Recommended by Cheryl Bear

In the midst of bleakness, friendship and connection is unexpectedly found as they bond about the struggles and loss in their lives. As they attempt to figure it all out, deep waters are journeyed through. Well done.

An incredible capture of the high school years and the intense pressure to compete despite the enormous weight on their shoulders. How do we respond to fear, to hate, to the mounting grief? A lesson in self love, perseverance and strength under the most brutal circumstances. Well done!

A fascinating exploration of the intimacy in a relationship and how important communication becomes. Our stories of each other mean everything to us. Where did it break off and where are we now when the love is still there? How does this translate over time? A beautiful and authentic portrait that resonates. Well done!

An incredible adaptation that takes us in the lab of Doctor Faustus and Mephistophilis to find out what they will conjure. What road will they choose? Will they build a new world of heaven or will the fires be too difficult to give up? The journey is captivating and world changing. Well done!

A horrifying and powerfully accurate glimpse into the biases that continue to separate us. It's amazing how our identities can make or break us from those who would hold it against us. Incredibly well done!

Who is Elliot? Who is the woman upstairs? What past horrors is he burying? It becomes more and more fascinating as we go into the history and the unknown. A fantastic mystery that gets downright spooky! Incredibly captivating and well done!

A spit out loud funny pursuit of courtesies and civilities in the time of an apocalypse on a ship. I couldn't stop laughing. Dangers escalate, conditions get darker, terror increases and the entitlement of services gets more and more comical. Love!

A fabulous Brooklyn comedy that will surely resonate with many making changes in their goals and aspirations. It's hard to imagine giving up the fast paced life, but things like yoga and the country start to gain appeal. A hilarious debate gets tense as the underlying current of their friend moving away starts to fester. It's not an easy move and the question is, will it break them? Authentic and funny, this lands home.

A bold and fantastic play on what being American today actually looks like and confronting the issues head on. Tackling racial prejudice, gun violence, immigration and more, this is a meaty coverage of the political and social issues we're facing. It's incredibly funny and really a fantastic piece for young actors. Entertaining and well done!

The stakes count be higher or more hilariously melodramatic as these girls vie for access to the top university. They will never make it in this world if they can't sell sell sell! But will it make or break them? A cookie selling competition for the ages leaves this community with some enormously valuable lessons about being the best one can be for themselves and not others. Well done!