Recommended by Sam Heyman

Tense from the word "go," Scott Cantrell's "Out" is a challenging, emotional play for two young actors. Excerpted from Cantrell's full length, "Devil's Triangle," this scene manages to stand alone, pitting its central pair against each other and themselves as they struggle to reconcile fears, desires, needs and the cold, painful reality of being young and queer in a hostile environment. I definitely want to see the rest of these characters' journeys!

I at last got to view FUKT in its entirety, unabridged and uninterrupted and it cannot be overstated: FUKT is a powerful, harrowing, hilarious and vital piece of theatre. Navigating the personal and often painful mythology of its playwright, developing a history full of vulnerability and avowed unreliability, the journey of FUKT is an unforgettable one. Emma Goldman-Sherman's voice--or perhaps voices--shines through the darkness while accepting all of the painful parts along the way. I join the chorus of voices singing this play's praises - a marvelous piece of work.

Flowers, sniffed. Expectations, subverted. Heart, warmed. A lovely one minute play.

There’s a joyously awkward spirit to David Lipschutz’s THE [C]HAN[N]UK[K]A[H] PLAY that I couldn’t shake once I got truly introduced to the play’s characters and central conceit. The Bartlebaum family is one that considers “heck” to be a swear but can candidly discuss the BDSM acronym around the dinner table, and they’re a total pleasure to read about. I was tickled by the ending and I imagine many audiences would be as well - excellent and unexpected!

What a powerful play! In "Goodbye, Denny Jacobs," playwright Jackie Martin makes use of immersive, transporting monologues and the reflections of a prison reporter to tell a tragic story rich with nuance and humanity. The resonance of a queer reporter uncovering the heartbreaking reality of a killer's circumstances is strong here - this play is an excellent showcase of Martin's abilities. Here's to more productions to come!

Whether he's being pop-culturally referential or gorily reprehensible, Daniel Prillaman does an excellent job at making the horrific things in life absolutely hilarious. This "Unanticipated Betrayal" would undoubtedly have audiences howling with laughter along with its central victim. Definitely give this play a read and produce it if you have the means -- and stomach -- to do so!

Writing a prequel or companion piece to any canonical work is a considerable undertaking, much less to one of Shakespeare's most lauded tragedies, and with THE CONSCIENCE OF THE KING, playwright Adam Richter succeeds impressively in his mission. Richter's elevated, yet accessible language and nuanced characterization of Hamlet's established figures are a revelation. Each of the play's scenes builds toward and complicates the drama's foregone conclusion in fascinating ways. Devotees of the Bard, this one is worth your time!

Jillian Blevins takes the frustrating idiocy of modern antisemitism and creates, not a farce, but a thoughtful debate about Jewish identity and morality with a high-stakes, sci-fi backdrop. This isn't to say that the play's writing isn't funny, but it takes seriously the differing perspectives and experiences of Jewish people on a variety of topics, while also examining challenging ethical questions. "Space Laser, In Space!" is a remarkable piece of speculative fiction for the stage, highly recommended.

Nothing like a memorial service to bring people together for some good ol' fashioned reminiscing. In the capable hands of Philip Middleton Williams, this tale of reconnection and recollection is a delightfully engaging read -- and not just for gay readers' projecting onto Sam Weaver and his many potential suitors. There is nuance to every character in this play, and a richness to each relationship, romantic, familial and otherwise, that is refreshing. The world of Cooler Near The Lake is definitely worth a visit!

Douglas may not come off as particularly cool at first, but he is attempting to do something many male gamers routinely fail to do. In this fabulous monologue from Asher Wyndham, Douglas pushes past the small talk and to the core of what ails his nerdy community: toxicity and gatekeeping aimed at women and girls. He’s still just getting started, but he is a model example of what allyship can look like. Excellent work.