Recommended by Donald E. Baker

Tables are turned and lines are crossed in this edgy play about a man discovering wants and needs he never knew he had. The three characters are memorable, and a fourth who never appears but dominates much of the action is most intriguing. The script is a master class in how to present eroticism on stage without defaulting to graphic sex. A terrific achievement. Highly recommended.

This play is as sweet as the slice of pie over which Willie and Ida make tentative connection in a "West By God" Virginia truck stop. Both have scars from life and love lived hard, but maybe, just maybe, they can lay the bad memories to rest and find that love is really lovelier the second time around. Vivian Lermond has given us an excellent rendering of real down-to-earth people who would be a joy to see on stage.

If you enjoy the hand-to-head wordplay of old Leslie Nielsen movies, you will love this play. There is also more than a hint of the clever absurdities of Monty Python, down to an open invitation for insertion of a John Cleese silly walk. And if you like a good pun, the script offers plenty of awful ones, which only makes it more delightful. Put this script in the hands of actors with good comedic timing, and the audience will have a rollicking good time.

In high school, two young men, literally from different sides of the tracks, shared something intense. But did the experience really have any meaning? They meet to confront (or not) that question as graduation is about to send them off on completely different paths. Much of the emotion of this excellent, truthful play takes place in the awkward silences of teenagers and would be a terrific challenge for young actors.

Relationships between mortals and immortals rarely end well, even when both parties have found someone they can truly be themselves with. Devastation gives Louis a one-two punch when water sprite Kelian decides to break off their liaison just before Louis is swept away in a massive flood. Kelian pulls him from the torrent, but in their temporary shelter the two debate whether Louis wants to be saved or not. Sickles handles the material masterfully, giving us an engaging modern fairytale. Will it have a fairytale ending? Read it and decide for yourself.

This play about the psychological effects of childhood trauma will stick with you. It has a wonderful role for a 10-year-old actress who can express her emotions without speaking, and it would be visually stunning as the dolls in her play therapy sessions come to life. It needs to be produced everywhere.

This diabolical little parody is the perfect antidote to an overdose of a certain classic holiday movie. Satan has had it with a world that insists on celebrating the birth of his archenemy and needs a demon named Clarence to buck him up by reminding him of all his inglorious achievements. Clarence is, of course, attempting to win his horns and in the end gets what’s coming to him. Nicely done. The satire is priceless. It must be great fun to produce.

Part of the college experience is coping with disparate personalities thrown together in random living arrangements. Eugene is not coping well. He is careful, self-aware, and buttoned down. Wayne is careless, clueless, and gross. From the beginning we know what Wayne wants. But what does Eugene want? Guyton saves that answer until the last stage direction. Great, relatable work.

I am old enough to remember both blacklisted poet Louis Untermeyer and the classic program "What's My Line?" where Untermeyer was one of the original panelists. But even if you don't share that history, you'll enjoy Josephs's conceit of embedding Untermeyer's self-serving confessional into TV game-show format. The idea is inspired and the execution well done. With the right actor it would be amazing.

George is the forgotten member of a once-popular rock band with a charismatic lead singer. There's much about the experience he'd rather forget, but the quirky daughter of that now deceased front man barges in demanding answers and forcing George to confront his memories. This is a terrific inter-generational story embedded in a generous helping of rock history. With the right cast it might well be unforgettable.