Recommended by Ian Donley

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    This play takes its moments to really poke at the audience to think deeply about just how fickle our humanity is. On the flip side, this is a very whimsical and fun play, full of rich characters for actors to play. Each character is explored just enough to give us a sense of their motivations, which comes full circle at the very end. Anyone playing Eros will have a fun time!

    This play takes its moments to really poke at the audience to think deeply about just how fickle our humanity is. On the flip side, this is a very whimsical and fun play, full of rich characters for actors to play. Each character is explored just enough to give us a sense of their motivations, which comes full circle at the very end. Anyone playing Eros will have a fun time!

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    by Mackenzie Raine Kirkman

    This play is like a modern-day Sara Kane: shocking, provocative, and delivers a pulsating story that will have audiences on the edge of their seats. This play gives us a simple hostage scenario yet still gives us room to imagine the circumstances of both Blue and Green. It thrives in being an uncomfortable experience, never letting up on its intensity. A play that will linger in your psyche.

    This play is like a modern-day Sara Kane: shocking, provocative, and delivers a pulsating story that will have audiences on the edge of their seats. This play gives us a simple hostage scenario yet still gives us room to imagine the circumstances of both Blue and Green. It thrives in being an uncomfortable experience, never letting up on its intensity. A play that will linger in your psyche.

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    This short play is quite tender. The little clues hidden in the dialogue about who these characters is a treat to find while reading. This is a lovely short play to have at any one-act festival.

    This short play is quite tender. The little clues hidden in the dialogue about who these characters is a treat to find while reading. This is a lovely short play to have at any one-act festival.

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    Being a child star all grown up comes with its own challenges. Add in the classic "people turning into monsters" trope and you end up with a hilariously satirical play filled with juicy characters for actors to sink their teeth into. "Child Stars Don't Die" is like a classic B-movie with a flair of absurdity in the best way possible. This would be so much fun for any company to produce.

    Being a child star all grown up comes with its own challenges. Add in the classic "people turning into monsters" trope and you end up with a hilariously satirical play filled with juicy characters for actors to sink their teeth into. "Child Stars Don't Die" is like a classic B-movie with a flair of absurdity in the best way possible. This would be so much fun for any company to produce.

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    "A Charmed Life" infuses the traditional memory play through the lens of dementia, giving this play a beautiful ying and yang quality to it. It's always lovely to see a marginalized character be given the spotlight in tackling such an intense subject matter, and Eden Lake crafts Evelyn with such precision and care that the end result leaves a lasting impact. This is a play that deserves to be recognized, especially since the lives of the older LGBTQ+ generation are not typically on display.

    "A Charmed Life" infuses the traditional memory play through the lens of dementia, giving this play a beautiful ying and yang quality to it. It's always lovely to see a marginalized character be given the spotlight in tackling such an intense subject matter, and Eden Lake crafts Evelyn with such precision and care that the end result leaves a lasting impact. This is a play that deserves to be recognized, especially since the lives of the older LGBTQ+ generation are not typically on display.

  • Ian Donley: Somewhere on Santa Monica by Hilary Bluestein-Lyons
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    This play has the same level of charm and fluidity as John Carini's "Almost, Maine". We are introduced to Amanda and Ralph, two strangers who spend the night walking down LA on a journey of living in the moment when the internet is cut shut. We also meet the people they meet along the way and find out they, just like us all, are all looking to connect with one another but sometimes hold back. This is a beautifully written play with plenty of two-person scenes for actors to sink their teeth into.

    This play has the same level of charm and fluidity as John Carini's "Almost, Maine". We are introduced to Amanda and Ralph, two strangers who spend the night walking down LA on a journey of living in the moment when the internet is cut shut. We also meet the people they meet along the way and find out they, just like us all, are all looking to connect with one another but sometimes hold back. This is a beautifully written play with plenty of two-person scenes for actors to sink their teeth into.

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  • Ian Donley: Wilt by Baylee Shlichtman
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    To quote Martin Scorsese, horror is at its best when it's rooted in emotional truth. And "Wilt" certainly honors that sentiment. Wilt is both poetic and gruesome, keeping the audience on edge from beginning and end. There's a lot of great commentary on masculinity, femininity, and how both of these things repel and attract each other. Any director will have a field day putting this on stage. There's a freedom expressed in this play that is inspiring to read.

    To quote Martin Scorsese, horror is at its best when it's rooted in emotional truth. And "Wilt" certainly honors that sentiment. Wilt is both poetic and gruesome, keeping the audience on edge from beginning and end. There's a lot of great commentary on masculinity, femininity, and how both of these things repel and attract each other. Any director will have a field day putting this on stage. There's a freedom expressed in this play that is inspiring to read.

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  • Ian Donley: Super Duper Happy Immigrant Funtimeland by Damian Arteaga
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    From beginning to end, this play keeps you in an emotional chokehold. The sheer terror of the circumstances our trio of Pablos are in mixed with the whimsical satire regarding our country's current state on immigration makes this play truly unforgettable. Plays that aren't afraid to go for the jugular when addressing hot button issues are crucial to our development as a society. Damian Arteaga's writing certainly proves that. A true knockout for any company to produce.

    From beginning to end, this play keeps you in an emotional chokehold. The sheer terror of the circumstances our trio of Pablos are in mixed with the whimsical satire regarding our country's current state on immigration makes this play truly unforgettable. Plays that aren't afraid to go for the jugular when addressing hot button issues are crucial to our development as a society. Damian Arteaga's writing certainly proves that. A true knockout for any company to produce.

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  • Ian Donley: Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer and Liked It by Paul Braverman
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    I love the infusion of fairytale and mystery in this piece. We meet two of Santa's reindeer who get caught up in a murder of a grandmother (or was it really a murder?). Paul Braverman has managed to drive the stakes up without losing its comedic appeal. This would be a fun piece for any festival prioritizing Christmas plays to consider putting on.

    I love the infusion of fairytale and mystery in this piece. We meet two of Santa's reindeer who get caught up in a murder of a grandmother (or was it really a murder?). Paul Braverman has managed to drive the stakes up without losing its comedic appeal. This would be a fun piece for any festival prioritizing Christmas plays to consider putting on.

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  • Ian Donley: ICONS by Xavier Clark
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    ICONS is a meticulously crafted play about legacy and what we sacrifice in order to leave a legacy behind. Clark's attention to detail is vivid, leaving anyone who chooses to produce this play a clear vision. The dialogue in this play goes from being crisp and sharp to vulnerable and smooth, sometimes in the same scene. This is one of those plays that needs to be seen on stage. The impact this had on me just reading it was palpable. I can only imagine the impact it would have on stage.

    ICONS is a meticulously crafted play about legacy and what we sacrifice in order to leave a legacy behind. Clark's attention to detail is vivid, leaving anyone who chooses to produce this play a clear vision. The dialogue in this play goes from being crisp and sharp to vulnerable and smooth, sometimes in the same scene. This is one of those plays that needs to be seen on stage. The impact this had on me just reading it was palpable. I can only imagine the impact it would have on stage.

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