Recommended by Juan Ramirez, Jr.

The play paints a world that's unfortunately all too familiar with our country. It speaks to the contradictions of absolutes when truths are hidden and a broken system is disguised as hope. The story moves brilliantly from moment to desperate moment, bringing into the spotlight what it means to be American and more importantly, what is there to lose.

This family tells the story of their struggle to take care of a family member they love while communicating their deep frustrations. As the Person is eager to be heard, we experience a strong understanding of Andrew’s world. Like Andrew, the family fights to express pain and remain on track for their hopeful futures. This play wonderfully serves as a invitation for the audience to find their own voice with their own unique words to describe their own feelings about the significance of communication.

When life comes at you fast as a teenager occupied with school, sex and comics, there's not a lot of time to figure it all out. Inside this comic store that goes from a mother's basement to an actual storefront, the characters in this story change too. This coming-of-age story moves through the seasons, highlighting the complexities of race, social expectations and self-identity. This negative zone is like a parallel universe where the positive outcome is the discovery of true friendship. If I could ask Doug a question, "Hey, you wouldn't have the original The Incredible Hulk #180, right?"

W.C. will tell her story as one of survival, having to free herself from a town too far deep into the pit of failure. Evan will tell his story of how Riverton has hope and that there are untapped dreams that could nourish the local residents. This play touches on the idea of change, asking if it's something that can only be attained with the best of opportunities. W.C. and Evan teach us that if you have a lot to offer, decide whether you want to share that with your town or with the world.

This coming-of-age story is about Zoila, as she feels the yearnings of the past and the hope for the future, both of which are moving her forward into being the protagonist of her own story. She dreams, realizing that pain can last as long as love. With support from family and ancestors, she comes into her own but (with two t's) it's going to take her own dedication to her truth to make the journey. Del Carmen wants you to know that your present self is a beautiful mix of your past and future.

This play is a dive into the many perspectives of the people impacted by this neighborhood and the changes that will soon follow. They live here, love here and only some, imagine there futures here. It won't be difficult to connect to a character and find our own voice in theirs. Franklin Avenue represents The American Dream for many and the question maybe, will there be enough room for everyone's hope? Each character seeks their happiness and in the meantime, it will inspire to reflect on your own.

At the 2018 Samuel French festival, I saw this short one-woman monologue about her fight against one of history's worse hurricanes while also dealing with the damages it left behind. She was fearless, honest, vulnerable and even more importantly so, hopeful. Diaz-Marcano won't let the world forget about Puerto Rico.