When her “untraditional” memorial is selected to commemorate Vietnam veterans on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., 21-year-old architect Maya Lin finds herself defending it to the veterans, the United States Congress, and even her own parents. As the opposition to her design gains momentum, Maya must make a difficult choice. Should art challenge the way we honor the fallen?

A BU New Play Initiative production, produced by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre and the College of Fine Arts School of Theatre.

Two generations of an Irish-American family gather in a hospital waiting room while awaiting the passing of their family matriarch. But when black sheep Skip unexpectedly returns, decades of baggage surface. A funny and moving look at family, faith, and forgiveness.

A BU New Play Initiative production, produced by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre and the College of Fine Arts School of Theatre.

Augustine Early, a crooked journalist, has made an art of clawing her way up the professional ladder. When she turns a politician’s tawdry predilections into front-page news, the scandal threatens to undo the one person she thought was immune. A searing and hilarious play about the perfect headline, whatever the cost.

When two off-duty British soldiers go for a drink on the outskirts of Belfast in 1979, they meet two local girls. What seems like a typical night at the pub turns into something much darker. Decades later, reliving that night for an oral history project, Dave reopens old wounds that send him back to Belfast in search of answers and revenge. An Irish tragedy.

A BU New Play Initiative production, produced by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre and the College of Fine Arts School of Theatre.

The Franklin expedition to the North Pole in 1845 sought the Northwest Passage and instead found ice, starvation, and insanity. For three years, modern-day underwater archaeologist Caroline has been searching for Franklin’s second ship, but time is running out. Two crews, two ships, and one 200-year-old mystery.

When Aine returns home to Ireland to introduce her American fiancé to her family, she finds her younger sister pregnant, her mother still over-controlling, and her father suffering from a bad heart. Her departure might have been the cause, but some wounds never heal. A play about guilt, mercy, and the power of love.

A BU New Play Initiative production, produced by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre and the College of Fine Arts School of Theatre.

For almost two decades, the Boston Theater Marathon has brought together New England playwrights, directors, and theatres to create a day-long event that is fun, moving, and always surprising. The BTM features 50 ten-minute plays, by 50 New England playwrights, produced by 50 New England theatres…in ten hours! We’ll start at noon and wrap up promptly at 10 p.m., with a party to follow.

Your all-day pass ($25 in advance; $35 the day of the event) allows you to come and go as you please. As always, net proceeds from ticket sales to the BTM benefit the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund, which provides financial support to theatres and theatre artists in times of need. We hope you’ll join us!

BTM XIX is generously supported by the Boston University Center for the Humanities.