Recommended by Philip Middleton Williams

The faerie tale of the troll under the bridge takes on a message of currency about immigration and our attitudes about it. The riddles this time become harder and more impenetrable, and the interactions between Theo and Buddy are wonderful.

You do not have to be a fan of the board game Clue to enjoy this little moment of hilarity. Steven Hayet brings his wit and drollery to full tilt and it will give the actors all the scenery-chewing moments that the game needs and the audience will enjoy.

Nick Malakhow has crafted a lyrical and deeply-rendered vision of life for two strong but delicate characters in a setting that is so alien to them that the only way to survive is with each other. They need each other, and yet...

I know all too well what the world he lands them in is like, but seen through their eyes it takes on a completely different texture. The grit he speaks of is not only what is required of Raymond and Sasha, but the constant irritation of the world that is grinding them down. This will stay with you.

The most powerful element in this short play is how DC Cathro turns a bright light on all of his characters and reveals their true dimensions without judgment. He leaves it to us to see all the facets and flaws, and through them see our own reflections. No one is spared, but no one is sacrificed, and what starts out as as juicy dish-fest between two roommates turns to an honest and passionate testimony to Shakespeare's observation: "Love looks not with the eye but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind."

The realities and truths about immigration to America is brought into strong and intimate focus in this non-fiction telling of how five people found their way to our shores. Adam Richter brings these people and their stories to life in a way that is both intimate and universal.

The adage "you can't pick your family" isn't really true anymore, what with extended families and step-brothers showing up. In this both hilarious and touching moment, Emily McClain brings together these two disparate brothers with one simple job ahead of them - what to do with Mom's ashes - and we get to see just how different they are... and how much they share.

This short piece will take you away, and DC Cathro's lyrical moments, counterpointed by movement and silence, come together for one sensual experience. All the senses are there. All you have to do is allow them in. A wonderful expression of simple truth.

The beauty of mythology is the way it makes the realities of life -- the seasons, the creation, life and death -- understandable and meaningful. The point of view in this telling of the tale of Persephone is from hers, but it also gives the perspective of those who see her and touch her, and through them we have a fully-realized moment.

Even if you were close to your father (as I was), this short, sharp moment will touch you. And if you are not or were not, it may sting -- or not. Either way, Ruben Carbajal's seemingly simple play will stay with you long after you've read or seen it. It is the essence of this relationship that comes through, and is what makes it so powerful.

This play is a testament to the power of intention, meaning, and expression without a word being spoken. This is not a new idea; the works of Charles Chaplin and Buster Keaton were powerful in their silence on the screen. In the loving hands of Scott Sickles these characters give meaning to the depth, urgency, longing, and grief in the moments they share. It is both heartbreaking and joyous, and that's all that needs to be said.