Recommended by Morey Norkin

Everyone needs someone like Bug in their lives. Someone to safely light the way even in the darkest moments. Bug’s gentleness and reassurance when communicating with Moth during their fragile state is absolutely beautiful. We need more fireflies in the world.

Darrin Friedman writes smart ensemble pieces that get to the heart of relationships and the secrets that shape and potentially break them. ATTACHMENT THEORY is a master class. The structure, with brief lectures on attachment theory introducing scenes, sheds light on what makes these characters tick, but the choices they make are not predictable. Four unique, strong female characters that you won’t soon forget. I have a feeling we’ll be hearing a lot about this play.

Christopher Soucy has penned a political satire that needs to be read and seen far and wide. Now. You will laugh. And then you will shudder. Because the people and their methods depicted here are real. They occupy the government, the media, the pulpit. They may be your neighbor. Outstanding, necessary work.

What a wonderful story showing how creative collaboration can bring amazing results as well as bringing people (and mermaids) together. Collaborators may occasionally veer off in their own direction, but when everyone remembers what they’ve working towards, the harmony can be beautiful. This would be so much fun to see and hear.

A couple of elves, including the jolly old one himself, a faerie, and a pirate. That just about completes anyone’s holiday gift list. Mix in a little history, some well-placed cultural references, and plenty of laughs and you have this gem from Adam Richter. If only Santa could rewind the clock a few weeks so we could make this a part of our holiday festivities.

A delightful trip down memory lane for anyone old enough to remember renting VHS tapes from their local video store. With mentions of Denny’s and IHOP, a certain period of my life is covered. Brent Alles uses a clever device of rewinding and fast forwarding to share the history between Noah and Hannah, both cinema nerds working through the peak and demise of the Blockbuster empire who seem to be destined to be together. A charming romantic comedy just waiting to be fast forwarded to the stage.

This play would be a fun way to introduce the history of the Salem witch trials to a class of young people. A solid mix of history with a very modern ghost story. Of course this will work in any venue smart enough to select it. Here’s hoping that happens soon!

Such a sweet and humorous story of baby’s first Christmas. Mom trying to pile on traditions on top of traditions while dad just does his best to keep baby entertained. I imagine years from now mom and dad will look back at this first Christmas and laugh, while a grown up boy will look forward to reliving these traditions annually. I may just have to make this part of my annual holiday reading list.

This short piece provides a horrific glimpse of the brutality of war. Set in a WWI makeshift hospital, the wounds are deep, the conditions unsanitary, and the care practically nonexistent. Micaele Johnson’s writing provides the kind of depth any actor would want to sink their teeth into. I feel like there’s more of this story waiting to be told, and if Johnson decides to tell it, I’m all in.

The imagery in this comic monologue is so vivid that it is bound to leave audiences howling with laughter. Everything that could go wrong in the kitchen during a first attempt at canning peaches does indeed go wrong. I would absolutely love to see this performed to its full comedic potential.