Recommended by Maggie Smith

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!

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!

It is astounding how much a person can say in twelve pages. “Family Visitation” shows us the people affected by of one of the darkest eras of queer history. What is truly heartbreaking is the way love is depicted in this play— With Randy’s true love being forced to stay hidden in the hallway, while his lover’s family’s superficial love gets to be put on displace in order to maintain appearances. The final moment of the play, depicting Estelle with the teddy bear, reminds us just how much louder actions speak than words. Beautifully done, Paul.

The juxtaposition between the family-friendly park environment and the subject matter is absolutely haunting. Vaughan has written a story filled with brilliant character arcs for both young and adult actors alike, and has utilized them to depict the simultaneous highs and lows life throws at us. As this play continues, it forces you to realize how many emotions one single location can hold— And what memories will forever be associated with it. Packed with lovable relationships and heartbreaking monologues, “Even when the storm comes” will leave you reflecting on where and who you call home.