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Aly Kantor

Recommended by Aly Kantor

  • THE PHYSICS FOR POETS CLUB by Nora Louise Syran
    24 Jan. 2024
    “ A quartet of colorful, larger-than-life, and deliciously specific teenage girls are at the center of this silly-yet-educational play, which takes the Breakfast Club trope to fascinating new heights! I love the way history comes to life all around them, complete with some cunning stage combat! These roles would be a dream for an ensemble of versatile performers. Plus, I love it when girls are allowed to be angry and passionate and a little messy, and this play is full of complex, brilliant, and flawed women - often speaking in their own voices. A fantastic update to a great script! ”
  • A Brief Lesson in Art by Lynn Millar
    22 Jan. 2024
    “ As a former children's docent at the MFA in Boston, I thought I knew a lot about John Singer Sargent, but I have never seen him come to life like this! I am sure two actors would have a BLAST upstaging one another as they attempt to make themselves the main character of this story. As silly as it can be, this play is also a subtle love story with lots of inventive opportunities for staging and theatricality. An educational and engaging short! ”
  • Dating's A Beast Cycle by Kate Danley
    21 Jan. 2024
    “ You see it again and again in the real world — some women just seem to fall for men who aren't good for them. In this trio of shorts, that concept is taken to the next level, as we're treated to a glimpse of a few hilarious dates with beloved classic monsters! The trio is cleverly structured in the form of "variations," in which we see the same patterns play out over and over. It gets better with every repetition, and the final button is a hoot! By the end, you'll fall for these lovable beasts yourself! ”
  • Borrowed Babies by Jennifer Blackmer
    21 Jan. 2024
    “ What a compelling, intimate glimpse at a lost moment in history that I knew NOTHING about, despite studying developmental psych for years! This play is packed with phenomenal roles for college-aged women and not a single traditional ingenue track! Every character is quirky and specific, with a wholly unique voice, and it was so easy to get caught up in their individual dramas, struggles, and stories. The ending was utterly heartbreaking but felt entirely earned. I'm amazed by all of the interconnected themes, all of which were seamlessly integrated into the story. A fantastic, memorable piece of theatre! ”
  • The End Is Nigh (And Yet, So Far) by Greg Mandryk
    20 Jan. 2024
    “ This is a hilarious comedy full of colorful personalities! The characters are truly the stars of the show as they gather together to throw a party at the end of the world. The ticking clock kept the stakes high and the action moving, and the laughs didn't stop coming the entire time! While absurd, real human relationships and anxieties are at the center of every interaction, adding a relatable authenticity to a heightened situation. There is so much truth hidden among the shenanigans. The button at the very end had me cackling! A truly delightful play about trusting your reality! ”
  • A Chemical Solution by Bram Hartman
    20 Jan. 2024
    “ There really is no such thing as "normal" when it comes to desire, and I love plays like this one that discuss kink and sexuality in such an open manner. In this case, the morality at the center of the dispute is multifaceted and complex, and had me thoroughly engaged, arguing with myself about the "correct" solution until I reached the final page. The conclusion left with with a powerful, lingering sense of dread, wondering what would come next for Hazel. A fascinating and nuanced short! ”
  • Come Like Shadows by Gemma Cooper-Novack
    20 Jan. 2024
    “ I'm a sucker for a ghost story, and I love any play in conversation with the classics, so you can understand how excited I was to discover a haunting play about Lady Macbeth's origin story! The historical context of the deliberately anachronistic location and time period are subtly woven into the dialogue, which also inventively borrows from the source material. I found the backstories of each character fascinating and couldn't wait to learn more. Figuring out how to shift so seamlessly between time periods would be a fantastic creative challenge for a design team. Really thought-provoking and compelling work! ”
  • The Body Exchange by Mario Farwell
    20 Jan. 2024
    “ Rocky Horror has nothing on QZ700 in the sci-fi future depicted in this intriguing play, in which the prospect of aging has become obsolete - that is, if you can afford to pay the price. While red flags abound from page one, the siren song of youth remains appealing throughout, and it's easy to understand why the transfer would appeal to some. Hiriam is a surprisingly self-aware protagonist, however, and his final, incredibly human decision is both wise and affecting. This is a thought-provoking and memorable short! ”
  • Bluehair by Lainie Vansant
    20 Jan. 2024
    “ This might be the most original adaptation of the "Bluebeard" story I have ever had the pleasure of reading, in which frail, old Gladys is at the helm of a very unorthodox "harem!" Very few ten-minute plays incorporate, let alone thoroughly earn and justify, a battle royale between a little old lady and a barbarian at the eleventh hour! The ending is as silly as it is satisfying and left me grinning! Theatre artists would have a blast bringing this one to life! ”
  • Carhenge by Samara Siskind
    19 Jan. 2024
    “ This heartfelt and very funny monologue evokes all the chaos of parenthood as one mother attempts to connect with her teen daughter on a road trip (while simultaneously wrangling her younger, energetic son). What starts off light and goofy quickly becomes a thoughtful meditation on relationships, memory-making, and legacy. The subtext is carefully woven into the dialogue, making the piece engaging, as the reader or audience will work to paint a picture of this quirky character's life story. ”

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