Recommended by Brenton Kniess

Dana Hall's REFRACTED LIGHT is a complex gut-wrenching story that pulls you in and never lets go. Each character is well drawn, as we see how their past implicates their present, but never defines them. There is an emotional weight that is beautifully displayed and adds to the complicated and difficult journey that these characters will face both alone and together. REFRACTED LIGHT has the power of O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night and the heart of Next to Normal. A gripping piece of theatre!

Robert Weibezahl has a skill to make a comedy unsettling and uncomfortable. The longer I read, the more uncomfortable I got and that’s what makes this piece so unique and fascinating. I really liked how Weibezahl layers the action and each reveal is not spoiled, they are all naturally layered which gives us a fantastic ending.

I absolutely loved this! The dynamic between Mark and the therapist is so fun and fresh. I love the cutting back and forth and the occasional juxtaposition of baseball and the therapy sessions. This is a unique short comedy that actors and directors can have so much fun with!

Aster, a former lover of Minnie, is reunited with her at Minnie’s wedding. What gets set up as an awkward scenario is suddenly developed into seeing a nuance of their friendship and past. I love the dynamic between Aster and Minnie. You can feel the love between the two of them, even though that love has changed, it’s still present. The best part of a broken off relationship is the person one becomes after moving on, or struggling to move on. A wonderful piece on relationships and the lives we make for ourselves after!

What a fun and unique take on King Lear! Shlichtman hilariously puts a creative spin on one of Shakespeare's most dramatic tragedies. So much great potential for any director! Great fun!

This is a gripping play that accomplishes so much in ten minutes. Tennant tailors each moment to the story at hand and lets the dialogue guide the action naturally, which adds to the authenticity of the piece and the characters. An incredibly moving and powerful piece of theatre.

Jeffery James Keyes has a penchant for crafting deeply moving and emotionally grounded pieces of theatre, and AFTERMATH is no exception. This is a bold and emotionally gripping play that will stick with audiences for a long time.

Ian Donley's playground is a raw, in-your-face satire that gives it to you straight with zero sugar coating. And it makes it all the better! Donley's playground is highly dark and whimsical which will make for a bizarre (in the best way possible) night of theatre!

Sam Heyman crafts a wildly creative and emotionally intelligent play. While this is a drama, Heyman creates a sense of childlike wonder and perspective that connects us to Jackson in a unique and highly imaginative way. The strongest element of this piece is how Heyman expertly and eloquently crafts this intricate nature that is woven with heart and humanity as we go on Jackson's journey. [the inner universe] is a beautifully rich tapestry of the human experience.

A common thematic device that Darrin nails every time is perspective. Each character is unique and has had experiences that the others cannot relate to. That is until they reveal their true layers to each other and realize that they may not be as different from each other as they believe. There is a saying that says death makes life possible, and I believe that Three Blind Mice explores that statement beautifully and honestly. This is an incredibly bold, authentic, but most importantly human piece of theatre.