Recommended by Ian Donley

This is a very dark yet high-energy comedy that gives you a well-deserved ending. It's the kind of show that will make you feel shell-shocked in the best way possible. The comedy and drama in the play blend together well, rising the tension that it becomes so thick you can cut it with it a knife (blow it up in an explosion). The dynamics between the characters are strong, making the world of the play solid and something the audience can feel invited into. The play is

This is a very bold and even cathartic play. It characterizes politics, almost in a sketch-like manner. Yet, through doing so, we see the underbelly of a system that never really cares about the people. It exorcizes itself of having to be responsible for the harm it does. Ricardo Soltero-Brown is throwing our expectations for our government in our faces, getting us to remember the classic saying "when people show you who they are, believe them."

This is, by far, the most nuanced depiction of autism I have ever read. Being an autistic artist myself, there is so much meat in this text to digest. From internalized ableism to brotherly dynamics, this play will truly shatter the glass ceiling for us autistic people. The play prioritizes the perspective of a medium-high support needs autistic, which gives the audience the opportunity to reflect on their own pre-conceived notions of what autism is. Beautiful work here!

Annie Wood's "It's About Forgiveness" is a quick and sharp look at how what's done in the dark shall come to the light. The brothers are distinct with plenty of room to explore even within this short play. It's a story of family secrets many can relate to. The dialogue is concise and true-to-form. I can only imagine what it would sound like performed.

Baylee Shlichtman produces an intimate look at grief using two of Shakespeare's famous characters. Shlichtman honors the Bard in the dynamic between them but breathes new life into through implementing new layers with race and culture. It very much falls in line with plays like "Desdemona: A Play About a Handkerchief" in that it gets the audience to re-evaluate these characters in through a fresh lens.

So sweet yet so raw at the same time. The tension stays but allows room for alleviation. It's disheartening (to say the least) to receive a cancer diagnosis. The beauty of this play is that its singular focus on the moment one receives said news allows the audience to be still in time with these characters, making the emotional impact of the play that much stronger.

The electricity within the action is palpable, and the fact that this script can be performed literal or through the action gives plenty of opportunities for any director who wants to tackle it. On the surface, it's a kinky back-and-forth that rings true to a modern-day sexual escapade. Underneath, it's a multi-layered push and pull between two men trying to get what they want, which are two opposing goals.

This play is truly like a train ride, arriving from one destination to the next through subtly use of sexuality and genuine connection between these two characters. T.J. Lewis' style of writing is fresh and pops out on the page, making way for any director to easily envision how this story should be told in order to give it the justice it deserves. The isolation of the setting gives these characters permission to let their guards down and melt into one another.

A strong piece of social justice type of theatre that is both personal and interactive. The characters serve as our tour guides in the play. This play has moments of education but also moments that give those who struggle to wrap their heads around gender identity a slap in the face. This is a play that stands out given its fearlessness and authenticity with bringing fresh voices to the forefront.

This play is so much fun! I never thought I would be chuckling like a kid over a Shakespeare play set in an office. Takacs has taken Shakespeare's famous language (and some familiar plotlines) and given it a modern twist. Never did I think I'd ever have a stoner character speaking in iambic petameter! It's smart, clever, and will have you in stiches! Produce this play!