Recommended by David Lee White

Babel is a magnificent piece of work. Goldfinger has taken a simple futuristic conceit and used it as a springboard to tackle some of the most difficult cultural issues of our time. What starts out as a play about eugenics, quickly morphs into a play about privilege, political engagement, familial responsibility and individual courage. But it’s a very human story as well. There’s one moment in particular in which a character allows a phone call to go into her voicemail, that feels as dramatically potent as someone unleashing a virus into the water supply. Highly recommended.

This is a terrific, poignant, pitch-black comedy. Very surreal and theatrical. By turns funny and horrifying. Well worth a look.

This is a pitch-perfect, ten minute dark comedy. Brennan has something important to say but she also has a flair for absurdist comedy. What starts out as commentary on the marketing of pharmaceuticals quickly takes a detour and becomes a cautionary tale about the search for a quick fix. The dialogue is fun and snappy. An ensemble of funny actors would have a great time with this.

How wonderful to read a play about a man and a woman that isn’t about hooking up or finding a mate, but is simply about making a connection. This play is clever and theatrically savvy, but underneath the fun (and funny) use of technology is a very sweet, very human story.

I just had the pleasure of seeing a reading of this hilarious play! If you're looking for a wild, irreverent play for four comedic actresses, check it out. Ian August's wit is second to none and this play has enough absurdism and existential dread to make it more than just light comedy. Amidst all the punchlines, there's a very weighty exploration about the toxic effects of competitive capitalism. Best of all, you may think you've got things figured out after the first thirty minutes, but August saves some of his best surprises for the end.

This is a great, funny, smart comedy that takes place in the world of physics and journal publication. I saw a rehearsed reading of the piece at the Rider New Play Festival and was very impressed. Kaissar has an ear for sharp dialogue and his plots are always intricate, thoughtful and surprising.

Of the plays Greg Nanni has uploaded here, this is the one I'm most familiar with, although I would suggest looking at all of them. Greg has a chaotic, anarchic, absurdest take on life and theatre that makes his work hilarious, delightful and wickedly entertaining. This particular play is exactly what it says it is - the complete western history of the human race as performed by two actors. It's a great showcase for two comedic performers.

I adore Pandora's work and this is the piece I'm most familiar with. I was in the room as she was developing it and had the chance to see it in performance. She's a mesmerizing performer, but her writing is equally wonderful. It's part spoken word, part confessional memoir all tied up in an avant-garde bow. She tackles our shared fascination, and fear of, death as well as giving us a glimpse into her own family background as well as the life of Yukio Mishima.

Kushner did some of this play's initial development in the Passage Theatre Play Lab last year. It's a marvelous piece, full of down-to-earth characters and out-of-this-world ideas. Kushner has a way of making you believe stories that may seem improbable at first, but become thoughtful and moving because of her rich characters and sharp dialogue.

This is a remarkably intelligent piece of work - at times frightening but also lively and (darkly) humorous. I've seen readings of it a few times now and it has gone through a very rigorous development process. It's ready for production. Definitely worth a read if you're looking for something smart, topical and highly entertaining.