Recommended by Aly Kantor

Truth is often stranger than fiction, and in the case of this rich monologue, the truth is, indeed, incredibly nuanced and convoluted. There is plenty of emotion for a strong actor to play with here, and audiences will be equally engaged by the content and the performance. How much truth is there to Mary's story, and how much was sensationalized and blown out of proportion? Despite the fact that this is "local history" for me, I found that I learned a lot - a hallmark of Nora's plays is that they're consistently educational! What a complex, thought-provoking monologue!

This play is a pint-sized roller coaster ride! Despite its brevity, it features two fully-drawn, specific characters and opportunities for actors to make big choices. Also, it's a rare piece that redeems lawyers rather than vilifying them - this one does several good deeds, all in a span of five minutes! It's sweet, emotional, and fiercely human! Really tight, clever work!

There is plenty to love (pun intended??) in this snappy sci-fi two-hander, especially if you're already a fan of the genre. The key to utilizing these beloved tropes is combining them in new and interesting ways. The true beauty of this script is in its bareness and simplicity - you could produce this play on a dime and still provide an engaging, fully-realized audience experience. Like most good dramas, it asks far more questions than it answers regarding emotion, divinity, the need for purpose, and even personhood as a concept. I think this compelling short is ripe for a sequel!

While I'm pretty sure that, in reading this, I just became party to someone else's inside joke, I have no regrets! This play is hilarious from line one, with goofy, heightened dialogue I couldn't help but read out loud to myself! It's a "futuristic," fourth-wall-breaking good time, littered with dramatic pauses, clever call-backs, meta theatricality, and a quick but effective visit from The Devil! Despite what the characters claim, this enjoyable Busser Play is a worthwhile romp through ridiculousness! Exactly my kind of unselfconscious comedy!

As always Hannah's characters are delightfully idosyncratic—and that's, frankly, enough! Those of us lucky enough to be immersed in the Lost Children universe are in for a particular treat. This play is filled with delicious subtext for fans of this universe, like a romantic Halloween gift that keeps on giving. It's spooky, it's silly, it's romantic, and the character voices are (as always) unique and pristine. Whether you read it as a tiny love story or a treatise on moving past generational trauma, this one's a delight!

Meeting the parents is always stressful, but in this witty play, major differences in belief (and a little white lie) make that prospect even more nerve-wracking than usual! My favorite part of the piece is how Harper reclaims agency by making her own "commandments," forcing Aiden AND the audience to reckon with the prospect of following someone else's rules to earn approval. The character voices are clear and distinct, and the dialogue is studded with sharp moments of laugh-out-loud humor. I "covet" this playwright's ability to craft a clever play! Check it out!

This play may be brief, but it's incredibly effective. Baker's characters are clearly drawn, with an uncanny level of humane specificity. Even though Sandra is deplorable, you learn enough about her context that you manage to feel a sense of understanding for her, too. For me, the sheer humanity is what makes this emotional piece so strong. The final beat is clearly crafted for maximum impact, and readers and audiences will be thinking about it well beyond 'end of play.' Really lovely work.

I was lucky enough to read the role of "B" in this deceptively simple play, so I can attest to its driving urgency, inherent tension, and the many layers hidden in the spare, effective dialogue. I love the insinuation that these characters know each other well, yet one extra detail is enough to knock them over like a house of cards. You will not find the answers to any questions, but you will ask MANY of them, which is what great theatre should do. This would be a great open scene for an acting class or an ambitious, detail-oriented director.

This wild "meet the parents" comedy begins with a familiar premise - a young man brings a new girlfriend home to meet the family for the first time. The magic in this piece comes from the characters, who each harbor a fun, colorful secret. As the protagonist (the aforementioned new girlfriend) becomes acquainted with each family member, she comes to realize that, despite her boyfriend's claims, there is NO need to fake perfection! It leads to a lovely, silly, magical moment of catharsis at the end! Each little character reveal will be a blast for audiences to experience! Fun!

This play starts off as an incredibly relatable meditation on the process of story midwifery. Meanwhile, the audience watches an unlikely friendship begin between a fledgling author and (unbeknownst to said author...) the secretary of a hot-shot writer. Somehow, the silly, epistolary play builds to an incredibly high-stakes peak as the protagonist shows her true colors! Just when you think things are calming down, the playwright leaves us with a ponderous button that suggests otherwise! Manic, marvelous fun!