Recommended by Hilary Bluestein-Lyons

This play is a perfect reflection of 2020. The ebbs and flows of a budding relationship—the awkwardness, the uncertainty, the hopefulness, giving up, forgetting how to connect, and then finally, just maybe, connecting, all of this sums up what so many us have just experienced. Through the vignettes, repetition, and delivery orders of DoorDashed, we see what was and what is possibly yet to come.

We all have that one friend. That friend who will give us the support that we need, tell it like it is, but also call you on your shit. Jo is seemingly not that friend, but then she is. Friends, and this wonderful play, Skin, will surprise you. As a vegan, I approve this message.

Dominica Plummer has taken the liberty of imagining post-pandemic life in her dark comedy, "Lunch". One where two friends finally have the opportunity to venture out, unmasked. But what Plummer so brilliantly illustrates, is that after being cooped up for so long, perhaps we've lost our footing, our sense of our surroundings, and most certainly our cat-like reflexes. Plummer has a flair for impeccable timing, witty dialogue, and the unexpected, all of which make "Lunch" a fully satiating play.

In Steven G. Martin's "Pudding", we are allowed to witness the very private and personal way two sisters deal with grief. And although there's no "right way" to deal with it, Martin bares grief's soul painstakingly and profoundly. In the time it takes to mix instant pudding and allow it to set, we are given an intense look into deep-rooted coping mechanisms, and the relationship these two sisters have to each other, to food, to their father, and to what he left behind. This play is a delicious treat for actors, directors, and audience.

As a parent, this is a horror play. I mean, our job is to embarrass our kids, but to what end? Honestly, this play was so honest, and honesty is the core of the best humor, and the best kind of parenting, no matter what you're into.

The woman in this NYC apartment seems fairly privileged. Then the apartment becomes smaller, and smaller, and scarier, until it’s a prison. But, perhaps, there’s a way out. Michele Miller portrays the haunting reality of too many, who are stuck in isolation, in more ways than one.

If you're not a POC and feel guilt and sadness in the pit of your stomach, you should. This is how it is. So much is said in such few words. We have so far to go. This play should be produced everywhere.

Hoke tackled this one-person show with remarkable finesse! Throw away any pre-conceived ideas about what goes into making a crossword puzzle or what type of person creates crossword puzzles, because this play is so much more. Hoke expert juxtaposition of language, meaning, emotion, and relationships creates an intriguing backdrop for one woman's story.

Such a captivating play! Marchant does a phenomenal job of exploring this myth and creating a quirky and complicated family dynamic that is reflective of the world outside their sheltered existence. And her dialogue is otherworldly. With twists and turns, I still held out hope that the characters weren't beholden to fate.

I was sucked in by the title and genuine need for advice, and got it. Prillaman created unique and quirky characters, a fascinating setting, and a potentially disastrous dilemma, all perfect ingredients for a wonderful comedy, with a morals (I know, morals in a play about Satan!). Children are so wise, be true to ourselves, and we don't need to get naked to fit in.