Recommended by Heather Helinsky

I really love it when the beginning of a play gives us a visceral symbol (dead goat) of what's to come. And yet, I really enjoyed the ride of the relationship between Sarah & Kennedy---all the twists and turns covered the ending that we know will happen from the title. This play asks many things, including can 'white career women and black men truly be friends when the power imbalance is so unequal?' The politics of American money in African countries is really clear b/c he has me invested in these two warm, seemingly friendly characters.

As a dramaturg, I've been on the hunt for plays about Haiti, and I'm thrilled to finally find this one! History plays are always sprawling & I enjoyed connecting with the play through the conflicts between Cecile and Valentine. This play is fearless and bold, and I am excited by theatrical gestures like the opening Act II scene between Louis the 16th and Boukeman. Do this play and really go for it! Evocative and compelling. And yes, bring on Part 2.

As the current national conversations about school shootings have continued with the #NeverAgain/March for Our Lives movement, this poetic play is a must-read. I came to this piece first as a dramaturg for Great Plains Theatre Conference, written in response to the Sandy Hook shooting. It's an intimate play that asks great questions about the tragedy that parents should never have to face.

An important story that needs to be told, as these marginalized characters try to pursue the American Dream. I highly enjoyed when this play bursts through theatrical conventions and we see Vogue battles and dancers that "slay". I can't wait to go see this play and cheer it on.

If you're looking for a contemporary play with the heightened elements of Greek tragedy, give this one a look. The chorus of three church women are hilarious as the family deals with their personal family grief, as well as the lyrical poetry of Q. While the family tries to run from their past to hide behind the white walls of a gated community, I also appreciated themes of appropriation and "who has the right to tell our family's story" with the character of Daniel. Strong storytelling in a play where everyone is judged for the way they are grieving.

This play grabbed me right away with it's bold theatrical visual vocabulary and its memorable characters who speak poetically about heartbreak. Why not put Kim Jong-Il in the middle of a rom-com as he's searching for a South Korean bride at a resort wedding while he's trying to destroy America with nuclear weapons? I was particulary drawn in by Turtle-Man, Crab Girk, and of course, the Elvis Impersonator. The metaphors are rather clear in this irreverent, fun romp.

As Stacey's dramaturg for the Lee University premiere, I witnessed the transformation of this play from the copious amounts of research on the history of Harlan County, Kentucky to an epic journey of a community of women who are cut off by both the landscape & corporate greed, and must band together to fed for themselves. We need to be listening to stories from this region of the country. The responses from the talkback praised Stacey for the authenticity of the writing. If you're looking for a woman-empowering play about faith, doubt, anger, perseverance, humor, & community--produce this one.

"Y" produce this play? Small, nuanced moments, carefully crafted, character-centered storytelling. I was definitely along for the emotional ride with Wyatt and Merryn as they navigate a way forward through their grief.

If you're looking for a play that has that feeling of "Cheers"---where lonely people gather for companionship and hope for the possibility of romance, take a moment to pull off the superhighway and give this one a read. But this is more than a sit-com or rom-com genre---Gina's writing is relentless, full of energy, full of questions, and not afraid of dealing with tough conversations about past pain. I also liked the metaphor of the piano in this store, and why it's there.

Robin’s plays often dramatize characters who are outsiders. The questions this play raises in this small town are “who goes, who stays, who belongs, who wins, and who ultimately loses?” All of her characters are forced to take a “side”---something that feels relevant right now. I also appreciate the metaphor of coming home to a community with a lot of fog and dirt. It's hard to cleanse ourselves of the dirt of our past. And when we absent our voices from the community, we perhaps allow darker forces to roll in and bulldoze over others.