Recommended by Maggie Smith

Noah walks a very fine line with "Bridge," exploring the heavy topic of mental health with grace and expertise. His choice to examine the isolation that comes with severe mental health struggles while finding connection at the same time made me pause was a moving one, leaving me to recollect on the hard emotions that come not only with needing and receiving help, but with being the one giving it, as well. "Bridge" serves as a reminder of the little things we can do to help each other, even if it just means listening.

It won’t come as a surprise to you when I say that Rachel Feeny-Williams’ “Collabor-Fucking-Ation” is a beautifully written masterpiece on inspiration and its surprising sources. Claire and Wallace’s arc from willing to say anything to hurt one another to vulnerability and a genuine partnership depicts the true nature of collaboration— Learning to trust. On top of that, the characters are endearing, witty, and so very human. I hope desperately to see it onstage one day, but until then, I will be recommending this play again and again.

Vidalia Unwin's exploration of monstrousness, both literal and figurative, is haunting. Each character is carefully written with this theme in mind, tackling the subject in unpredictable ways. Mixed with hilarious moments of dark comedy, "Domesticate" is a play that will sit with you for quite some time, leaving its audience to reflect on their own "monstrousness," and wonder what form Mr. Crawl would take in their own subconscious.

"The Creator" is a beautiful story about what happens when we grow too old for imaginary friends. The reader experiences the stages of grief right along with Zabrina as she slowly accepts her new life without her human, Sara. Each scene gives us more and more details of the twos' relationship, and reaches an extremely satisfying conclusion, reminding me how much love I had for my own imaginary friends growing up. Wonderful work.

"All Those Things Left Unsaid" is a heartbreaking reminder of what people have to go through in order to get better. Both women face significant challenges in this ten-page piece, Regina watching her daughter fight her battle from afar, and Aida trying to desperately help someone who doesn't want to be helped. These two desires mesh perfectly to create a truly beautiful piece on growing and getting better.

"Hiraeth" is a beautifully crafted monologue about childhood memories. Spoken by a character known simply as "Biographer," this role serves as an Everyman-esque character whose memories could easily mirror the audience's own. This monologue leaves its reader thinking about their own home, its impact on them as a child and adult, and what it means to leave it behind.

An enjoyable story about how sudden and surprising some friendships can be! Robert Weibezahl has written two characters I can't get enough of— I'd watch a whole two hours of these two just talking!

Amari Shakir’s utilization of vignettes as a means of storytelling and as a form of photography is brilliant. This was a heartwarming story with complex yet lovable characters. Each scene carries its own weight of the piece as a whole, helping us put together the entire story as the play continues on. With unforgettable dialogue, and moments that had me both laughing out loud and tearing up, “Inseparable: The Vignettes” encapsulates every emotion that comes with falling in love.

If you know me, you know I love a historical piece, and this play is no exception. Every layer Fraedrich peels back of both Julius Caesar and the Booth brothers reveals more and more similarities between the two political climates, which is expressed through characters with strong opinions and even stronger bonds. Whether you’re an expert on 1860s United States or are just beginning to learn about it, I highly recommend this play!

A surprising and hilarious take on both horror/comedy and mental health. Gibbs has expertly woven horror and camp together and has created an astoundingly entertaining one-act play. If you're a fan of dark comedy, you will LOVE this play!