Recommended by Sam Heyman

They say the key to writing a compelling story is to visit trouble upon your characters. There is trouble caking the walls of IVORIES' central house, and no character can escape being mired in it. Brimming with horrific, visceral imagery and uncomfortable, complex relationship dynamics, Riley Elton McCarthy's IVORIES is a modern horror classic, a worthy creative challenge for any director seeking to stretch the limits of what theatre can do.

To be young and the object of another's affection -- even someone many others do not believe exist! DC Cathro's storytelling in this monologue is methodical, organic and increasingly hypnotic, as Cynthia is pulled by her secret admirer's siren song until realizing she is out of her depth. We are drawn in as she recollects the experience, in belief and disbelief, and we are left reeling at the story's conclusion. "Santa's Scarlet Letter" is an arresting, mystifying experience, not to be missed.

What might seem at the outset to be an implausible set up -- who can imagine Ebenezer Scrooge having love in his heart for anyone but himself? -- turns out to be an earnest, heartfelt and heartbreaking tale of two hardened souls bending for each other, if only in private.

Adam Richter is able to write in the voice and world of other writers with great authority, and his pastiche of Dickens' A Christmas Carol is no exception. There are lines that will stick with you long after you finish reading, and moments aplenty that will touch your heart. Excellent!

Meeting your partner's friends can be awkward, and it can be difficult to find your niche--much more difficult if everyone ignores what you say and makes assumptions aplenty. Hilary Bluestein-Lyons has captured this adult social experience with great humor and aplomb in "Not THAT Steve Martin". The misunderstandings build to an explosive ending that is hilarious to behold!

There's something chilling about the way the braided monologues of Keyes' "Imaginary Friends" gradually weave themselves into a noose around your neck -- the thought of children being pushed and pulled by forces larger and more powerful than themselves, who they feel compelled to keep secret but which pose a real danger to themselves, forms the spectral backbone of this dread-inducing work. A perfect play to read on a rainy day with the lights out.

In Once Upon a Smorgasbord, Miranda Jonte does an excellent job at balancing the mournful and the hopeful, at capturing a journey through love, loss and beginning to love again. Even with minimal staging, the poetic and poignant language at this play's center will be sure to transport audiences to places, emotional and imagined, that will linger with them even once the lights fade to black.

"The Great Tinsel War of 1979" might not be gracing any history book pages any time soon, but it is sure to be a hit with audiences, thanks to Christopher Soucy's expert balancing of zany, yet familiar familial conflict and sober, documentarian reporting. The interplay of these sensibilities helps create laugh-out-loud moments that will stick with you after the play ends. A crowd-pleasing holiday romp.

The natural, effortless tension of this play! In Vince Gatton’s “Hey”, Wade is pulled in multiple directions, by his fears, desires and an underwear model of few words but a variety of evocative inflections. A delicate balancing act for the actors and writer himself, “Hey” demonstrates Gatton’s skill for writing rich, concise narratives with great power and humor.

“The Long and Short of It” is, well, an excellently humorous take on a sensitive subject for many men and boys, approached with great care and cleverness by Donald Baker. This piece is playful and teasing, while also being genuinely affirming - solid work here

Tense from the word "go," Scott Cantrell's "Out" is a challenging, emotional play for two young actors. Excerpted from Cantrell's full length, "Devil's Triangle," this scene manages to stand alone, pitting its central pair against each other and themselves as they struggle to reconcile fears, desires, needs and the cold, painful reality of being young and queer in a hostile environment. I definitely want to see the rest of these characters' journeys!