Recommended by Philip Middleton Williams

Douglas Gearhart's spare and lyrical writing is on full display in this poignant short play about grief, loss, and the ache of being left behind. What is very hard to put into words is done to great effect by letting the silence and the intense suppressed feelings speak what Big Jim, Rose, and Dean cannot express in words. It is not often that I am moved to an emotional reaction by such moments, but this is one story that did that for me, and I know it will do the same for an audience.

It's a matter of reality that the holidays with all their commercialized tidings of comfort and joy are a tough time for people who have lost loved ones. Moving on alone is not easy, and in this warm and often humorous short play, Don Baker takes on grief and the competition to outdo the neighbors in holiday decor. All it takes is a little taste, charm, and good friends (not to mention a good-natured rivalry) to make the season bright.

What may seem to some as an absurd story of the fate of a snowman for doing what comes naturally in the heat of the moment, in the hands of Gene Kato becomes an allegory for the quest for power and cunning manipulation. There's a touch of Lewis Carroll ("Alice's Adventures in Wonderland") in the use of clever word-play, and Gene Kato does not miss a beat in both character and dialogue development.

Nothing -- and I mean NOTHING -- will ruin this Christmas dinner, come Hell or stinky Creature. The aplomb and grace with which the unexpected guest is greeted is only surpassed by the genial hilarity of Mom and Davy handling the really important things that make this dinner so special. Why can't my Christmas dinners be like this? All I need is an astrolabe, whatever that is. (10/21/24)

We have seen many versions of Mary Shelley's novel since it was published over 200 years ago, from James Whale's 1931 iconic film version to the hilarious Mel Brooks take in 1974, so we know the story. Monica Cross has distilled it to a tightly focused two-hander that examines with great care the relationship between the Creator and the Creation. It goes beyond the tropes and and the jokes and brings out the contrast in brilliant detail and power. Stunning work. (10/15/24)

There are some strange extremes some people will go to in order to rest assured that their kids will be in good hands after they shuffle off this screwy coil. Julie Zaffarano has come up with a doozy: a potential guardian with an odd sense of place, humor and... well, their musical skills need work. I got to share this in a reading and it was hard not to laugh at the most inappropriate time. Fast-paced, witty, and even touching in all the right ways. (10/12/24)

Sometimes the most meaningful conversations are those we have with ourselves. Gene Kato weaves us a tale of a writer trying to put his thoughts about his life into words, but he keeps being interrupted and inspired by the people who shaped his life in the past and the present. The atmosphere and the intensity of this play is balanced beautifully with insightful humor and sympathetic magic in the words and the relationships. I truly hope this play makes it to the stage. (10/9/24)

If this really was based on a true story, I'm sure Adam Richter told it better than some dry old history book. He shared it with me in a reading with friends and I loved the pacing and the witty dialogue, making it primed for a production of an immortal Monty Python scene from "The Crucible." The allegorical theme is a spot-on take on rumor-mongering and fake news. Huzzah! (10/06/24)

I loved this deceptively simple tale of Emily trying to get back something that was lost. In doing so, Steven G. Martin has all the elements of longing, grief, renewal, and even hope as seen in Emily. There is a familiar harmonic with a story we all should know, but even if the audience doesn't make the connection, the strength of the characters and their lives comes through in its universal honesty without being sentimental. (10/06/24)

I love a good police procedural, so this "ripped from the headlines" tale by Allan Maule takes us to a level that Det. Lenny Briscoe and D.A. Jack McCoy ("Law & Order") would be hard-pressed to figure out what really happened on the night in question. The deft writing and plot twists keep you guessing, and like any good story, even when the police arrive on scene, you're not sure what really happened and who's telling the truth (Dun-Dun!) This is one for the stage. (10/5/24)