Recommended by Morey Norkin

In this one-act, Jacquelyn Priskorn successfully expands on her moving 10-minute play, THE GUEST ROOM. SWATCHES provides a glimpse into Dan and May’s hopes, fears, and ambivalence before tragedy strikes, adding guilt and shame to the mix. The infusion of color as a representation of the various emotions being presented makes for some fascinating staging options. When combined with the emotional ensemble script, SWATCHES has enormous potential to light up any stage.

This had me thinking of Bullwinkle saying, “Hey, Rocky! Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!” Both with unintended results. Cute, funny, and with a nice punchline. I would love to see someone take on the challenge of putting this on stage.

Laura Thoma gifts us with this delicate piece, which mirrors the art of kintsugi as well as the fragile relationship between the two characters. Healing and repair are slow processes requiring a lot of work. And although the result may differ from the original, it may also be stronger. Lovely work.

Outrageously funny! A six-year-old interrupts a satanic ritual, speaks her coherent truth, and all hell breaks out. The escalating curses are a riot and set up the final payoff perfectly! Devilishly good fun!

The Hudson River Valley is the source of many American myths and legends, but it is also home to very real people. John Patrick Bray presents a dark reality of a group of young inhabitants who try to find solace in drugs as the world around them changes. And what will that world make of them? Will they become larger than life characters like Johnny Appleseed, or some nameless tragic figures? Beautifully written dialogue, highly theatrical staging, and characters that make you ache to protect them make TRACKS a play that will stay with you long after the reading/viewing.

A row boat and a deserted island make for unique settings for this romantic comedy. Often, the question in a romcom is will they or won’t they? And that’s the question here, only it’s about something more sinister. Lindsey Brown offers a highly amusing look at lifestyles of the rich and narcissistic where just about anything can be negotiated for a price. The settings, physical comedy, and Brown’s sharp wit make this a guaranteed hit in any theatre’s season.

Jacquie Floyd has a terrific collection of short plays that are guaranteed to bring the laughs to your St. Paddy’s celebration or to any play festival. But this one may top them all. Red is a most unusual pet with some endearing qualities, at least to his owner. Hopefully, he’s at least toilet trained. So funny, and oh the lucky actors who get the chance to play Red!

Rachel Feeny-Williams offers us a cleverly crafted mystery that revolves around a patient with multiple personalities. Fragments of a dark secret are revealed by one personality, but can the other personality put them together? An exciting challenge for actors and directors, and a riveting experience for audiences.

Deb Cole has created a brilliant character in Stewie, the personification of nightmares caused by social media. Personally, I find social media a waking nightmare, and I fear Stewie is constantly looking over my shoulder. Let this play be a wake up call of sorts to put the phone down, close the laptop, and get some fresh air. Thanks for the reminder, Deb!

John Busser must have invented the “DoggoLingo” app. How else could he so perfectly and hilariously capture the musings of the rambunctious pup, Waffles? This is a doggie treat to read and no doubt more exciting to watch or even perform than chasing a squirrel up a tree.