Recommended by Brian James Polak

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    I saw Melancholics Anonymous's fantastic production of WORM TEETH in Minneapolis and it did not disappoint. This is a fun, whimsical, interactive play that is full of both darkness and joy.

    I saw Melancholics Anonymous's fantastic production of WORM TEETH in Minneapolis and it did not disappoint. This is a fun, whimsical, interactive play that is full of both darkness and joy.

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    I love how this play takes its central character on a journey through the past in order to arrive in the present only now with clarity and grounding they never had before. This is a wonderfully theatrical play that feels as much like a fable or fairytale as it does a reckoning of reality.

    I love how this play takes its central character on a journey through the past in order to arrive in the present only now with clarity and grounding they never had before. This is a wonderfully theatrical play that feels as much like a fable or fairytale as it does a reckoning of reality.

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    A funny, beautiful, and truly remarkable play about finding a place where one can be their true self. So many moments in this play continue to resonate with me after finishing: the contradictory yearning to leave home and accompanying fear, the feeling of not belonging anywhere you find yourself, and returning to a place of comfort to find it obscured by time. DIRT is a magical and heartfelt play.

    A funny, beautiful, and truly remarkable play about finding a place where one can be their true self. So many moments in this play continue to resonate with me after finishing: the contradictory yearning to leave home and accompanying fear, the feeling of not belonging anywhere you find yourself, and returning to a place of comfort to find it obscured by time. DIRT is a magical and heartfelt play.

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    There is something ineffable I love about this play. It feels alive in a real tangible way... like the script itself is a living breathing entity. I imagine this play when performed could lend itself to repeat viewings, revealing something new and surprising night in and night out. This is a great work of art and a joy to behold.

    There is something ineffable I love about this play. It feels alive in a real tangible way... like the script itself is a living breathing entity. I imagine this play when performed could lend itself to repeat viewings, revealing something new and surprising night in and night out. This is a great work of art and a joy to behold.

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    8 Near-Death Experiences is brilliantly constructed like the experience of a person suffering from mental illness or being in the orbit of a person suffering from it. You’re adrift. The ground is constantly shifting beneath your feet. Your thoughts ping pong from one idea to the next to a memory to a fear before spiraling out of control. This beautiful play is about holding on and letting go and simply trying to survive in the liminal space between.

    8 Near-Death Experiences is brilliantly constructed like the experience of a person suffering from mental illness or being in the orbit of a person suffering from it. You’re adrift. The ground is constantly shifting beneath your feet. Your thoughts ping pong from one idea to the next to a memory to a fear before spiraling out of control. This beautiful play is about holding on and letting go and simply trying to survive in the liminal space between.

  • Brian James Polak: Better by Vince Gatton
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    Such an incredible play. The characters explode of the page and the dialogue is like a locomotive at full speed. This play is full of surprises and I loved reading it.

    Such an incredible play. The characters explode of the page and the dialogue is like a locomotive at full speed. This play is full of surprises and I loved reading it.

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  • Brian James Polak: IVERA by Antonia Cruz-Kent
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    This is a fantastic and gorgeous play. I love it.

    This is a fantastic and gorgeous play. I love it.

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  • Brian James Polak: Mud & Fire: The Pottery Play by Lindsay Joelle
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    Mud & Fire is a powerful story about immigration and belonging. It's also fun, funny, and smart like all Lindsay Joelle's plays. I was hooked from the jump when the world of the play involved pottery, something I know nothing about but am fascinated by. The character's occupying the world are charming, clever, and imperfect yet perfect vessels for this story. I really hope this play finds a life on stages all over the country because not only will people enjoy it, I think it will do some good.

    Mud & Fire is a powerful story about immigration and belonging. It's also fun, funny, and smart like all Lindsay Joelle's plays. I was hooked from the jump when the world of the play involved pottery, something I know nothing about but am fascinated by. The character's occupying the world are charming, clever, and imperfect yet perfect vessels for this story. I really hope this play finds a life on stages all over the country because not only will people enjoy it, I think it will do some good.

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  • Brian James Polak: I Don't Like You by Rosie Narasaki
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    This play is three shots of espresso. I love its pace. I love its dialogue. It feels very much of our culture today. Did I mention this play is funny? It's funny. It's very funny. I'm a sucker for two-handers, meta theatricality, and smart writing. So basically the play was written for me.

    This play is three shots of espresso. I love its pace. I love its dialogue. It feels very much of our culture today. Did I mention this play is funny? It's funny. It's very funny. I'm a sucker for two-handers, meta theatricality, and smart writing. So basically the play was written for me.

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  • Brian James Polak: ROAD KILLS by Sophie McIntosh
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    Many of Sophie's plays are sincere explorations of f*cked up people trying to do the best they can. Road Kills exemplifies this as these complicated characters clean up the roads in hopes they can eventually clean up their own lives. I love how scene after scene of carcasses eventually inures us to death and how delightfully intentional that is. Sophie McIntosh is a real talent!

    Many of Sophie's plays are sincere explorations of f*cked up people trying to do the best they can. Road Kills exemplifies this as these complicated characters clean up the roads in hopes they can eventually clean up their own lives. I love how scene after scene of carcasses eventually inures us to death and how delightfully intentional that is. Sophie McIntosh is a real talent!

    ”