Recommended by Joe Swenson

John Patrick Bray writes a beautiful story love and being loved through a lovely creative lens. John creates a picture after picture after picture throughout this play. The characters are vibrant and three dimensional and more than along for the ride, they are integral to the entire story. I've made Maine my home for the last 25 years and the pictures, the relationships, the locations, all of it authentic. John creates complexity in emotions and mystery while delivering a fitting conclusion, one that the audience roots for without knowing they are rooting for it. Great show.

Ryan captures the neurosis of being a parent to a teenager flawlessly. You know she was going to be late, you know there's no chance they'd be back on time and it lets your mind wonder from extrinsic motivators to the intrinsic moments of trying to remain calm. Ryan pushes the levers even further the closer you get to the end and then draws back the curtain just in time as if the play was going to end any other way than the way it ended. Great show!

Oh no, what have you done Christopher Soucy? Teleporting into the famed Miskatonic University, with humor, and racism (sort of), and ignorance, and blissful shortcomings. Fencing and violins. The saga begins with Max and Maurie as they entertain their new "cool" friend Reggie who happens to be Max's dormmate. Chris intertwines humor throughout his at times purposefully awkward dialogue. Finishing with a humorous button, I can't wait to dive into this 31 play series.

I love the complexity of imagination that Rachel brings to her plays. This play doesn't disappoint in the least when it comes to imagination. Pinning potential loss into a long-lasting kindship is familiar, but when you put it to liquor it takes on a whole new meaning. The only thing that upsets me is that this show has been around for nearly 2 years and I hadn't read it yet. I smiled, I laughed, I enjoyed the entire premise, I rooted for the characters, I'm glad they kissed. What a fun show!

At some point the brilliance of Hannah Lee DeFrates will be known by everyone. Everyone needs a safe space, place, something. You can't help but to root for the characters that Hannah has created in all of their quirky wonderful depressing ways. There is a series rooted in the library of works of this exceptional storyteller and this is a show that would be amazing to tell on stage, on screen, in a podcast.

We've all had that one great hug. That hug that you wanted again and again because it was warm and comfortable and safe. Imagine that's the talent you bring to the world. But also that you're ambitious, entrepreneurial, etc. That's the world that Dana has created and it's lovely and awkward and all things beautiful. Wonderful play by the exceptionally talented Dana Hall!

Brilliant. One of the pillars of Christopher's two-handers is quick dialogue. In this scene with a navigation device, he doesn't disappoint. The show is funny and relevant, and we all need a little Sat-Nav in our lives. I needed this play today. Thank you Chris!

I don't think I'll be alone in saying that I had to read this twice and both times it read differently. A short play like this is supposed to be open-ended and Lou Jones creates a wonderful show that is full of mystery. You feel for Steven and wonder what is going on. Lou tells this story brilliantly and gives you just enough answers to shape your imagination into filling in the blanks. Wonderful show!

Who doesn't love a good ghost story? Lou Jones dials up a wonderful ghost story in three short scenes. We start with a benign premise, a social media influencer faking her way into viewers. The reluctant assistant, desiring to be truthful and authentic. Then the twist, as any good ghost story should have, there has to be a twist. What's one good twist without one more twist. This is where Lou cranks it up a notch and lands the punchline with conviction and a scream! Loved it!

Brilliant and for all the right reasons. It's like a well written joke with a thought-provoking punchline. Sure, you wonder why people love it and then hate it, though Lou does an awesome job of letting your imagination fill in the blanks. It's never really about the families moving in, it's about the agent. Great play!