Recommended by Aly Kantor

Faithful enough to be familiar but unique enough to consistently surprise an audience, this subtle, spare subversion of the Frankenstein story is a language-rich, engaging, deeply emotional read! It is fast-moving, lyrical, and devastating (in the best way), and never, ever stagnant. The dialogue was so moving and well-crafted. The ambiance is rich and perfect for the Autumn season! The final melancholy notes will resonate like church bells. This is a stunning adaptation worthy of production!

This play is an adorable, relatable treat! It's perfect for girls in transition but would be an equally fantastic, nostalgic treat for women who are still grappling with accepting their own bodies (and the treatment of those bodies)—a necessary and important narrative in Post-Roe America. On top of all that, it's a hoot! With moments of stunning character growth, physical comedy (and stage combat!), and awesome opportunities for designers, it would be as fun to produce as it was to read!

This script has everything I love in genre theatre: a cool scientific premise, futuristic tech, a ticking clock, and genuine human characters who are impacted by the rest! The worldbuilding is complete and efficient, with plenty of details that emerge organically and never feel heavy-handed. The sense of urgency from moment one kept me on the very edge of my seat, and the bittersweet conclusion kept me thinking about these characters (including the dang computer!) beyond End of Play! Awesome!

This script offers a pleasant cocktail of horror and camp that's as goofy as it is engaging. Though the stakes are high, the dialogue and circumstances are funny, bordering on absurd, and will have readers questioning how much of their life would be impacted if our SMART tech ever achieved singularlity. While it does speak to real fears, the lighthearted tone of the piece serves to highlight how far we actually are from this type of occurrence. Great comedy makes you think, and this script did!

There is a stunning amount of gorgeous fantasy worldbuilding packed into these five pages, and the language itself had me hooked! Not only would it be a blast to watch, it would be a blast to perform! It's a piece that demands to be read aloud! The fun, nefarious twist at the end makes me wonder what exactly comes next in this twisted world, which is a great quality in such a brief piece.

Immaculately constructed, O'Grady seamlessly transforms a mundane scenario into a moment of gorgeous, humanity-affirming connection. The dialogue is spare and realistic, with just enough quiet subtext to clue the audience in that something is not quite typical about this interaction between neighbors. The reversal will take your breath away and make you believe in the kindness of strangers. Gorgeous, important, empowering, and impressively efficient, this short is a moving, affecting powerhouse!

This comedic thriller is a laugh-out-loud, fast-moving masterclass in spare and effective writing! Simplicity meets specificity in this genius script! In this play, what goes unsaid will be the topic of lobby conversations and heated discussions on the car ride home, leaving so much space for speculation and imagination without ever frustrating the audience! Quick, quippy, and clever, the dark twist had me grinning and asking, "What on EARTH do these depraved coworkers do for a living?"

Oh, what a delightfully hopeful play! This exploration of identity and the role of change in a human life is funny, moving, and clever—and for the "fatsos" who don't often get to see themselves on stage, let alone as a protagonist who is allowed to take up space in their story, it has the potential to be so affirming. The specificity of the main character makes them broadly relatable, and I'm sure those who don't relate will experience a shift in perspective. This is an effective, exciting play!

This script is subtly seeped in history, creating a vibrant theatrical world full of picture shows and bazooka bubble gum... and the action all takes place in one room! Stunningly intimate yet brazenly theatrical, this almost-love story is full of colorful, (mostly) lovable characters grounded in their time period. Both progressive but realistic given the climate, I still found myself rooting for these lovers and hoping for a better ending! Funny, tense at the right moments, and lots of fun!

The dorkily lovable teenage protagonist at the center of this queer ghost story is a gift for young performers — smart but flawed and gorgeously layered, I cared about Priscilla-Jane instantly! Full of pearls of wisdom, gorgeous theatricality, music, and ghosts, the intimate world of this play is rich in atmosphere. I love how efficiently the piece moves, giving it a swift sense of momentum, even as it leads us through the past. This moving, funny historical mystery will leave you with hope!