Recommended by Morey Norkin

An outstanding historical drama, Adrienne Earle Pender’s “N” tells of the groundbreaking casting of Charles Gilpin in Eugene O’Neill’s The Emperor Jones. The play offers rich characters and compelling discussion of race and theater. Are a playwright’s words sacred? Is theater truly collaborative or are there power dynamics at play, especially when race is an issue? One hundred years after Gilpin’s Broadway debut, we are still seeing many firsts when it comes to African-American and other minority recognition in the arts. This is great theater worthy of many more productions!

A deeply personal and moving account of a relationship from its romantic beginning through highs and lows to an ending that still leaves the surviving partner with questions. Philip Middleton Williams creates a loving remembrance that doesn’t shy away from difficult truths. As with all of Williams’ plays, “A Tree Grows in Longmont” is expertly structured with multi-dimensional characters. A beautiful theatre experience.

Dana Hall has created a first-rate adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart. Keeping all of the tension of the original, Hall skillfully puts a modern spin on it. And splitting the narrator into three characters to represent the divisions of the subconscious mind actually makes the sole perpetrator’s reasoning more chilling than the original. This should become a Halloween staple or any time a theater wants to provide a good scare.

Performing theater for children in North Dakota… what a hellish fate! Characters in dog costumes hilariously bemoan their situation with the exception of one who finds it all a welcome distraction from personal tragedy. Then there’s the stage manager who seems to take a little too much pleasure from the misery of others. Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend’s genius is on full display as she provides quite a few surprises on the first day of this troupe’s one-year tour. Please somebody stage this!

HEIR APPARENT is one heck of a wild ride! Orphaned George Buckingham receives a mysterious invitation, and the next thing you know he’s being welcomed into his long lost extremely eccentric family and betrothed to his cousin! The story takes many twists and turns, many hilarious and many quite touching. Paul Smith has created a genealogical study unlike anything you’re likely to find on Ancestry.com. Will George join the family and find true happiness? No ifs and certainly no buts!

You do not need to be a Christian or have any religious affiliation to thoroughly enjoy and be moved by this New Testament story, told from the perspective of Jesus’ brother James. Using casual modern English, Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend combines a sharp wit and warmth to bring even the most saintly characters down to earth to highlight their humanity. I would absolutely love to see this staged!

I have to admit my ignorance of most of the female historical figures presented in this outstanding piece, largely because they weren’t taught when I was a student, their contributions to the sciences were not recognized, or their contributions were misappropriated by their male counterparts. Nora Louise Syran provides valuable lessons as four teenage girls in detention are required to write about women from the Enlightenment. As their research progresses, history comes to life. And we are all the more wiser and better off for it!

Great friendships are often forged on sporting grounds, including tennis courts. Such is the case with Pat and Don. As Pat sees tennis as a negative metaphor for life that has led to his failing marriage, Don sees the positive aspects of the metaphor as he tries to encourage his friend. A tender and moving story in a few short pages. Advantage Dana Hall!

I don’t think I’ve ever come across a non-musical that had characters sharing lines as in a duet until now. This technique, and the entire play, is handled masterfully by Ken Preuss. The mirror image of the two settings and movement and the overarching theme of relationships as puzzles to be carefully pieced together all make for an outstanding theatrical experience. This play truly needs to find its way onto more stages!

Hilarious! Feriend so perfectly captures the suspicious/jealous husband movie trope, I couldn’t help but imagine Rock Hudson and Doris Day in the leads. And with ending #1, which I prefer, throw in Tony Randall as Patrick and you have a perfect 60’s romantic farce! Love it!