Recommended by Joe Swenson

  • Joe Swenson: UNVERIFIED

    Adam probably knows this, but this play hits you with that Social Media desire for relevance. A like here, a retweet there. The relationship between Relay Bird and Tweeter is fantastic and they are funny. Ultimately though, this play has it all, great characters, well written witty dialogue, and relatability. Also the button at the end. Highly recommend and would love to see it staged.

    Adam probably knows this, but this play hits you with that Social Media desire for relevance. A like here, a retweet there. The relationship between Relay Bird and Tweeter is fantastic and they are funny. Ultimately though, this play has it all, great characters, well written witty dialogue, and relatability. Also the button at the end. Highly recommend and would love to see it staged.

  • Joe Swenson: CONVERSATION THAT NEVER HAPPENS IN 99.9% OF NEWSROOMS


    Cool. Adam Richter drops us off in the middle of a reporter chatting with an informant when the producers asks who was it. From there it’s anyone’s guess, but it’s also cool. Fun short two-hander.

    Cool. Adam Richter drops us off in the middle of a reporter chatting with an informant when the producers asks who was it. From there it’s anyone’s guess, but it’s also cool. Fun short two-hander.

  • Joe Swenson: JACOB AND EBENEZER: A LOVE STORY

    Adam Richter teases us with this delightful story of love, of family, and of regret. The tease is the relationship that Marley and Scrooge had and was there more? A nickname here, bedsides, and other subtleties suggest the love that Marley and Scrooge have for each other extends beyond business and it’s brilliant. As is usually the case with Adam’s plays, I want more. I want the relationship. Amazing play.

    Adam Richter teases us with this delightful story of love, of family, and of regret. The tease is the relationship that Marley and Scrooge had and was there more? A nickname here, bedsides, and other subtleties suggest the love that Marley and Scrooge have for each other extends beyond business and it’s brilliant. As is usually the case with Adam’s plays, I want more. I want the relationship. Amazing play.

  • Joe Swenson: Intellectuals

    I was hooked from the opening by the clear chemistry between all of the characters. Scott Sickles is an incredible writer one that inspires and motivates other writers to reach beyond themselves to write better.

    The word play, constant redefining, correcting, but ultimately the level of care that Scott puts into every one of his characters. Care that they are three-dimensional, care that they are real people, care that you can relate to each of them is incredible.

    That's the part of Scott that inspires me and Intellectuals makes you care about his characters. Another masterpiece of...

    I was hooked from the opening by the clear chemistry between all of the characters. Scott Sickles is an incredible writer one that inspires and motivates other writers to reach beyond themselves to write better.

    The word play, constant redefining, correcting, but ultimately the level of care that Scott puts into every one of his characters. Care that they are three-dimensional, care that they are real people, care that you can relate to each of them is incredible.

    That's the part of Scott that inspires me and Intellectuals makes you care about his characters. Another masterpiece of theatrical writing.

  • Joe Swenson: All The Pretty Colored Bottles Under The Sink

    Hannah Lee DeFrates is an exceptional mystery/twist writer. This play further confirms the previous statement. The brilliance of Hannah's writing is that everyone knows the twist, you feel the twist, there's a sense of what the twist is, but if you don't read it until the end you'll miss the actual twist. Hannah's creativity knows no bounds and that's part of the art of Hannah's writing. I have an incredible amount of respect for how she approaches her work and how she pushes her characters to the brink of potential disaster. This work needs to be produced.

    Hannah Lee DeFrates is an exceptional mystery/twist writer. This play further confirms the previous statement. The brilliance of Hannah's writing is that everyone knows the twist, you feel the twist, there's a sense of what the twist is, but if you don't read it until the end you'll miss the actual twist. Hannah's creativity knows no bounds and that's part of the art of Hannah's writing. I have an incredible amount of respect for how she approaches her work and how she pushes her characters to the brink of potential disaster. This work needs to be produced.

  • Joe Swenson: I Survived Being Haunted at my Childhood Home: Age 10

    Less about ghosts and more about the relationship and the fighting between siblings. The quick banter, the escalation, quickly getting over it, the humor, the phone call, the subtle ghost. I loved all of it. I also love that it was Cole's little sister that had the interaction. I wonder when he learned that his sister interacted with the ghost. Either way, it's fun, short, to the point, and deserves an audience.

    Less about ghosts and more about the relationship and the fighting between siblings. The quick banter, the escalation, quickly getting over it, the humor, the phone call, the subtle ghost. I loved all of it. I also love that it was Cole's little sister that had the interaction. I wonder when he learned that his sister interacted with the ghost. Either way, it's fun, short, to the point, and deserves an audience.

  • Joe Swenson: WingTips

    Randy Hunt built a very witty, funny, look into the world and anxiety of dating. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all have a WingPerson right at our fingertips. Kam and Stu will surely make a wonderful match in real-life, but one never knows with someone steering the conversation from the HQ of WingTips. Brilliantly crafted, laughs a second, an awkward first attempt in the driver seat and you have the makings of a sitcom, honestly. Upgrades and cross-sells galore. Stay to the end, that's the best part. Highly recommend this play!

    Randy Hunt built a very witty, funny, look into the world and anxiety of dating. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all have a WingPerson right at our fingertips. Kam and Stu will surely make a wonderful match in real-life, but one never knows with someone steering the conversation from the HQ of WingTips. Brilliantly crafted, laughs a second, an awkward first attempt in the driver seat and you have the makings of a sitcom, honestly. Upgrades and cross-sells galore. Stay to the end, that's the best part. Highly recommend this play!

  • Joe Swenson: Five

    I hated the fact that this story is confined to a short play. Jaxson has written very real characters that you root for, empathize with, and relate to. This show needs an audience for everything that the characters represent, for the authenticity and storytelling. Highly recommend.

    I hated the fact that this story is confined to a short play. Jaxson has written very real characters that you root for, empathize with, and relate to. This show needs an audience for everything that the characters represent, for the authenticity and storytelling. Highly recommend.

  • Joe Swenson: A Certain Pedigree

    Love this play and the consistency of the characters to their dog breed. What fun. Interestingly Rachel builds an environment where dogs/humans are interchangeable. As someone who loves dogs though I love the idea that they remain dogs. RFW is a tremendous artist and so diverse. Congratulations on another compelling piece of art!

    Love this play and the consistency of the characters to their dog breed. What fun. Interestingly Rachel builds an environment where dogs/humans are interchangeable. As someone who loves dogs though I love the idea that they remain dogs. RFW is a tremendous artist and so diverse. Congratulations on another compelling piece of art!

  • Joe Swenson: Faith, Trust and...

    I love this play with all of my heart. This show needs to be stood up on a stage or filmed in a Film-Noir style. Rachel is a master at the crime/drama and to take her efforts to a reimagined Neverland is just the theater experience people need. There’s compelling drama and tension, but it’s the pictures that Rachel paints that makes this such an enjoyable piece. Excellent work!

    I love this play with all of my heart. This show needs to be stood up on a stage or filmed in a Film-Noir style. Rachel is a master at the crime/drama and to take her efforts to a reimagined Neverland is just the theater experience people need. There’s compelling drama and tension, but it’s the pictures that Rachel paints that makes this such an enjoyable piece. Excellent work!