Recommended by John Busser

"Tony" puts a mirror up to us, and it ain't pretty. This powerful monologue may seem like an exercise for a writer - anthropomorphize something and write about it - and it's true, it isn't possibly real and can be seen as such. But Chris Soucy never just writes as an exercise. He is SAYING SOMETHING HERE. This incredible creature, imprisoned for life for no reason than because people are rubberneckers who spend most of their lives watching things instead of experiencing, is right to be angry. Part of me wants to unlock his cage, then see what people do.

I cannot recommend this piece fast enough! These people are REAL! Kim Ruyle has totally won me over with the two characters he created here. Evelyn and Virgil come across as people I want to know. The fact they took a chance at a late romance gives me hope and the discussion about their interests sounds so authentic and real, I want them to come back in another piece. How about it, Kim?

You always leave a Vivian Lermond play satiated (and yes, I know what I did there). Vivian's characters are always vividly drawn and eminently relatable. As a carb-eater myself, I know the hazards of overindulgence (don't we all?) and both Ava and Sherman have taken their own sides in the war against weight gain. This is funny as hell, charming as all get out and it hits the spot as far as entertainment goes. Here's MY four letter word for this play: BEST.

Some friendships are life long and some transcend that limitation. Buster and Hank have such a friendship. And the audience is better off for it. Joe Swenson has written a wonderful play for three older actors and gives them characters that are rich. The life he brings to all of them (ironically enough given the subject matter) is palpable, and the bittersweet last few pages will affect us as much as it affects Buster and Hank.

Darkly funny and subversive, Emily McClain has cooked up a devilishly delicious play that skewers baking contests, conformity and the consequences of both following the norm and also for bucking it. I'm personally not a fan of Carrot cake myself, but I ate this up and asked for seconds. It's smart, funny, has great potential for 4 actresses to chew everything including the invisible scenery. And it has a wonderful button to it that I'd love to see a theater attempt to pull off.

Tell me this title hasn't caught your cat-like curiosity (see what I did there?). A blast and a half about the (probably) true architects of our existence. Melissa Schmitz turns reality on its furry head and drags us along for the fun. And it is a LOT of fun. Pay attention to the many subtle and not-so-subtle references peppered throughout. History would be a lot different if we let it go to the dogs instead.

I asked the playwright how much cough syrup she had ingested before she wrote this absolutely bonkers take on the Nativity crossed with When Animals Attack (slightly) and run through a Body Horror blender. Is this even a recommendation or a warning? Nope, it's definitely a recommendation. The HIGHEST kind (And not because I thought Jillian was high when she wrote it).

Hey, it's a Christmas miracle! A Jacquie Floyd play I didn't know was here, but now is found. For a play about recycling and finding new value in someone's discarded items, nothing about this play feels like I've heard it all before (EXCEPT Jacquie's trademark humor. That's always welcome). I loved the quick banter-y feel to the dialogue. When the characters make it feel like there are multiple conversations overlapping each other, the results are a delight. In the end, everyone got something out of this. So will the audience. I'll take this one rather than leave it.

Oh man, was THIS play something I could relate to! Lainie Vansant certainly has her finger on the pulse of the modern day job search. The Catch-22 of trying to get work without experience is a nightmare we've all experienced at one time or another. But Lainie doesn't stack the deck against Joey so much that we hate the bosses. They all come across as real people. Joey just has the bad luck of not being the greatest interviewee. And that's another thing we can all relate too. This play should have universal appeal.

If only we could all have a friend like Auden. In two short minutes, Ruben Carbajal provides not only his characters with love and comfort, but the audience as well. I defy anyone seeing this not to be moved by this piece. Just terrific.