Recommended by Morey Norkin

As Alice Austen says of her photographs in this masterful work, “One is a bridge. Singular. Particular. Isolated. Together, they’re a river. An endless expanse!” That’s how I felt reading Robin Rice’s moving play that flows effortlessly between decades, bringing history to life, and connecting with us in a way that I imagine Ms. Austen would have appreciated. Outstanding.

I have only ever seen clips from the movie, Wings, mostly of the dogfights. But, clearly, there is much more to the story, and Alaina Tennant does a remarkable job of bringing it to life. The dialogue has the earnestness that you expect from a bygone era but without sounding corny. Youthful exuberance and naïveté about love and war give way to reality and ultimately an emotional conclusion. Including visual effects from the film will make this one heck of theatrical event! I hope someone can make it happen!

A father’s grief turns to rage after a school shooting. A powerful monologue that needs to be read/heard until something is done. Maybe WADE WRIGHTMAN is just the character to change minds.

Nora Louise Syran does an amazing job of connecting the fall of Athens with the events of January 6 in this modernized meeting between Euripides and Socrates. You don’t have to be a scholar of Ancient Greece to appreciate this story of an aging playwright concerned with the political climate as well as his own legacy. Well done!

Ah, you just know the meatloaf and mashed potatoes at the Gateway Cafe taste even better the second day. And just like that savory treat, Philip Middleton Williams’ dialogue takes us to a place that feels like home. There’s a great twist that expertly captures the cynicism of our political leaders. You’ll laugh and smile throughout. I absolutely encourage theaters to try this in a small town!

It’s almost like Doris is having a nightmare, that’s how bad certain aspects of the 1960s were. Melissa Milich focuses on a strange change in the draft during the Vietnam War that forced many couples to play beat the clock to get a marriage deferment. Through clever rhyming and an enthusiastic Greek chorus of Go-Go Girls, Milich pokes fun at anti-feminist views and America’s changing views toward military service. I would love to see how this works on stage and be part of an audience getting caught up in the rhythmic pace.

Briefs encountered, indeed! And quite a few boxers, too, I suppose! This one will easily get audiences laughing. A great way to kick off any festival of shorts (or briefs, if you prefer).

It may be difficult to eat the leaves from the upper boughs because of… short neck, or pick the lower leaves because of… small arms, but the opportunities for chewing scenery are endless in this Jurassic melodrama. A tale (one with spikes) of love, jealousy, and villainy that you don’t need to be a paleontologist to enjoy. I would love to see this on stage for the costumes alone because I’m already sold on Evan Braughfman’s clever script. Pure fun!

An extremely difficult subject handled with great skill and compassion. Vince Gatton presents us with a character who sees her life as a series of tragedies harming those closest to her. The horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are woven in respectfully and help to provide, along with support from a surprising source, some badly needed perspective. This is a powerful work, and my words don’t do it justice. Please read it.

Set in 1966, DO NOT REMOVE THE LABEL is, in many ways I wish weren’t true, relevant to today’s political climate. There is a lot of terrific comedy, with the removal of a label from a sofa reaching absurd heights of criminal activity. But things take a sinister and actually quite unsettling turn. A highly effective cautionary tale that still managed to make me laugh and remember my mother’s brisket, latkes, and rugelach, which, if I’m honest, was a bit dry. Highly recommend!