Recommended by Morey Norkin

When we lose a loved one, we often carry on imaginary conversations with them. Ian Donley takes this concept a step further in this story of grief resulting from a recent tragedy. Even with the dark subject matter, Donley manages to give us a couple of welcome laugh out loud moments. But it’s the feeling that if only this conversation could have happened sooner that is the true haunting of this piece. Poignant and beautiful work.

The lure of the sea is powerful and heartbreakingly at the center of this beautiful love story. A simple setting of a bench and lamppost along with Arianna Rose’s spare yet elegant dialogue combine for 8 minutes you won’t soon forget.

Neil Radtke brings the tension and humor in equal measures leading to a stunning reveal and an even more surprising conclusion. Brilliant!

Young Tayla comes face-to-face, literally, with issues related to body image as she converses with her own reflection. Wanting to change to be accepted by the cool kids at school, afraid of a future of settling for less, and believing that she is somehow not good enough, Tayla confides in her reflection, which tries to be supportive. Alyssa Haddad-Chin brings this piece to the important conclusion of self acceptance. Hopefully this play will reach a wide audience that can find encouragement in Tayla’s journey.

It’s always interesting seeing Peter Pan characters in new settings. And Dana Hall has come up with a doozy with Peter visiting Tinkerbell in prison. The setting and Tinkerbell’s tough persona start things off with plenty of laughs. But there’s a dark undertone that Hall brings to the surface at just the right moment. Whether they believe in fairies or not, audiences will be clapping for this Tink.

Maeve and Rob are certainly compatible in bed, and, despite their wildly different educational and professional backgrounds, they are seemingly intellectual equals. But as much as each may protest, the differences give rise to defensiveness, intimidation, and mistrust. As they begin to open up emotionally to each other, we are drawn more into their relationship, hoping they can find a basis beyond physical attraction to sustain this fledgling romance. Great writing as expected from Kim Ruyle. Completely deserving of the accolades it has been receiving.

Amber R. Dickinson presents a look at the future that seems hauntingly real. A future where women are only prized for their beauty, even to the point where extensive makeovers are mandatory. As one of a pair of twin sisters refuses to go along with this program, the tension between them, their inevitable separation, and the chilling prospects of what lies ahead will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Philip Middleton Williams manages to say a lot about family relationships while providing a great comic story around mistaken identity. George and Marjorie end up providing perhaps a little TMI as they are supposed to meet the man who is marrying their son. But it’s their candor that provides the heart and soul of this piece as well as the humor. Good fun and a good message.

Such a brilliant idea and hysterically executed. A comedy of manners among a ship’s galley slaves. Given the overly polite dialogue, you would think these gents were working on a Carnival Cruise Ship or the Love Boat. Bill Arnold brings the voyage to a most satisfying and very funny conclusion. This absolutely needs to be staged.

Sam Heyman takes us on a deeply moving, foreboding, and ultimately uplifting journey into Jackson’s introspective search for truth. Issues of family trauma and mental health unfold and drive the absorbing narrative. As caught up as I was reading this play, I can only imagine the impact of seeing Heyman’s vision fully realized on stage.