Recommended by Doug DeVita

The family dynamic lurches into this brave new world, dragging its old baggage along for the ride in Weibezahl’s bittersweet comedy written expressly for the ZOOM era. If this is just a weekly meeting of the clan, Thanksgiving is going to be a hoot!

This is such a beautiful play. Beautifully crafted, beautifully realized. And oh, how I want there to be mermaids for Cecilia.

The casualties of war aren't always on the battlefield, as Williams gently, but firmly, reminds us in this tender drama, which explores the effects of the Vietnam war on twin brothers who follow their calling – one to the MASH units of Vietnam, the other to Canada to study music – and he does it with such clear-eyed, non-judgmental passion one is never sure who is right, who is wrong, and ultimately, whether it matters? This is a moving indictment of the collateral damage of war, and a bond between brothers that, though damaged, can't be broken.

Ah, the self-involved impatience of youth! It’s the perfect foil to the gravitas of experience. And in the hands of O’Grady, it proves a delightful opportunity to pit the callow F. Scott Fitzgerald against the august Edith Wharton in a mismatch of wits — guess who prevails? Read this gem of a play and find out. Tea has never been so satisfying.

Greg Kotis’ darkly comic, anarchic spirit runs rampant in “Pig Farm,” a wildly funny cautionary tale. Kotis puts his targets (industrial food production, the federal government, American-hero types) squarely in his sites and fires indiscriminately, hitting bullseye after bullseye while never losing his absurdist sense of humor, and keeping everything spinning with his theatrically heightened language. Prescient, thought provoking, and yet delightfully entertaining.

"Time: A year or two later."

Right there we know everything we need to know going into this monologue.

And yet, as with any death, we're not really prepared, and this monologue from Weibezahl slowly, elegantly, and beautifully ratchets up the emotions, like a perfectly pitched piece of music. Stunning, moving, and heartbreaking.

Math and Noir. Punny, funny, fast-moving, and all so Noir-By-The-Numbers perfect. What's not to love?

The confluence of theater, poetry, and art makes for a gorgeous five minutes from Speckman, who raises the stakes with her diametrically opposed characters, an artist and a critic who were once friends. Beautifully done.

Osmundsen's affectionate, knowing tribute to the volunteer front of house staff at a small community theatre in Sarasota is a touching character study in which all the archetypes are present, with all their foibles, petty jealousies, passions, and desires on display. What sets "The Ushers" apart from other theatre-folk comedy/dramas is the humanity with which Osmundsen imbues his characters; he obviously knows, and loves, these people. Great roles for 5 older actresses and 1 older actor.

I had the pleasure of being in a workshop with Evangelia during the early development of this comedy; what a pleasure it is to read the completed script, which more than delivers on its initial promise. Fast moving, frantically funny, and universally recognizable family situations make this holiday farce a dizzying delight.