Recommended by John Mabey

This play holds an especially special place in our current times of reconnecting with the world and each other. As mother and daughter spend Mother's Day together, we learn so much about not only their histories but their changing connection to each other. John Minigan has an incredible way of finding the unique relationships between objects, people, and places and in MOTHER'S DAY he brings together these elements for an entertaining and deeply symbolic play.

Every moment in this taut drama is earned as Christine Foster takes us through a relationship with many levels between mother and daughter. In COME AWAY, Christine uses both an experimental approach and grounded dialogue to explore the choices that we make and ways of saying goodbye. The addition of fairytales heightens the tension as well and allows us to consider whose truth to follow.

In PUZZLE PIECE, Ken Preuss has crafted such a special play about love and romance but most importantly about connection. In the metaphor about puzzle pieces, the two couples on stage discover what fits and what doesn't in their relationships. And in a beautifully experimental way, Ken centers the idea of a missing piece into such a surprising and satisfying ending.

There are certain plays that captivate you from start to finish, and SUGAR by Jennifer O'Grady will keep you on the edge of your seat. There is a deep sense of urgency as two women speak through a door, the stakes incredibly high, and every moment is precious. Jennifer writes both characters with profound understanding and elevates the subtext of their conversation with coded language and insight. A brave and powerful piece that deserved to be staged again and again.

There is so much to love in the play, AHAVAH. Co-authors Dana Hall and David Lipschutz take us on a comedic and poignant journey of love and faith beyond the grave. And along the way, we're introduced to characters who wrestle with their own grief to a place of renewed understanding and connection. Well done!

There is so much to love in the play, AHAVAH. Co-authors Dana Hall and David Lipschutz take us on a comedic and poignant journey of love and faith beyond the grave. And along the way, we're introduced to characters who wrestle with their own grief to a place of renewed understanding and connection. Well done!

The structure of this play is thrilling and the dialogue so poetic. In EXPECTATIONS, Jennifer O'Grady reveals the underexplored and fascinating relationship of Charles Dickens and his wife Kate Dickens. Poignant, gripping, and so moving, this is a play that will stay with you long after their story ends.

A wonderful blend of history and fantasy, JOY RIDE by Arianna Rose takes us on an amazing ride in the clouds with Amelia Earhart and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt - with a special twist. And as they reenact those events, both women make important discoveries about the flight and themselves.

Steven Strafford writes with incredible humor and expert pacing in SMALL JOKES ABOUT MONSTERS. The four characters are all distinct and fully realized in their complexity with revelations that spin each of them in unexpected directions throughout. And the story itself is thrilling from start to finish as Strafford guides us through high comedy and dark, poignant truths with insight and confidence. This is a beautifully complex and highly entertaining play that would also be a delight for actors and a production team.

James McLindon explores a world of timely and urgent issues in PICKERS. I had the pleasure of watching a reading of this play and was captivated from the opening lines. The two characters are layered and complex, both with clear goals and motivations toward survival and change in a tough industry. Especially powerful are how their generational differences lead toward a shared understanding while also highlighting and respecting the disparities. This is a powerful play that's both enlightening as well as entertaining throughout.