Recommended by Conor McShane

A propulsive almost-one-man show that shines a light on a forgotten bit of civil rights history, and proves what can be accomplished with enough conviction and a strong sense of right and wrong.

A lovely, moving, carefully observed dramedy that makes great use of theatricality to convey the slippery nature of memory and Chuck's illness. The family dynamics are terrific, and the characters' flawed but relatable humanity shines through.

A beautiful, magical realist play that seems to float off the page and into your heart. The characters have such lovely, lived-in relationships, I found myself fully drawn into their world as they struggle to be their authentic selves and push against the roles they're given by their society, their culture, and their era, and the ways in which those constraints can be passed down through the generations.

A terrific, phantasmagorical two-hander that manages to be by turns darkly funny and devastating. I loved the way it transitions fluidly between fantasy and reality, and the way the playwright utilizes the space to play with our perception of time. This would be an absolute blast to perform or to watch, and I hope I get to someday!

I love it when a play can place me in a world that's completely unfamiliar to me, and while I've never had the "pleasure" of the waking nightmare that is working in retail, I've worked a number of crappy jobs, and this play deftly conjures the daily indignities and tight bonds of people just trying to get by until their "real life" begins. The bracing, bitter denouement is a potent reminder of the compromises people are often forced to make in order to "make it" in America.

I've never worked in a restaurant, but there's such a wonderful specificity to this play that feels incredibly lived-in and authentic. The long stressful hours, the casual substance use/abuse, the tight-knit familial relationships that often blur the lines of boss/employee all serve to make the reader feel like a part of the crew.

A terrific, engrossing meditation on the nature of creativity, and really the nature of identity itself. Are we really just a collection of impulses traveling along neural pathways, or is there some spark of magic that makes us who we are? The play's conclusion serves as a surprisingly optimistic look at a way where we don't have to be at odds with the technology that will likely one day outpace us.

A compelling look at the changing relationship towards immigration and immigrants in the post-9/11 years, and the bureaucracy that grinds so many lives to a halt. The scenes between Alba and Nilda, Father Amiana, and Teresa are lovingly and believably rendered, and the monologue interludes from immigrants of all nationalities and class strata serve as an effective reminder of the wide variety of immigrant stories that make America what it is.

An intense exploration of class, privilege, and the narratives we create for ourselves, told with a subtle, slow-burn power. The play deftly illustrates the ways in which privilege is simultaneously a hair's breadth and a galaxy away for most of us.

A brisk, funny, subtly devastating Reconstruction play that makes terrific use of playful anachronisms to connect its confused historical era to our own turbulent times. The Trump connection works well to establish the lasting legacy of white supremacy and how its tendrils have worked their way into contemporary society. I can't wait for part 2!