Recommended by Kara Emily Krantz

  •

    Nearly a Miracle, Never a Saint is a sharp, funny, and wonderfully irreverent exploration of faith, morality, and modern sainthood. Sarah Fiete skillfully balances satire with genuine compassion, asking timely questions about legacy, belief, and the stories we tell about goodness. The result is a thought-provoking theatrical experience that entertains while challenging audiences to examine their own assumptions.

    Nearly a Miracle, Never a Saint is a sharp, funny, and wonderfully irreverent exploration of faith, morality, and modern sainthood. Sarah Fiete skillfully balances satire with genuine compassion, asking timely questions about legacy, belief, and the stories we tell about goodness. The result is a thought-provoking theatrical experience that entertains while challenging audiences to examine their own assumptions.

  •

    Helen Pants on Fire is a fearless, provocative reimagining of Helen Keller that gleefully dismantles myth, hero worship, and historical certainty. Sharon Goldner combines sharp satire, intellectual playfulness, and theatrical audacity to challenge what we think we know about icons, truth, and legacy. A bold conversation-starter that refuses to play it safe and rewards audiences willing to embrace its irreverent spirit.

    Helen Pants on Fire is a fearless, provocative reimagining of Helen Keller that gleefully dismantles myth, hero worship, and historical certainty. Sharon Goldner combines sharp satire, intellectual playfulness, and theatrical audacity to challenge what we think we know about icons, truth, and legacy. A bold conversation-starter that refuses to play it safe and rewards audiences willing to embrace its irreverent spirit.

  •

    Ukrainian Railroad Ladies Waiting for the Call blends dark humor, history, and humanity into a poignant exploration of identity, resilience, and survival. Through the conversations of two unforgettable women, the play illuminates the personal realities behind geopolitical conflict while never losing its wit or heart. A thoughtful, timely work that invites audiences to see both Ukraine and themselves through a new, fresh, compassionate, exciting lens.

    Ukrainian Railroad Ladies Waiting for the Call blends dark humor, history, and humanity into a poignant exploration of identity, resilience, and survival. Through the conversations of two unforgettable women, the play illuminates the personal realities behind geopolitical conflict while never losing its wit or heart. A thoughtful, timely work that invites audiences to see both Ukraine and themselves through a new, fresh, compassionate, exciting lens.

  •

    The Golden Ass is a bold, campy reimagining of classical mythology that embraces theatrical spectacle, queer storytelling, and irreverent humor. Audiences who enjoy heightened theatricality, pop-infused mythology, and playful explorations of desire, identity, and transformation may find much to enjoy in this imaginative and unapologetically unique work.

    The Golden Ass is a bold, campy reimagining of classical mythology that embraces theatrical spectacle, queer storytelling, and irreverent humor. Audiences who enjoy heightened theatricality, pop-infused mythology, and playful explorations of desire, identity, and transformation may find much to enjoy in this imaginative and unapologetically unique work.

  •

    The Prodigal Daughter is a smart, emotionally intelligent reimagining of a familiar story, filled with sharp dialogue, dark humor, and beautifully complicated family dynamics. The playwright has a remarkable ear for character and repartee, creating relationships that feel both specific and deeply recognizable. Funny, moving, and theatrically assured, this is a play that invites audiences to wrestle with forgiveness, belonging, and the complicated ways we love one another.

    The Prodigal Daughter is a smart, emotionally intelligent reimagining of a familiar story, filled with sharp dialogue, dark humor, and beautifully complicated family dynamics. The playwright has a remarkable ear for character and repartee, creating relationships that feel both specific and deeply recognizable. Funny, moving, and theatrically assured, this is a play that invites audiences to wrestle with forgiveness, belonging, and the complicated ways we love one another.

  • Kara Emily Krantz: Rare Wolves by Gaby Labotka
    “

    Rare Wolves is one of those rare scripts that makes you stop repeatedly just to appreciate the beauty and magical, poetic topography of the writing. Fiercely specific yet deeply universal, it explores identity, transformation, belonging, and chosen family through gorgeous language and rich theatrical imagination. A beautiful, compassionate, and emotionally resonant play that lingers long after the final page. I would love to see this transformed from page to stage.

    Rare Wolves is one of those rare scripts that makes you stop repeatedly just to appreciate the beauty and magical, poetic topography of the writing. Fiercely specific yet deeply universal, it explores identity, transformation, belonging, and chosen family through gorgeous language and rich theatrical imagination. A beautiful, compassionate, and emotionally resonant play that lingers long after the final page. I would love to see this transformed from page to stage.

    ”
  • Kara Emily Krantz: That Night 'Butcher' Pete Wilcox Got Knocked Out By Jessie 'The Canon" Tesori by Jonathan Cook
    “

    There’s a lot of ten-minute plays out in the world, but this one is definitely special! Butcher Pete is filled with witty dialogue, strong characters, and a unique set-up/location/conflict. Even though the world of boxing is unknown to me, I was immediately intrigued by the drama and the dialogue between the characters, and even with minimal set or production requirements, I can absolutely see how electric this play could feel on the stage. Hoping to see this one produced at a playhouse near me!

    There’s a lot of ten-minute plays out in the world, but this one is definitely special! Butcher Pete is filled with witty dialogue, strong characters, and a unique set-up/location/conflict. Even though the world of boxing is unknown to me, I was immediately intrigued by the drama and the dialogue between the characters, and even with minimal set or production requirements, I can absolutely see how electric this play could feel on the stage. Hoping to see this one produced at a playhouse near me!

    ”
  • Kara Emily Krantz: Memento Mori by Jonathan Cook
    “

    Wowza, what a story! Jonathan Cook has a way of discovering and utilizing truly fascinating source material for his scripts, and Memento Mori is an exceptional example of this skill. Creepy, captivating, and compassionate all at the same time. Beautifully executed and I will certainly keep this on my short list to produce/endorse to others. Bravo!

    Wowza, what a story! Jonathan Cook has a way of discovering and utilizing truly fascinating source material for his scripts, and Memento Mori is an exceptional example of this skill. Creepy, captivating, and compassionate all at the same time. Beautifully executed and I will certainly keep this on my short list to produce/endorse to others. Bravo!

    ”
  • Kara Emily Krantz: Always Plenty of Light at the Starlight All Night Diner by Darcy Parker Bruce
    “

    A dream of a play. I fell in love with STARLIGHT years ago, and promised myself I would produce it one day. I received that honor in 2023 when I directed my students at Worcester Academy. This piece is a gift to actors and to theater-makers alike, filled with possibility, a sense of whimsy and poetry, and heartfelt meaning. These are the works of art we stay striving for, that wake up our hearts and give us hope and joy. Parker-Bruce has a keen way of encapsulating magic in a jar and sharing it with the world.

    A dream of a play. I fell in love with STARLIGHT years ago, and promised myself I would produce it one day. I received that honor in 2023 when I directed my students at Worcester Academy. This piece is a gift to actors and to theater-makers alike, filled with possibility, a sense of whimsy and poetry, and heartfelt meaning. These are the works of art we stay striving for, that wake up our hearts and give us hope and joy. Parker-Bruce has a keen way of encapsulating magic in a jar and sharing it with the world.

    ”
  • Kara Emily Krantz: Chicken Is Condemned To Be Free by Jesse Jae Hoon
    “

    This was delightful. I was looking for something for my students to read in class (for fun) and OMG I LOLed thinking about them navigating this ludicrousness. This short play is whimsical yet not without grounding, silly but not without sentiment and meaning. When I finished the play, I exclaimed "YES!" since I was so happy to find a piece that was so well-executed and ridiculous.

    This was delightful. I was looking for something for my students to read in class (for fun) and OMG I LOLed thinking about them navigating this ludicrousness. This short play is whimsical yet not without grounding, silly but not without sentiment and meaning. When I finished the play, I exclaimed "YES!" since I was so happy to find a piece that was so well-executed and ridiculous.

    ”