Recommended by Paul Donnelly

This play explores serious questions of identity and choice with a deft mix of humor and intensity. These are real and relatable women grappling with their views of one another and their sense of how to exist in the world.

The two young men at the center of Emily Hageman's poignant The Orchid struggle to find a meaningful connection in the face of severe trauma. Their internal obstacles are compellingly rendered and the glimmer of hope at the conclusion is heartening and well-earned.

What a poignant exploration of loss and grief, tinged with a little bitterness, I thought. Then bam, that macabre twist ending forced me to rethink everything that came before. A superb piece of well-crafted horror!

What a taut and compelling exploration of the demise of a family myth. Despite the harrowing revelations that the adult Lilith comes to accept, she is able to reconcile the truth with her enduring love for her grandparents.

What starts as a sweetly melancholy recollection builds to a shattering moment of physical and emotional violence. History becomes a weapon in this spare, gripping play.

Ewww. Don't ever cross Cheryl. Don't ever date Cheryl. This deadpan comedy of unhinged vengeance is a dark delight.

Angie and Todd are not enjoying their vacation or each other until they happen upon Pedro's Patio. The warm and empathetic proprietor, plus a jolt of good news, turns around their attitudes. A truly savory confection!

A charming holiday romp in which a quick thinking woman saves her husband and his holiday decorations from the clutches of an overbearing homeowner's association. Anyone familiar with HOA rules and procedures will find this rings especially true. All others will still be mightily entertained.

Ah, the course of true lust never did run smooth. The awkwardness of a first in person meeting ramps up exponentially between Coke and Denny, but they find their way to satisfying, if unexpected, connection. And that doesn't give due credit to the trampoline.

This piece is hilarious from soup to nuts. The hilarity escalates as the incompatibility within each couple is exposed. The dialogue is exquisitely funny as well as revealing of character and effectively advancing the farcical action. The twist ending truly offers just desserts. It would be a joy to see Destiny is a Careless Waiter on its feet!