Recommended by Aly Kantor

Creepy vibes abound in this supernatural thriller, in which an uncomfortable conversation in a liminal hotel hallway turns into so much more. I love how the moments of highest theatricality are simple, allowing the actors to shine even above technical elements. The tension is palpable throughout but rises to a fever pitch during the shocking reversal. The final image is as creepy and enduring as it is thoroughly satisfying! A cool concept executed fantastically!

Alien languages, impossible, dimension-shifting stage directions, unique climate change implications, digital stages, simulated realities, uncanny infomercials, familiar dystopias, and compound time travel take center stage in this engaging collection of unique, funny, and terrifying sci-fi shorts! It's full of exciting challenges for theatrical designers, who would be lucky to bring these brief but complex stories to life for a virtual or in-person audience. Though futuristic, many of the plays reflect our current lived experience, and audiences are sure to relate - even audiences reluctant about genre theatre. An excellent and accessible collection of strong, unique pieces!

This is a very funny and thought-provoking play about the state of ethics under late capitalism and how they intersect with developing technology like AI. Over-the-top characters in the heightened but frighteningly realistic tech world call to question whether you can even MAKE an ethical decision in this strange era of shifting technological and political paradigms. It addresses everything from self-driving cars to ghosting on dating apps through quick, hilarious dialogue that's as engaging as it is clever. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how this chaotic ride would end!

This efficient, deeply felt play has such a pronounced atmosphere of dread throughout. Though it may be set 100+ years in the future, Alex's isolated world, in which tech has gained pronounced importance, is uncanny in its familiarity. The play asks just as many questions about the meaning and definition of love as it does about the ethics of advanced AI (and, specifically, cybernetics). I'm impressed by the ways the decisions made in the piece really stemmed from deep, specific character writing, and how seamlessly characters' unique flaws and blindspots were introduced into the narrative. Intriguing, emotionally-driven work!

This stunning but intimate sci-fi play captured my full attention from page one, and by the end, I was fully sobbing. I believe Dr. Mailer would call it "Catharsis." This is the sort of disarmingly human, sensitive, moving, and immersive sci-fi play I've been searching for. The characters are distinct and lovable, and the brilliant twists never stop coming, deepening my investment in their stories. I am resisting the urge to scroll back to the top and read it from the beginning. PLEASE produce this play! I want to see every performance!

Haha. ha. haaaa. This play targets some of my biggest fears in such a vital, immediate fashion. The horror is phenomenal, working on multiple levels: the fears that accompany any medical appointment (What if there's something really wrong with me? What if my body is an anomaly? What if they can't or won't help me?), and sheer, disturbing body horror. There are no answers here - only a deeply visceral sense of terror and dread on behalf of the protagonist, who could be any of us. It offers an incredible opportunity for a sound designer, too. FREAKY! Fantastic!

According to this derranged and brilliant play, "Love doesn't exist under a capitalist regime" - and how could it, between the 128-hour work week, the easy access to sex robots, and the inability to safely share your internal life in a divisive time of war? I am obsessed with the pop music interludes, especially the dream sequence, and in awe of the mind-bending, impossible stage directions. It's also side-splittingly hilarious - this is a playwright who knows how to commit to a bit! Brilliant worldbuilding, phenomenal dialogue, and surprisingly relatable messaging make this one a winner. Loved it!

TAMARA imagines a future in which servile androids are just as endemic as smartphones. It's an intriguing argument that suggests one's treatment (or, often, mistreatment) of humanoid robots might say something about their inner nature. The play explores why things that are hypothetically ETHICAL to do with a robot may not necessarily be RIGHT... and how quickly feelings of entitlement can transfer to ANYTHING humanoid... including marginalized individuals. The piece asks a lot of great questions, and the ending provided a sense of hope.

An altruistic engineer is aiming to create an autonomous robotic police officer incapble of human error. Naturally, capitalism is the villain, requiring the project to shift in a more violent (and lucrative) direction. I love that the characters never feel like "stock scientists," and each has a strong, specific personality and plenty of quirks. The story itself presents a fascinating ethical quandary that kept my interest from beginning to end. Is there a point at which a neural network becomes advanced enough that it can't help but act human... and what if acting human is the issue? Fantastic play!

A great horror writer understands that the less seen, the better. I can say with confidence that Greg Mandryk is a master. This collection is not only wholly original, it's also TRULY scary - and NEVER at the expense of theatricality! I think it has something to do with empathy - it is SO easy to put yourself in these characters' shoes, and so many of the fears are fears real humans face each day. And the ones that are LESS scary makeup for it by being HILARIOUS! In fact, most of them are funny AND spooky! Check them out!