Recommended by Paul Donnelly

A delightfully odd character study of a very needy and very funny racoon and the bond he forms with his long-suffering human companion. It is truly charming and truly unlike anything I have ever read.

A moving and surprising meditation on the meaning of and necessity for art. Soulless robots discover they need creativity to advance, but the human artist assigned to teach a robot to create art realizes they can't teach creativity to a machine. Art can't exist without emotion and robots can't feel emotion. The ambiguous ending is quite haunting.

A sweet and witty variation on the idea of the "office spouse." And who doesn't occasionally just need a good hug?

A poignant exploration of a difficult man's journey to forgiveness. To the most difficult forgiveness of all, of himself. Only in forgiving himself is he able to seek authentic forgiveness from those he has harmed through his bigotry and through his neglect. The play is shrouded in a mysticism that adds to its poignancy and to its theatricality.

A wild yet sweet-natured comic ride! Norton and Chicky contend with inner storms that are far more potent than the meteorologic plague that has befallen Norton. A wacky seeming premise leads to real depth of character development and a satisfying romantic ending.

A moving, wonderfully theatrical and deeply humane rendering of the complexity and transcendence of love in the face of the mores of a different time. Filled with rich characterizations and vivid conflicts, mostly internal but clearly realized. A simply gorgeous work.

The simple act of preparing a sandwich takes on a romantic charge in this charming wordless pas de deux.

A clear-eyed and compelling take on the racism that permeates our history and our present, from the perspective of a man who has had enough. This piece also has a devastating kicker at the end.

Safe is a compelling exploration of the conflict between deeply held faith and deeply felt attraction. Neither is reduced or diminished as the primary characters live out their struggles. Our engagement in the story of Aubrey and Sam (and Jensen and Ethan) is heightened by the skillful temporal shifting in this engagingly non-linear narrative.

How refreshing to find a play in which two characters have a sudden chemistry that isn't sexual. The bond between JoJo and Thad is sweet, but not saccharine. Jojo's interest in the science of chemistry provides an amusing counterpoint to the range of interpersonal chemistry experienced and discussed by the characters.