Recommended by Heather Helinsky

  • Heather Helinsky: Chrysalis by Gwyneth Strope
    “

    After witnessing the Hollins production of CHRYSALIS at KCACTF Region 4 in 2024, I could not recommend this play more highly for future production opportunities. Mirage's journey relates to the experience of many who experience trauma in a relationship which then creates deep fears when one is finally in a positive, loving relationship. The structural twists and turns of a memory play were also well-orchestrated and contributed to the overall powerful emotional impact and ultimate catharsis. This non-linear play is a map of how to move forward and heal the heart. Well done!

    After witnessing the Hollins production of CHRYSALIS at KCACTF Region 4 in 2024, I could not recommend this play more highly for future production opportunities. Mirage's journey relates to the experience of many who experience trauma in a relationship which then creates deep fears when one is finally in a positive, loving relationship. The structural twists and turns of a memory play were also well-orchestrated and contributed to the overall powerful emotional impact and ultimate catharsis. This non-linear play is a map of how to move forward and heal the heart. Well done!

    ”
  • Heather Helinsky: howling: a fairy tale by Jordan Bird
    “

    I was immediately drawn into the world of the play through the cadence of the characters, which told me everything in the first 10-15 pages about Birdie's heartbreak that would unfold. Highly appreciated the many intentional choices, a primary one being centering Birdie's story on her mental health journey while the play peels away the layers of the emotional abuse in all her familial relationships. This play also provides opportunities for designers to play with lights and shadows of the theatrical woods and theatres to have nuanced conversations with their audiences about neurodiversity.

    I was immediately drawn into the world of the play through the cadence of the characters, which told me everything in the first 10-15 pages about Birdie's heartbreak that would unfold. Highly appreciated the many intentional choices, a primary one being centering Birdie's story on her mental health journey while the play peels away the layers of the emotional abuse in all her familial relationships. This play also provides opportunities for designers to play with lights and shadows of the theatrical woods and theatres to have nuanced conversations with their audiences about neurodiversity.

    ”

  • The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced REMAINS AND RETURNS as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We appreciated the pacing and rhythm to dialogue, which contributes to the play's authenticity and captures the family dynamic well. We enjoyed the stylized approach to conveying what's unsaid in families, as this play explores the trauma towards a son, and the continual damage of covering up past hate with the facade of progress. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated...

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced REMAINS AND RETURNS as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We appreciated the pacing and rhythm to dialogue, which contributes to the play's authenticity and captures the family dynamic well. We enjoyed the stylized approach to conveying what's unsaid in families, as this play explores the trauma towards a son, and the continual damage of covering up past hate with the facade of progress. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

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  • The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced THE WOMEN'S CENTER as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We highly enjoyed the clear, easy-to-connect with characters. We were engaged by the questioning of what safe space means when exploring body image, fitness culture and gender. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced THE WOMEN'S CENTER as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We highly enjoyed the clear, easy-to-connect with characters. We were engaged by the questioning of what safe space means when exploring body image, fitness culture and gender. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

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    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced INDISPENSABLE as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We appreciated the characters, especially the mom, as both adult children aim to succeed in a world with racial inequities and barriers to success in America. We saw great potential in this play as the twins Honor and Prosper ultimately learn what it means to be indispensable to each other. We hope this play of quick-paced scenes and clear reversals is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators...

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced INDISPENSABLE as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We appreciated the characters, especially the mom, as both adult children aim to succeed in a world with racial inequities and barriers to success in America. We saw great potential in this play as the twins Honor and Prosper ultimately learn what it means to be indispensable to each other. We hope this play of quick-paced scenes and clear reversals is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

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  • The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced [LANDSCAPE PLAY] as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were compelled by the strong sense of intentionality as the writer weaved together the life of Arctic explorer Matthew Henson with Kai, a 30 year old on the precipice of making a decision about her white boyfriend. We highly enjoyed the poetic heightened language and an explorer's journal-style introspection. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s...

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced [LANDSCAPE PLAY] as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were compelled by the strong sense of intentionality as the writer weaved together the life of Arctic explorer Matthew Henson with Kai, a 30 year old on the precipice of making a decision about her white boyfriend. We highly enjoyed the poetic heightened language and an explorer's journal-style introspection. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

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  • The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were compelled by this dangerous, tenuous power struggle between the characters, and the writer excels at building intrigue. We highly enjoyed the way the writer mixed in K-Pop along with the questioning of relationships and traditions in this story of sisterhood and trauma. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production....

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were compelled by this dangerous, tenuous power struggle between the characters, and the writer excels at building intrigue. We highly enjoyed the way the writer mixed in K-Pop along with the questioning of relationships and traditions in this story of sisterhood and trauma. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

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  • The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced YOU'RE NOT A MYSTERY TO ME as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We appreciated the characters' search for connection and their aching loneliness in this high concept play about AI and mental health. We found compelling what the writer was reaching for in this statement piece frankly addressing isolation and intimacy within depression. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production....

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced YOU'RE NOT A MYSTERY TO ME as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We appreciated the characters' search for connection and their aching loneliness in this high concept play about AI and mental health. We found compelling what the writer was reaching for in this statement piece frankly addressing isolation and intimacy within depression. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

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  • The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced UNCUT as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We highly enjoyed the well crafted, economical dark humor of the piece that makes a deeply complex topic, FGM, accessible. We were engaged by the questions of bodily autonomy, upholding of patriarchy, and tradition. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced UNCUT as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We highly enjoyed the well crafted, economical dark humor of the piece that makes a deeply complex topic, FGM, accessible. We were engaged by the questions of bodily autonomy, upholding of patriarchy, and tradition. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

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    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced ME & WHO as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We highly enjoyed the imaginative, playful, and unapologetic style in this story of two Princess roommates. We were compelled by Princess Cookie's mental health journey, as well as wildly fun moments and imagery that contrasted with deeper insights about the impact of our words and actions on friends and lovers. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey...

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced ME & WHO as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We highly enjoyed the imaginative, playful, and unapologetic style in this story of two Princess roommates. We were compelled by Princess Cookie's mental health journey, as well as wildly fun moments and imagery that contrasted with deeper insights about the impact of our words and actions on friends and lovers. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

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