Our fourth and final semifinalist is Mommy Issues by Addie Symonds and Adam LaPorte! 24-year-old Shelby is living the Texas suburban dream; two kids, an overly involved mother, postpartum depression, and a husband who keeps storing large car parts in their cramped apartment. But when she makes a new friend, Shelby starts to wonder: is her life slipping through her fingers? And is it bad that she doesn’t even have a driver’s license? As time skips and slides, Shelby worries she’s losing her grip–but maybe she never had the steering wheel to begin with. This is an unsparing, insightful, and very funny look at desire interrupted and what it’s like to feel stranded in adulthood. Oh, and it might also be an adaptation of A Doll’s House. Congrats to all of our relentlessly talented semifinalists. Stay tuned for the announcement of this year's finalists and winner! (fb)

Our next semifinalist is hag by Kate Douglas and Grace McLean. Fun fact- Kate and Grace received an honorable mention for the Inaugural Relentless Musical Award in 2022 for their musical, Against Women and Music! We're thrilled for the opportunity to experience another one of their collaborations. Today is Lois’s birthday, and her friends, colleagues, and a chorus of shapeshifting hags moonlighting as waitresses have gathered to help her face the coming of middle age. Everything is going fine: her only son is off at college, her husband is filing for divorce, and she’s maybe turning into a wolf, but we’re at Chili’s and the hot young intern seems to have eyes for her…so, let’s party. A semi-diegetic, semi-surreal score of hilarious karaoke numbers frames this piercing and perceptive horror comedy about aging bodies and everything they hold: decay, terror, mystery, and, perhaps, wild power. Kate photos by Stephanie Crousillat (fb)