Recommended by Paul Donnelly

Facing a major life decision, Ben need a little peace and quiet on his Italian vacation. He gets anything but thanks to his wife, his brother-in-law, the brother-in-law's girlfriend, and a power outage in the midst of a relentless heat wave. Very funny complications ensue, including bursts of wonderful physical comedy. As in all good comedies, order is restored at the end, but the journey there is a riotous treat.

We see two neighbors in front of their devastated homes, trying to cope with the emotional as well as physical toll of their losses. One clings to the hope for aid, one has become cynical. We then see them in the past, failing to anticipate and prepare for the big storm. The play ends with an ironic image of their enjoyment of the beach that would be overwhelmed in the storm. The neighbors are clearly drawn and sympathetic characters and their dilemma is compelling.

This is a fascinating exploration of the potential for creating robots that convincingly mimic human behavior. Through clever misdirection Busser keeps us guessing about the robot's identity to the end. The prickly test subjects are unaware of their true roles and their interactions are pointedly funny. Under the guise of rich humor, this play raises the prospect of a frightening future.

A seemingly benign interaction on a park bench builds to a horrific revelation and a shocking act of retribution. The natural and engaging dialogue goes suddenly dark in the most skillful way. Betsy's final act and its motivation left me truly shaken.

This is a charming and engaging play about never giving up on life no matter what has been thrown your way. Prickly Ida and recently wounded Willie forge a healing bond over shared history and present needs. These are two vividly drawn and sympathetic characters. I was rooting for Willie every step of the way.

This play has the boldness and insight not to look away from a shameful moment in America's history. The story of General Order 11 and its demise is compellingly rendered. The musical interludes add great resonance to the story telling. The perpetrator and the victims of the order are brought vividly to life, as are those responsible for rescinding and condemning the order. This is an important work that should be seen widely.

What a wickedly witty web Prillaman weaves! This is a delightful mashup of horror and comedy, with the occasional meta touch. It is funny and engaging. I really was curious about the curse throughout and amused by both its nature and resolution.

The portrait that emerges of Bobby Joe is wittily rendered and quite endearing. The lovely final twist is eminently satisfying. This is terrific, fun short piece.

This complex mother/daughter relationship deepens as more aspects are revealed. Their relationship is also placed in the context of historical struggles and current political realities. Their differing perspectives on the historical struggle throw the issues in their relationship into bold relief. Ultimately and satisfyingly their bond proves to be stronger than their differences. This is a compellingly structured piece with an urgent story to tell.

This is a lyrical exploration of grieving and the longing for connection that continues well after death. A son struggles to make peace with the memory and the mystery of his late father in concert and in conflict with his father's spirit. If there was a trophy for compassionate understanding it would go to John Mabey.