Recommended by James Perry

What begins as a mundane act of public civility quickly spirals into a passive-aggressive verbal skirmish, with the would-be helper ironically becoming the one in need of help. The characters tread very close to classic sexist tropes, but that tension is what makes this play ripe for reinterpretation. Casting roles with different gender pairings could uncover deeper layers of meaning and subtext. This would be a fun script to hand to a class of acting students just to see what shakes out.

An evocative new title from Samantha Oty, this play is rich in music, symbolism, and moral urgency, digging into the power of memory and our yearning to be remembered. There is also a not-so-subtle nod to our government’s capacity to betray their own people. Dortha’s relentless drive to preserve her town’s soul, Jasper’s scientific conscience, and Father John’s steadfast compassion weave a woolly web of love, loss, and hope. This script is perfect for anyone craving lyrical, introspective drama.

Anghus Houvouras has written a bold script that attacks school shootings, suicide, and teenage isolation head-on. This play goes where most wouldn’t dare, and it goes there thoughtfully. It’s about kids with loaded guns and empty souls who find – against all odds – some absurd kind of grace in each other. It’s rare that a play earns hope after spending so long in the darkness. This one does.

Beautifully bold, bare, and brutal.

Debra A. Cole manages to capture every playwright’s love-hate relationship with submission opportunities in this razor-sharp piece of theatrical truth. "Submission Opportunities" is equal parts group therapy and satirical gold, with a final “brief” so absurd, it feels like a dare from the gods of fringe theatre. If you’ve ever screamed into a Google Form, this play is your anthem.

Effectually haunting and intellectually satisfying, this play honors both its historical inspiration and the enduring power of storytelling. It’s perfectly suited for festivals, staged readings, and educational settings where themes of legacy, creativity, and mortality are explored. Highly recommended.

This razor-sharp satire skewers contemporary political discourse, turning a simple bureaucratic encounter into a riotous critique of climate denial, political slogans, and colonial myths. Much of the humor is derived from linguistic misunderstandings, historical absurdity, and the official’s obliviousness to his own hypocrisy. The final beat, in which Leif convinces the official to chant “Make Greenland Great Again,” hilariously underscores how easily blind patriotism can be manipulated. This script is worthy of discovery.

Rebecca Kane captures the quiet tragedies and reluctant responsibilities of an opioid-ravaged world with authentic dialogue and emotional precision. This is the kind of theatre that will meet the audience where they live and refuse to be ignored.

“Meager and Knight” is a smart, fast-paced farce that skewers military bureaucracy, blind obedience, and manipulative leadership. As a former Army mechanic, I found the premise to be both hilarious and painfully relatable. The contrast between Knight’s unwavering confidence and Meager’s reluctant compliance fuels the absurdity and keeps the energy high throughout. This play is an excellent choice for anyone looking to explore dark humor in a military setting.

Douglas Gearhart has created a gripping, unrelenting theatrical experience that fearlessly examines the fallout of war on the human soul. “GWOT” is not an easy play to digest, nor should it be. It offers no easy moral conclusions, and its characters are not redeemed in the end. Instead, it forces its audience to wrestle with questions of duty, love, betrayal, and the enduring impact of war. It is a play that will undoubtedly provoke intense discussion and leave a lasting impression on all who experience it.