Recommended by Aly Kantor

I was lucky enough to be involved in a workshop of this hilarious locked-room murder mystery! It is full of quick and witty dialogue, physical comedy, and colorful characters! While the solution is satisfying, the real fun comes from the banter and rapport of the large ensemble cast. This would be an excellent choice for a high school or a group of young performers just getting started with making strong choices on stage. I particularly appreciated the rich, 1920s atmosphere and many great roles for women and girls!

There is something so compelling and even meta about this short climate play! Our protagonist seems to understand that the way to attract attention to the world's problems is through stories, and George Sapio has done just that. He lured me in with a premise about messages in bottles and then sneakily presented the grittier reality underneath. I really think this piece could be the catalyst that makes the ugly effects of late-stage capitalism real for audiences. Best of all, we're left with a sense that the situation, dire as it is, may not be hopeless.

This short but effective piece is loaded with quick, specific dialogue, but we learn just as much from what is left unsaid. This play shines in the negative space, with a beautiful sense of poetry and movement. As these two characters banter, we come to understand the important role of community in survival during a dynamic moment in queer history. I loved watching Chris and Eva go from awkward to intimate, then from authentic to obedient. This play is incredibly human and would make a fantastic vehicle for two very in-sync actors.

I'm not a "sports person," so when I downloaded this play, I wasn't sure what to expect - sure enough, about one page in I had tears in my eyes... from laughter! This absurd premise just keeps getting more delightfully ridiculous as the details are revealed - I can imagine an entire audience squirming and cringing along with these poor football players! At its core, this play is a dark mediation about dreams deferred and the lengths some people will go through for five minutes of satisfaction. Audiences will walk out of theatres chatting about this one for sure!

Oh, what a wonderful world it would be if we were all a little more like Charles from this stunning little play! In this vignette between two siblings, the older brother chooses to believe in his sister's experience of the world rather than denying her unique reality - and that, I think, is the definition of love. The piece uses simple but rich language to evoke the peaceful outdoor setting. The dialogue is sweet and natural, and the piece ends with a memorable final image. This play is truly gentle and kind - there is so much heart here. Lovely.

The world is ripe with stories of individuals who "always knew they were different," but not as many stories about people discovering their queerness later in life. In this pleasantly wacky two-hander, both characters have such strong and consistent points of view. The quick, hilarious dialogue makes you feel for both of them... for different reasons! The playwright makes you cringe, but also makes you care. This simple, effective short play leaves you questioning where these characters will end up after it ends - which is a sign of strong characterization. It's a wonderful showcase for two dynamic actresses!

This play is a compelling, tightly constructed, specific take on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice that plays with time and structure in masterful ways. The dialogue in act one is so very human, and transitions to a more poetic style as it moves into Hell. There are so many beautiful, resonant moments throughout - the repetition of dialogue, themes, images. This is a gorgeous exploration of what it means to be alive that is cleverly disguised as a play about death. Best of all, it will allow ALL audience members to find themselves on stage and in myth.

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.