Recommended by Janine Sobeck Knighton

An epic adventure that reminds us just what is possible when our devices are shut down and we plug into the world - and people - around us. Loved the storytelling aspect and the reminder to "Never underestimate the smallest of creatures."

I could feel the weight of Deb on my own back as I read through this heartwrenching look of the burdens we carry. From the moment we wake to the moment we sleep - with only the promise of carrying it again. The physical exploration would be a delight for any two actors.

What happens when Demeter - aka Mother Earth - gets fed up with humanity and decides to reveal herself to the world? This unexpected short explores a heart-felt warning to humanity about the error of our ways and the consequences of underestimating a woman. I particularly enjoyed how Demeter subverts all of Joanne's expectations, both in the importance of her role in Greek mythology and just what she has to offer for an interview.

A fun comedic spin on Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. I love the cheekiness that comes from the narrator (and how Goldilocks has her own power over them) and the silliness that comes along with the wolf. I also appreciate that, in just 10 minutes, the addition of the flower and the bird - and the insight at the end that she does keep her promises - shows the potential growth Goldilocks has from her encounter with the bears. So much potential for young performers!

A beautiful exploration of friendship, illness, and the desperation to be normal when faced with a body - and a world - that betrays you. I love the naturalness of the girls - talking about boys and first love and school and "normal" things, mixed with bombings and war and the reality of TB. It makes you ache for these girls whose childhood was torn away from them on two fronts - the war and the sanitarium. A beautiful competition piece perfect for young actors.

Such a fun mystery adventure fueled by heat, ice cream, and a potential dragon. And it's even more intriguing due to the fact that it's based on a real prank! I love the songs and the awareness and the fun opportunities it provides for the whole cast.

A quirky, fun group of characters on the important journey of discovering that they are unique and that their own gifts, talents, and interests - though different from what their parents do or what is expected from "someone like them" - are valuable and worthy. And serious giggles every time the lion opens his mouth and all that comes out is a squeak.

Having experienced that moment of "how did I get here" before surgery, Jean Ciampi's HEART OF THE MATTER hits hard and will resonate with anyone has been forced to look the consequences of their actions (particularly with their health) in the face. I also loved how the twist took the conversation to a whole new level of terror - I was left with a delicious sense of wondering just what would happen after the curtain fell.

Families - it's amazing the layers of history and resentment and trauma that can surface in a moment when you are facing mortality. Jonny Bolduc does a great job exploring how childhood events and the differences in parental treatment can have lifelong affects on people (and in different ways) as well as how finally communicating can be the first step in healing.

When you're in the middle of the hardest moment imaginable - such as being a POW in a brutal Civil war - you can't help but think about what is most important. In Andersonville, which is based on the diaries of John Ranom's time as a POW - the answers revolve around family, friendship, and the little things in life that bring joy and happiness. A great reminder to take a moment in our own hard days and focus on that which is most precious.