Recommended by Juan Ramirez, Jr.

At the edge of the seat, you too will wonder, how far would one go for someone they love? The audio play presented by the Bishop Arts Theater Center wonderfully captured the pain of longing and the necessity of having to know the truth. If you're willing to go on this wonderfully and scandalous journey of forbidden love, then be prepared to fight the desires of your heart.

Tracey Conyer Lee is the playwright that is brave enough to explore the social issues many others are simply afraid to even ask about. This three character play is an analysis for behavior and the significance of honest communication for the sake of survival. We must live our truth but in order to do so, we must also do the work. This means, sometimes stepping out of the chifforobe and other times, it means stepping in. This is a powerful drama!

The best way to have an out-of-pond and across the pond dark comedy is to set it between a Cuban daughter and her Cuban-born mother. The action of this script is intense, with wonderful visual metaphors of merengue dancing, rosary behind the bed and the safety of strangers. Most times, it takes a bomb to go off in our hearts to push us to share the secrets that hurts us. This play has great power, so give yourself a good orgasmic stretch and prepare for Eileen and Mom to show you a mirror.

If you’re looking for food for thought, there’s nothing better than a serving of sancocho. It represents both legacy and lineage, especially with how a culture survives through the passing of recipes. Now if you follow said recipe, you’ll get everything you’re looking for. In this play set in one night, the ingredients are the sisterhood between Caridad and Renata, siblinghood with Eddie, song with abuela and healing of the soul for papi. This meal offering will feed your soul. Keep stirring.

We all do stupid things for papi chulos, and most times, for Latinas, that means dealing with machismo behavior, gender stereotypes, sexism, racism, complex cultural assimilation and off-the-wall challenges. Although not all hope is lost, because Sophia, Maria, Celia, Gloria and Jenni take on the cringe comedy of Brad and Tony, to give the audience wonderful visual laughs. In the name of our ancestors, don't get tied up and bring this play to its feet!

Who will save us? Who will speak for us? Who will seek out our justice? Lucia and Liliana seek out to give a voice to the voiceless and if shouting won’t work, they’ll find another way to get your attention. The play strikingly teaches that the art of the protest works and we must treat the truth like a glass cup, by either shining light through it or by serving it cold. Why not both?

This brave story speaks to the idea that the future is female, which also means the healing must begin. Paóla and Janet appear to have so much in the way between them, as they fight through racism, politics, feminism, gender roles, class and men. The power comes from within, as they both come to realize that finding each other on common ground, means jumping from where they stand, diving into the deep waters and going against the current. As they tell you about their journey, I ask that you believe them.

The wonderful thing about food is that it's as diverse as people, and yet, it's also as universal as being hungry. Speaking of universal, whether you're from Mars or Earth, these characters cook up a stew, by embracing the songs from their native languages to help the jubbatree. Like a true melting pot, this play is for everyone, and it's delicious.

"History is written by the victors..." but what's worse, is that sometimes the narrative comes from the mouths of those that suffered the most. This play is the history lesson America needs because misremembering isn't a choice anymore. We must review our roles in the stories we tell and the importance of always identifying the truth. I hope that in the face of adversity, I will always remember to allow myself to BE BROWN and like Donavan, always tell my truth, no matter what.

Let's start at the beginning. The National Black Theatre's Playwright Residency Program presented this wonderful virtual play with great design by the set, costume, audio and composer team. Two stories come together in this play, exploring the suffering of being trapped in an emotional and physical prison. Innocent, both characters, Geo and Curtis, navigate their life alongside their needs, as the definition of what freedom means sometimes changes in time. The play asks you to identify your retreat and determine if it's truly a safe space. The play also inspires you to keep writing and get to the end.