Recommended by Hannah Lee DeFrates

Ah the girlbossery. Veruca Salt always knows what she wants, and this time, it's the legal right to have her name removed from Santa's List. In this delightful play, Lee R. Lawing makes us think about double standards in regards to the outcome and aftermath of Willy Wonka's infamous factory tour. With dialogue full of banter, passion, and reason; this play both made me laugh and tossed more fuel on my feminist flame. This is the kind of comedy I need in my life. Please somebody produce this play.

"Narcissa, Narcissa" is an incredibly well written piece. In this play, we see the inner life of a survivor, the conversations she has with herself, and the first steps of healing. Aly Kantor's dialogue has this poetic flow that is so very efficient in telling Narcissa's story. The power of this play has me at a loss for words. All I can say is, it had me on the verge of tears from the first page to the last line, and I would love to see it staged.

"Don’t you know? All good witches can fly."
"Evanesce, or The Tragedy of Medea" is a beautifully wicked piece of theatre. With heightened language and twisting verse, Jarred Corona has penned a modern Greek tragedy like no other. This chilling adaptation of the original drama has turned Euripides' "Medea" on it's head. Nothing is as it seems. This is a spooky play that would be oh, so enjoyable to see performed.

I saw a reading of this play a couple years back, and I still think about it every once in a while. "Yet to Come" is a raw, important piece of theatre, full of masterful dialogue that reveals a story of generational trauma, abuse, and choice. Especially in light of recent events, this play is deeply relevant and should be seen by everyone.

Words are very important in the world of this play. Through text chains and person-to-person dialogues, E.P. Klopp's "I Promise," shows how the conversations we have directly affect our choices in life and love.
There's also really cool visual effect where the boys and the girls are physically separated onstage, creating two parallel worlds that operate at the same time. Not to mention, Amelia and Michael each have two friends, of their respective genders, that seem to serve as and angel and a devil on their shoulder. It really helps point to one of the play's themes, social influence.

"E'Scape" is a fun little dark comedy. The characters are distinct and the dialogue is full of amusing word-play. Though the piece is five pages, Christopher Plumridge has vividly painted a world with clear imagery, that is fully felt through the language and physicality.

A chilling short piece with an intriguing female character

"Riddles" is a clever piece that keeps you on the edge of your seat. With four shady characters, masterful dialogue, and a creepy set-up, Ross Tedford Kendall has crafted a mystery you don't want to miss.

"Oasis" is a well-written adventure with an ending that brought a tear to my eye. With this play, Matthew Alan gives us four very real characters, three of which who journey to find a miracle: "The Oasis in the middle of nowhere." Through the conversational dialogue and dream sequences, the play serves up realism with a tinge of gritty whimsy. It is an enjoyable read that would be beautiful on stage or screen.

Roar! is a fun little romp about the imagination of a child. In this piece, Rachel Feeny-Williams provides a story that-while cute and comedic- at its core glimpses into ideas of identity. This play is a family-friendly adventure that will make you smile.