Recommended by Aly Kantor

We know that mirrors are honest, but the world might be a better place if every mirror were as kind as the mirror in this piece! Joe Swenson introduces us to three strangers in a liminal subway restroom, where they learn to confront their own self-perception and come to recognize that they're the ones in control. Imagining how someone might stage this piece is half the fun! The dialogue is spare, which makes it uniquely rhythmic. There are a lot of cool opportunities for movement and design here waiting to be realized.

Oh, I LOVE a good fairy tale play, and this uniquely theatrical, queer fairytale mashup more than hit the spot for me! A colorful, versatile ensemble of four presents the story of a magical prince with an unfortunate gift. We're treated to a delightful, dynamic enemies-to-lovers adventure loaded with humor! The actors are tasked with creating a fairytale landscape using everyday items, which would be a blast for a clever production team to tackle! I loved sorting out all of the hilarious references to well-known stories. Everything pays off in an extremely satisfying, magical conclusion! This one's a blast!

In this delightful, slice-of-life ensemble piece, we're introduced to four historical female artists whose work is being presented in a decrepit New York City tenement. In a world in which their work is an afterthought (on multiple levels), they make one another feel seen and appreciated. Together, they must reconcile their disappointments with the reality that every small opportunity is a step toward success. Artists of all mediums will see themselves in these angsty starving artists - playwrights included! By the end of the play, I found myself rooting for each and every one of them.

This humorous and tense meditation on the true scale of an apocalypse is full of charm, specificity, and genuine humanity. We are introduced to a couple who have been together for years and, in a matter of minutes, are forced to reveal their regrets, heartbreaks, and deepest, darkest secrets. Even though the bomb dropped isn't what was expected, we're left wondering how these two well-drawn, delightfully flawed characters will handle the "fallout" of their near-death experience. This was a brilliant way to turn a real historical event into a small but satisfying work of art!

We all think we know what we need to survive, but anyone who has ever lived through trauma knows that Maslow was wrong - we need art, and we need one another. In this short piece, the playwright introduces us to a group of young adults who are learning this lesson in real-time. The naturalistic dialogue illuminates the relationships between the characters, as well as the central theme of the play: that questioning can't hurt you, but blind trust might. This is a compelling, character-driven piece for an ensemble of young performers.

There is a reason why cryptids show up across cultures, across space, and across time. They are our worst fears made manifest in a form that generates human empathy - the story. Here, the playwright has used the tale of Mothman to illuminate ideas about shared belief and the reliability of memory. I appreciated that the reader is left to decide the truth for themselves! Belief is the thing capable of building and shattering community, and we see that in action here. I'd love to see this developed into a full-length work.

"Stop yelling, Jeff! You're scaring Douglas!"

Oh. My. Goodness. While reading this play, I quickly went from not knowing what to expect to REALLY not knowing what to expect! I don't know how John managed to achieve this balance of pure cringe and catharsis! It's a wonderful use of the Zoom platform, with technological foibles written right into the script!. If you're wondering if physical comedy is possible on Zoom, look no further!

Comedy master John Busser has written what might be the world's funniest "covid play" about an aging hitman trying to figure out how to work from home during the pandemic. It's full of clever, disarming zingers - and just when you think you know what to expect, it makes the sudden shift to a Zoom format! Against all odds, in the context of the pandemic, these bumbling assassins become relatable to the everyman! I don't want to give the hilarious twists away, but know I was laughing until "end of play!"

It can be hard to be a human, and mental illness can sometimes make it even harder. This gentle, relatable play explores the relationship between a man and his dog, showing the importance of the unconditional relationships in our lives. The play is full of sweet sentiment and just as much humor and wordplay - it is powerful in its simplicity. Most importantly, it made me feel seen during a challenging, isolated time. I am grateful to have stumbled upon this play at the right moment. Thank you.

This play will lure you into a false sense of security! It begins as your typical kitchen sink drama, with a nervous woman preparing the house for the arrival of visiting family. As it turns out, she really did have something to be nervous about! The playwright drops plenty of little grenades, any of which could go off at any moment, leading to a tense but humorous family farce. The ensemble does their best to protect the "fragile mind" of the baby of the family, only to reveal their own challenges and fragility in the process!