Recommended by Hallie Palladino

Webb's exquisitely crafted love story illuminates not only important emotional truths but also timely political ones as she challenges her audience to examine their own level of tolerance for misogyny and sexual violence from our public figures. This play grapples with these matters while remaining a solidly character driven play with compelling and lovable characters.

Just saw a workshop of this play at The Piven last night, an elegant example of story theater. Cozzola's adaptation of this haunting short story reminds us of the roots of bigotry and tribalism. At a time when the world is turning its back on refugees of all backgrounds, including children, when we deport people we've previously invited and detain asylum seekers as if they were criminals, this play is less of an allegory and more of a snapshot reminding us of our bottomless ability to rationalize cruelty.

This wildly silly play is a razor sharp satire, not just of standard dramatic tropes and familiar genres, but also of the business of theater itself. And yes, this play is so meta!

This gorgeous story explores the substance of the love between a dancer and her musician husband after he loses his ability to form new memories. The language is elegant, direct and understated allowing the play's emotional arc to full up the space. The use of music and dance gives this play a dreamy quality and the ending is heart-wrenching. Actors would love to play any of these three roles.

Ian is tracking a snowy owl at O'Hare airport when Ellie calls to say she's passing through. A touching ten minute play about the heartache of brief encounters and long distance friendships.

This ten minute play manages to succinctly encapsulate everything disturbing about dating apps and smart phone culture.

This charming short comedy has colorful characters and playful use of language. How far will Mrs. Mata go to enforce good grammar?

This play is a terrifying and absurd look at pathological misogyny played out in the most unlikely of classrooms. The play starts dark and gets darker, but it also manages to be deeply entertaining as Formby takes full advantage of the comic possibilities of the heightened world she's created.

Messina is a wry contemporary look at structural obstacles facing working mothers. As Lauren deals with the stress of trying to breastfeed a newborn she faces being demoted. Her colleague never went back after baby and she's terrified this could happen to her. Her local mom's group makes her feel guilty about living up to impossible standards, but also they're there for her in a pinch. A very realistic portrayal of the emotional price tag of female camaraderie and the difficult choices even privileged mothers have to make when the deck is stacked against them. An anti mother-blame play.

This play has an suspenseful eleventh hour start and the story unfurls in a dynamic way full of revelations. Christopher, nicknamed Stranger, can see into everybody's future but his own and won't heed the warnings of his intuitive wife Nadia. Southbridge examines the nuances of relationships between black and white citizens of a small town in 1880s Ohio and the way those relationships are laced with prejudice, jealousy and danger. A heart stopping story of ambition, passion and regret that will keep you guessing until the end.