Recommended by Maximillian Gill

I can't help but be captivated by a play that has the courage to go to the dark and darkly funny places this one goes while at the same creating a unified artistic statement. Racism and the ugliest corners of the status of the undocumented are fully upfront here and treated in ways that are truly frightening at times and laugh-out loud funny other times. Amaya is working in a realm of melodrama tuned for a very specific artistic vision. It's thrilling to behold.

Malakhow pulls off something quite amazing here by taking us into a very specific environment that many readers (certainly this one) may be unfamiliar with, detailing it and fleshing it out until we understand it thoroughly, and finally situating within it a complicated issue with many intersectional complexities. Malakhow delves into the central issues with bravery and a clear-eyed commitment to understanding each character and where they are coming from. The core characters are both BIPOC but come from distinctly different places. The challenges to their relationship give this piece an urgent drive. Another powerful piece from this writer.

An incredible blending of drama and poetry. Serrano's ear for language is unerring, and this dialogue begs to spoken aloud and lingered over. I was in from the opening monologue and its introduction of running as a metaphor that colors the lives of all of these characters. The story both stings with tragedy and rings out with hope, a tricky balancing act that Serrano pulls off effortlessley. A wonderful piece.

A play solidly relevant for a time when all-too-frequent shootings of BIPOC people are finally being noticed. Sánchez’s treatment of the event is gripping and poignant. I am especially impressed by the writer’s ability to convey the sense of the city and the many types of characters that inhabit it, allowing us insight into the callous attitudes that shape these events. Urgent and important work.

A thoroughly charming short two-hander. I love how this piece luxuriates in the wittiest kind of absurdity before bringing us to an unexpected closer. A great opportunity for two actors to find all of the nuances of these roles, and there are many to seek out!

A riveting, deliriously poetic journey through love, war, and triumph and violence both physical and mental is documented in this incredible play. We are treated to Caribbean history through a mythic filter that renders everything more epic even as it clarifies the dominant themes of exploitation and oppression. I am also really impressed that the frame story is as engaging and interesting as the larger narrative. Compelling work by Pharel.

Beautiful writing and visuals infused with a sensitivity for ritual and a deep respect for memory and the lasting connections of family. I love the cultural details of this very specific location and the magical elements that are integrated effortlessly into the real-world drama. The dialogue is poetic while ringing true to the characters. The description allows the reader to visualize everything happening in a play that would be an incredible experience in a staged version. Wonderful work.

I am continually impressed by the facility Malakhow has with creating characters of such sharpness and depth. The writer makes it look easy, and I absolutely admire the skill! In this play, we get a story that blends in multiple issues of identity, all explored in depth without ever reading as didactic or overly analytical. Instead, the play forces you to think, about who these people are and why they are, and about who we all are. Malakhow also handles the reveals by making them seem inevitable and organic rather than plot twists. Another fine work from this writer.

A lovely little fable, an adept blend of thoroughly charming and life-affirming with fairly dark subject matter. Themes of free will and existential despair interweave in interesting ways and are given real weight. I also love the characterization of the angel of death and the general light and gentle touch balanced with the heavy themes. I can imagine so many moments in this short piece reading as magical on stage.

This short piece speaks to our times in a way that I found unexpectedly poignant. Malone's play manages to capture the essence of what so many of us have lost this past year and what so many are still longing for in a way that is so touching it took my breath away, and the writer manages this while still maintaining a running thread of wit. This is one to produce now but also one that will hold up in the future as a means of looking back on this strange time.