Recommended by Bruce Karp

Fireworks is a lovely, quick moving play with great potential for spectacular visual effects. It carries a somewhat mysterious story that we can relate to in this difficult time. It reminds us, too, about taking some responsibility for our own life. I like the conclusion where the seemingly uncaring and hard-hearted lead character softens just a bit. Crisp dialogue all the way through. Very nice work!

I was looking at random for an interesting play and found one in "When We Were Young," by a fellow playwright with the same last name, but no relation.

What I found was a charming two-hander, crisply written, about an older couple, separated by implied indifference to each other when younger, who get together later in life, and get to rehash the wounds of youth, leading up to a reconciliation that is well-earned. The snappy dialogue keeps the action moving, leading to a climactic spilling of emotions. I recommend you read this play, which has great roles for older actors!

Another well-written play by Mr. Smith that has more going on that meets the eye. You will be quite shocked by the ending. This is a story that will make you want to reach out to the elderly people closest to you to make sure they're not quietly suffering.

A lovely play. Tense and terse dialogue will keep you unsure as to what is coming, and you will get a surprise twist at the end. Mr. Smith has taken a simple premise and created an emotionally full story. Well done!

Ms. Carnes has written a "let's put on a show" scenario that somehow reminds me of Waiting for Godot. Sharp, crisp, funny dialogue, on the madcap side, but ultimately, readers will understand the character's (and author's) love for theater and the need to collaborate to get it right.

A beautiful piece of work with layers of emotions presented in waves that will leave you holding on to your seat. The characters are all clearly drawn and beautifully express themselves throughout. Martinez has such imagination and the play's theatricality shines through.

I wanted to read this play because Arianna has written some wonderful stories based on real people. In this play, she's painted a wonderful and visual story of the early days of Ginger Rogers, and it was shocking to learn she was kidnapped by her own father as a baby. The vivid stage directions paint a clear picture. Her imagery heightens the play's action. This play should be produced!

I want to recommend this monologue which is both funny and sad. The main character, Velma, a white woman in the 1950's South, allows all of her worst instincts and prejudices to show as she talks to a friend about cake, bunco and that dark-skinned man who's dating her neighbor. Some of Velma's statements are outrageous and funny, others are troublesome, to say the least. Recent developments tell us that while progress may have been made, we're not there yet. Baker's story exposes not only how life used to be, but how in many ways it still is. Worth reading!

This is a wonderful story, with terse dialogue and surprising twists. Ms. O'Neill-Butler is always effective in creating realistic characters and believable situations. Read it and, if you're in a position to produce it, I say "Go for it."

This is a very clever play by a writer who clearly loves wordplay. Fun, quite audience friendly, and deserves to be seen!