Recommended by Philip Middleton Williams

We're told that baseball is a metaphor for life. But for someone who's done a lot of bowling, I think Gene Kato's comical/farcical comes a lot closer to hitting it right in the pocket. This ensemble cast of all types (and tropes) has all the right moves for modern life with its ups and downs and unexpected hits from every angle. The jokes, puns, one-liners blend seamlessly with wry and witty observations about life in and out of the alley, and even if you wind up in the gutter, there's still hope. This one scores 300.

What's in a word? It shouldn't be hard to define something as basic as "true," but in this dance of words deftly crafted by David Beardsley, these two lovers are finding out that just one word and what it means to each of them can bring out a whole new perspective on their relationship... such as it is or could be.

This intense moment reminds me of every time I've tried to express my own feelings to someone I love: vulnerable, unsure, afraid, yet hopeful, anticipatory, and grateful. Scott Sickle's exploration of this moment within the framing of ADHD makes it even more immediate and terrifying, yet completely relatable.

C'mon, you know you've been here. Yes, you have; don't lie.

The exquisite pain of unrequited love easily overpowers the soaring and endless joy if, hope stirring hope, the courage proves to be worth the outcome. But at least you tried.

Kids these days. They have no respect for age-old traditions: all they're thinking about is hanging out with their bros and scoring. That's the take on this very funny and sharp version of the current state of affairs for vampires and their struggle to just get by in this era of social networking and hipsters. Adam Richter's play has plenty of bite, and the stakes are high for both Trevor and his immortal (if not annoyed) mentor.

Franky Gonzalez has a gift for bringing the truth to his writing in such a way that you cannot forget them. This play is lyrical, compelling, heart-tearing, and loving. It's like a lullaby. I could feel every moment between this father and daughter, each with their own pain of loss but yet caring for each other.

A father giving his teenage son advice on matters of the heart is always a delicate balance between good sound introspection and cringe-worthy platitudes. Horace, a recovering incel, lays it on Wiley with both hilarious and heart-felt results, and not for nothing, I was hearing the echos of my own dad as I read this and suddenly remembered how wise he turned out to be so many years later. Alexander Perez gets exactly the right tone in this two-hander, and it would be so much fun to watch.

A combination of a vaudeville/W.C. Fields dentist sketch with the antics of Monty Python make this a fun and quick short piece. No need for laughing gas here; it supplies its own.

With the wit of Noel Coward and the tension of Edward Albee, Scott Sickles takes us on a journey through the twists and turns of the relationship between Lawrence and his new friend Allan. Despite the best efforts of his ex-lover Niles and bestie Briony, this roller coaster ride is destined for trouble, and all you can do is breathlessly hold on and watch to see what happens.

The script is available from Next Stage Press, and it is a worthy and bracing read.

For reasons I cannot say, this play touched me more than I can say. Which makes it worth reading, seeing, and hearing, because if it has that effect on me, then it will reach people who need to read, see, or hear it. It is moments like this that make up our memories that never leave us. I had a feeling that I knew where Andrew Martineau was taking me, yet I still found wonder and realization when I got to the end, knowing I've been through my own visitation and finding affirmation in seeing it through his eyes.