Recommended by Samara Siskind

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    This gentle and utterly endearing play is a true lesson in patience, perseverance, and the power of a moment. Vince Melocchi’s characters are so well drawn, I felt like I was eavesdropping on a long-overdue reunion that culminated in a monologue that cut straight to my heart. So intimate. So romantic. So sentimental. Thank you Vince, and Facebook.*

    This gentle and utterly endearing play is a true lesson in patience, perseverance, and the power of a moment. Vince Melocchi’s characters are so well drawn, I felt like I was eavesdropping on a long-overdue reunion that culminated in a monologue that cut straight to my heart. So intimate. So romantic. So sentimental. Thank you Vince, and Facebook.*

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    This psychological drama lured me in and never let me go. Rachel Zake's ominous atmosphere and complex characters create tension and a palpable sense of urgency, leading to a totally unexpected, wholly satisfying reveal. A dark exploration of the human psyche that made me smile when I finally grasped the relevance of its title.

    This psychological drama lured me in and never let me go. Rachel Zake's ominous atmosphere and complex characters create tension and a palpable sense of urgency, leading to a totally unexpected, wholly satisfying reveal. A dark exploration of the human psyche that made me smile when I finally grasped the relevance of its title.

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    I had the pleasure of seeing a reading of this at The William Inge Theatre Festival and couldn't help remembering my own fears, trials, and tribulations after being dropped off at college. By Degrees is a compact, humorously heartfelt two-hander with believable, relatable, and hearty roles for women. Sometimes you just really need that blanket.

    I had the pleasure of seeing a reading of this at The William Inge Theatre Festival and couldn't help remembering my own fears, trials, and tribulations after being dropped off at college. By Degrees is a compact, humorously heartfelt two-hander with believable, relatable, and hearty roles for women. Sometimes you just really need that blanket.

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    Public libraries are under siege, and Maximillian Gill has the perfect antidote for the funding crisis. . . alcohol! Top Shelf Tolstoy is a skillful, timely, and wonderfully clever satire that serves up shot after shot of laughs and plenty of post-show food for thought. I had the pleasure of seeing the cocktails served up live and am still chuckling days after. Bravo!

    Public libraries are under siege, and Maximillian Gill has the perfect antidote for the funding crisis. . . alcohol! Top Shelf Tolstoy is a skillful, timely, and wonderfully clever satire that serves up shot after shot of laughs and plenty of post-show food for thought. I had the pleasure of seeing the cocktails served up live and am still chuckling days after. Bravo!

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    Were they warned? Yes. Did they choose to disregard the threat and sip mimosas? Also, yes. Daniel Prillaman has penned a brilliantly absurd post-pandemic gem that is part satire, part cautionary tale, and one hundred percent riveting. A clever, timely short that I would kill to see on stage.

    Were they warned? Yes. Did they choose to disregard the threat and sip mimosas? Also, yes. Daniel Prillaman has penned a brilliantly absurd post-pandemic gem that is part satire, part cautionary tale, and one hundred percent riveting. A clever, timely short that I would kill to see on stage.

  • Samara Siskind: The Psychopomp by Aly Kantor
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    What begins as a late-night ghost hunt betwixt friends becomes a gentle act of salvation. Aly Kantor has an enviable gift for crafting comedic dramas, delicately combining her token blend of humor and pathos. Her characters are as concentrated as her storytelling - smart, complex, and always relevant to the world we're living in right now. We all need a friend like Bethany.

    What begins as a late-night ghost hunt betwixt friends becomes a gentle act of salvation. Aly Kantor has an enviable gift for crafting comedic dramas, delicately combining her token blend of humor and pathos. Her characters are as concentrated as her storytelling - smart, complex, and always relevant to the world we're living in right now. We all need a friend like Bethany.

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  • Samara Siskind: Tracks (or, The People Who Live Here) by John Patrick Bray
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    John Patrick Bray has written a masterpiece, a play about lost youth, sanctuary, addiction, myths, and magic. I was alternately amused and then torn apart by Bray's gorgeous imagery and beautifully layered characters who are both tragic and real. This is a truly unforgettable piece of work.

    John Patrick Bray has written a masterpiece, a play about lost youth, sanctuary, addiction, myths, and magic. I was alternately amused and then torn apart by Bray's gorgeous imagery and beautifully layered characters who are both tragic and real. This is a truly unforgettable piece of work.

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  • Samara Siskind: 1999 by Stacey Isom Campbell
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    Set during a time widely considered a golden year for Hollywood, 1999 is a fearless showcase for three female actors and a play that sparks immediate, ongoing conversation. Through cinematic time jumps and riveting reveals, Campbell skillfully explores how trauma can impact lives, friendships and futures. Is it possible to separate art from the people who make it? With great power and conviction, 1999 addresses how the legacy of films can be forever tarnished by the issues surrounding it while leaving you reevaluating many of the Oscar-adorned movies of the titular year.

    Set during a time widely considered a golden year for Hollywood, 1999 is a fearless showcase for three female actors and a play that sparks immediate, ongoing conversation. Through cinematic time jumps and riveting reveals, Campbell skillfully explores how trauma can impact lives, friendships and futures. Is it possible to separate art from the people who make it? With great power and conviction, 1999 addresses how the legacy of films can be forever tarnished by the issues surrounding it while leaving you reevaluating many of the Oscar-adorned movies of the titular year.

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  • Samara Siskind: THE GARBOLOGISTS by Lindsay Joelle
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    This play is gorgeous. The structure and pacing are perfection, the story unfolding beautifully with effortless transitions and Joelle's delicate blend of humor and pathos shining throughout. Marlowe and Danny are characters that will stay with me for a long time, if not forever.

    This play is gorgeous. The structure and pacing are perfection, the story unfolding beautifully with effortless transitions and Joelle's delicate blend of humor and pathos shining throughout. Marlowe and Danny are characters that will stay with me for a long time, if not forever.

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  • Samara Siskind: Why We Go to Florida by Kenneth Jones
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    Why We Go to Florida took my breath away, with laughter, then tears, and laughter again. Centering on family that is lost and family that is found, Kenneth Jones has crafted a rich story that is at times sympathetic, at times uproarious, and always grounded in authenticity. His multi-layered characters stay with you long after they've left the stage in this beautifully complex play about grief, acceptance, forgiveness, saying goodbye and finally saying hello.

    Why We Go to Florida took my breath away, with laughter, then tears, and laughter again. Centering on family that is lost and family that is found, Kenneth Jones has crafted a rich story that is at times sympathetic, at times uproarious, and always grounded in authenticity. His multi-layered characters stay with you long after they've left the stage in this beautifully complex play about grief, acceptance, forgiveness, saying goodbye and finally saying hello.

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