Recommended by Hilary Bluestein-Lyons

What a lovely, sweet, funny and sad play about trying to find connections and what happens when you don't or can't. Most of what I love about this play is the language and the details, and the detailed language. Kaplan's choice of words and characters, along with his timing of comedy and revelations is exquisite.

What a wonderful and lovely play! Krantz allows us to love, understand and sympathize with these two characters, paralleling the simplicity of childhood and the complexity of adulthood from a child's perspective.

A beautifully written piece of historical fiction, A Wound Clock not only provides us with knowledge of the American west, but introduces us to three very human and flawed characters who grapple with their own stories. Everett Roberts does a wonderful job of revealing truths and creating relationships in this period piece that is indeed a reflection of the ever on-going struggles between personal aspirations, integrity, and capitalism that has built this country.

Although Rabbit Summer is a personal story about the clash between blacks and the police, it is so much more than that. It is a brilliant story about family, marriage, deceit, friendship and that standing up for what's right comes with consequences. But most importantly, as Conyer Lee masterfully unfolds hidden agendas (both literally and figuratively), more is revealed about the deep-rooted need to search for identity. Conyer Lee does not tip toe around the hard questions, even when her characters do. I learned much through this play, and feel privileged to have been on its journey.

A.J. Delauder has a way with finding the deepest realities of what makes us all human and bringing these common issues to the forefront. Of course, not all of us can relate to the issues of being a black teenager adopted by white, affluent parents, but most of us have grappled with discovering how our identities are related to where we came from. Uplifted takes a poignant look at one family’s struggles and what can happen when we try too hard to do the right thing.