Recommended by Ian Donley

This haunting play serves as a reminder that one's past always catches up with them. In this case, it's like Jan Rosenberg has forced her characters to stop right in their tracks to remind them of their own. The most fascinating thing about this piece is how we, the audience, can feel this tension up to the very end. There is very little room for us to breathe, which makes this piece an attention-grabber. Very captivating work here!

I recently saw a production of this play and the energy it carries throughout is captivating! The writing of this play is so visceral and you can feel emotionally connected to every single character. The script has plenty of beautifully-written monologues for actors to sink their teeth into. I would encourage any looking for a drama to consider producing this play.

The word "degringolade" refers to a "rapid decline or deterioration (as in strength, position, or condition): downfall." After reading this piece, the title is spot on. We are introduced to five different characters (some of whom are connected) who understand the impact of power. More importantly, this is a play that explores what lengths people will go to keep said power, and the way their egos causes their plans to backfire. I can only imagine what it would be liked staged!

I am in awe reading this piece. This is a story that requires an actor with strong stage presence to carry it all the way through. The choice to have a man's perspective be shared regarding this topic is much needed. Despite being written in the early 2000s, I'd say this play is needed now more than ever. The writing allows the audience to connect with David and all the other characters he inhabits. Anyone who gets to perform this piece should consider themselves lucky.

This is one of the most visceral plays I've read in a very long time. I had a myriad of reactions reading it, from cackling at the dark comedy to having my hand covering my mouth in shock. Scott Sickles has written a series of short plays that blend together into a fresh horror story regarding a very relevant subject. I really enjoyed how the piece goes back and forth with being aware of itself to homing in on the story without missing a beat. This is a play that will get stay with people after.

We all know man is not perfect. But, in Julie Brandon's dark comedy, Death isn't perfect either. Despite being a short play, Brandon is able to give us so many ideas within it. For example, what does it mean to live life in a routine versus when it gets interrupted abruptly? How do we reconcile the unknown (and what we believe to know about the unknown)? Brandon doesn't give us an answer, which is a wise choice. Instead, we are left to confront our own ideas instead.

Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn's rendition on the beloved Prince Charming asks us to reconsider what makes a prince like him "charming." Is it his money? Is it his status? It's certainly not his conversation skills. This monologue is charmingly clever (pun fully intended) and will certainly entertain all kinds of audiences.

Rachel Luann Strayer's writing is sharp and crisp, leaving us to fill in the dots to complete the character's puzzle for them. Speaking of the character, Strayer's choice to not assign a gender for Someone allows for any actor to bring Someone to life. Given the tragic statistics regarding victims of all genders, it's a powerful choice that will surely bring an audience to a pause.

This is a powerful piece for any young actor to perform. The emotional gravity of this play carries this piece. The unspoken dialogue Martin leaves for the actor is proceeded by enough emotional context that we, as the audience, can understand the subtext. It would fit beautifully for an open-mic or a collection of monologues. Lord knows we as young performers could use it.

This intimacy of this play holds you tightly throughout. All thanks to James Kelsey Nelson's writing. Each character felt completely recognizable, both personality-wise and in terms of their wants and desires. Nelson does a fantastic job bringing Chekhov's original play into the modern, post-pandemic age, bringing up themes likes capitalism and what it means to have a dream come to an end. This play will fit in any company's season, particularly with a site-specific production.