Playwrights have always demonstrated an incredible adaptability, able to nimbly adjust to new circumstances and media. This was never in greater evidence than during the coronavirus pandemic, when—with venues shuttered and stages darkened—writers and performers across the world scrambled to sustain the art of theater via remote video. Even today, it is clear that the experiences of 2020–21 have dramatically altered the landscape of theatermaking, as artists continually refine and deploy the lessons learned during a period of seat-of-the-pants experimentation.

This groundbreaking anthology brings together new works from both emerging and established playwrights to explore the rich opportunities afforded by streaming theater. They reveal a range of styles and approaches to storytelling; encompass both traditional and experimental plays, from solo pieces to large-cast dramas; and take place within single settings, multiple settings, or even in a utopian “nowhere.” Throughout, these selections all help to bring playwriting fully into our new era, embodying the sense of magic that comes from simple moments of human connection, even when we cannot be together.

Includes plays by the following:

Audrey Cefaly

Joyce Miller

J. Merrill Motz

Arlene Hutton

Greg Lam

Vince Gatton

Lindsay Adams

Sharece M. Sellem

Mrinalini Kamath

Brendan Powers and Rachel Burttram

Dana Hall

Aly Kantor

Kitt Lavoie

Jenny Lyn Bader

Ivam Cabral and Rodolfo García Vázquez

Michael Hagins

Trey Tatum with Jordan Trovillion

Colette Mazunik

Tory Parker

Eric Eidson and Lauren Lynch-Eidson