Recommended by Sheila Rinear

Disappointed that I'd left Texas just ahead of Liz Duffy Adams' Born With Teeth's opening at The Alley, I instead read it and am now even more tortured that I didn't see it. What excitement and energy she packs into not just her gripping story of murder, torture, political intrigue, and the relationship between 2 iconic treasures, but her characterizations of these Icons (Will & Kit) are spellbindingly intimate and compelling. This script deserves many more productions. I will go out of my way to see it.

What a sadly beautiful play James McLindon has written. He holds to the light the disaster of history's repetitious oppression by placing his story in the hands of two couples' final intimate moments. Really nice work.

Sarah Lawrence’s Liberty gifts us with a masterful presentation of a timely and resonant segment of history in this brilliantly constructed story of Sarah Shelton Henry, wife and brains behind orator, Patrick Henry who ironically took her liberty and handed her death. Theatrically spellbinding, the dramatic conflicts are soul-stirring and heart breaking. This script has the energy of Hamilton and it, too, gives us another new American hero, Sarah Shelton Henry. I look forward to seeing this magnificent work brought to the stage and/or screen.

Donna Hoke's sass, wit, brilliant writing, and uniquely engaging characters take us on a mythical journey which is as outrageous as most mythical journeys. I heard it read on Zoom and longed to be sitting in a live audience to share my roll out of ongoing belly laughs. This is a great comedy that, once theater's up and running again, should see countless productions. Yes. It's that good!

Even though addressing racism in the 1940s, this is a script for right now! Lawton paints a verbal mural of Black Artists’ struggle to bring their art and their ancestral culture into a predominantly racist society. Lines such as: "One day, if we’re lucky, our work will transcend race" made clear Black Artists still have not yet been given enough respectful encouragement to create their truth in their art. Lawton packs a bounty of determined power in the hearts of John Biggers and Samella Sanders Lewis, the artists she champions in this play of amazing perspective. Brava!

In her play, Hearts of Stone, Donna Hoke effectively tackles tough issues (mental illness, suicide). But she also tells an ethereally poignant story while delivering a 1-2 punch to society's often unaddressed and unapologized for assignment of shame to the victims of mental illness and suicide. With strong characters, an amazing story line, and important social issues effectively championed, this play is a winner!

The wake-up call that William Duell’s drama, honor, provides needs to be heard by so many of us with Loved-Ones who’ve experienced traumatic loss. Loved Ones who are expected to return to their lives even though their emotional stability has been confiscated by the trauma. William examines the plight of 2 men: 1 damaged by military attack; and, the other by domestic terrorism. The ripple effects their pain spreads through their families smashes them all into the dangled carrot of relief: suicide. William weaves a heart-wrenching cautionary tale that is so timely.

Smart, bold, edgy-- Sarah Lawrence's take on Albert Einstein is an amazing example of how to make in-depth research work as brilliant theater. Lawrence's creativity applies a magically realistic imagining of the icon's final days that not only celebrate his achievements but also uncover many of Einstein's heartfelt regrets...professional and personal. Lawrence accomplishes this through the catalytic presence of Einstein's very real parrot, Bibo. A wonderful play!

Lisa B. Thompson’s Underground is outstanding. So much tension, doubt, courage and determination simmers under the lyrical rhythms of Mason and Kyle’s remarkably paced dialogue. Their arguments give accurate insight into the pride and pain of those fighting racism for themselves and for their people. This is a timely and trustworthy story for right now at this moment in time.

Candyce Rusk’s 2 One Acts (THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAMERS) are cleverly set 3 decades apart but in the same place: a cauldron of dreams, dashed hopes, and engaging players all haunted by the shadows of this country’s unacknowledged caste system. If ever there was a dramatic argument for class struggle in America going nowhere fast, this is it. Candyce’s dialogue is concisely spot-on and pure poetry. A joy to read. I found myself rooting for each character’s good outcome even though I sensed it could never work out that way. Well-paced tension and very strong roles.