Recommended by Jack Seamus Conley

It isn’t often enough that you see a play, let alone a short play, willing to grapple with the complex nuances of accessibility, but here’s an excellent example of how to do it right. “Blinded” is a skillfully rendered and insightful discussion of the omnipresent tensions in academia between providing student support and the resources and time required to do it properly. The care that has been taken with this important issue in developing the characters and story is clear, and it would make an excellent addition to a one act festival or evening of shorts. Highly recommended!

”Auditioning for Godot” is both thoughtful and beautifully human. The script does a commendable job dealing with both queerness and physical disability, and although it reads as especially relatable to other theater artists, has enough depth and character to also feel quite accessible to general audiences. I also found an extra level of appreciation of it as a fan of the play “Waiting For Godot;” this script is nicely referential to the original without being too heavy handed. Excellent work by playwright Cole Hunter Dzubak!

A powerful and deep piece which is ultimately about truth and self-discovery. I appreciated the vulnerability of the dialogue and the layers to both of the characters; you could tell there was a type of safety to the environment they were in. This isn’t quite like any piece I’ve read, and I appreciate it for that too. Very well done by playwright Stephen Redmon-Byrum.

Funny, sweet, and thoroughly enjoyable. I loved the dynamic between the new couple trying to navigate the reality of their marriage and the world together, and the little twists and turns along the way. Would provide a very fun challenge for two actors to perform together, and make a great addition to a theater festival. Excellent work by Jack Levine!

Haunting, surreal, and thoughtful all in one. Theater horror is hard to write but this succeeds in some great ways. I did not see the direction that this piece was going at all and thoroughly enjoyed that fact— after reading the ending, I honestly needed a minute to process everything (in a very good way). Would love to see this performed someday and this would make an excellent addition to a one act festival. Excellent work!

Charming, funny, and bittersweet all in one, "it's a bit of a cliché" is an effective, relatable, and deeply felt look at how relationships end- and how we deal with and reflect on that information. I particularly appreciated the deconstruction of romantic cliches and how this play related them to the characters' lives and circumstances in a way that felt fresh and alert, not being in itself, well, "cliché." Beautiful work by playwright Rynn Deegan!

Relatable, engaging, and sharply relevant, "So Close, Yet," is an intelligently crafted look into the unfortunate holes in sex education in schools, particularly for queer students. Characters Joey and Skylar feel wonderfully real and like they could be from anywhere, which adds very much to the overall strength of the piece. Although not what I initially expected, I also particularly appreciated the ending for its realism and (small spoiler?) relative uncertainty, as it leaves the reader/listener/viewer with space to think. Well done!

I had the pleasure of directing this piece as part of the Rainy Day Artistic Collective's annual Queer Voices festival, and was immediately completely captivated by this script. Beyond being meticulously and impressively researched and representing a fascinating and too-little-told story from history, it is also a moving account of women ahead of their time and a romance with an unknown future. Wonderful work from playwright Rex McGregor... well done!

A stunning, moving short piece about the power of connection. Characters Rhea and Salome are beautifully developed over the course of 10 minutes, and the plot could not feel any more relevant today. I am also deeply appreciative of the positive and thoughtful representation of transgender and visually impaired characters in this piece (both of which are of course historically excluded groups in theater). Beautiful work as usual by playwright John Mabey!

A funny, surprising, and charming take on the heist genre (of which there simply isn't enough material in theater). Shrike and Magpie are characters you end up rooting for, with a twist ending to their story that doesn't fail to make you laugh and smile. Another great play by Hayley St. James!