Recommended by Craig Houk

A gripping, finely tuned play with dialogue that crackles with authenticity. Gill crafts a fresh, original setup and sustains a slow, unsettling simmer throughout. He deftly navigates layered relationships against a backdrop of racism, as two siblings wrestle with culture and guilt over their father. Richly drawn, deceptively complex characters drive the tension with quiet precision, again showcasing Gill’s mastery of dialogue.

John Busser’s The Four Groomsmen of the Apocalypse is a sharp, laugh-out-loud comedy that leans fully into its outrageous premise and delivers. Busser has a real gift for blending irreverence with smart, fast-paced humor, taking big, familiar ideas and twisting them into something wildly entertaining. The dialogue crackles, the characters are distinct and hilarious, and the comedy lands with confidence from start to finish. It’s bold, clever, and consistently funny.

What really makes this adaptation feel so fresh is the Aziz/Fielding relationship. It gives the story a whole new emotional heartbeat while still honoring Forster’s original. Doug DeVita writes so confidently across genres, and it really shows here: the piece is sharp, moving, inventive, and beautifully theatrical without ever feeling overly reverent or derivative. Highly recommend.

Erstwhile is a wickedly funny two-hander that traps two former hometown companions in a snowbound cabin, and in the unresolved tensions of the lives they chose. As nostalgia, ideology, and romantic possibility collide, the play spirals into sharp, unexpected comedy. With fast-paced dialogue and escalating absurdity, it showcases Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend’s consistently brilliant comic voice.

Ken Love’s Erstwhile (or An Assassin’s Erstwhile Poem) is a taut, haunting monologue that places a lone assassin in the quiet moments before an irreversible act. As he struggles to compose a poem while preparing a rifle, language and violence intertwine, revealing a mind caught between reflection and duty. Spare, tense, and darkly ironic, the piece offers actors a riveting character study and showcases Love’s consistent brilliance in crafting unsettling theatrical moments.

A whimsical holiday fable/origin tale about Nick, a struggling toymaker whose boundless generosity repeatedly leaves him hungry but never bitter. Joined by his sharp-tongued mule Dash, Nick gives freely to children in need - acts of kindness that draw the attention of a mysterious winter spirit and lead to a magical destiny. Warm, witty, and theatrical, it offers actors rich roles and audiences a hopeful journey. Carbajal’s genius and biting wit is matched by his deep compassion for humankind.

Craig Pospisil’s darkly comic Infant Morality drops a nurse and hospital administrator into an absurd moral crisis when a wealthy couple attempts to return their newborn like defective merchandise. As bureaucratic logic collides with conscience, the play skewers consumer culture and ethical compromise. Sharp dialogue, escalating stakes, and biting satire make it a bold, actor-driven piece that provokes laughter and uneasy reflection.

Gatton remains unrivaled. This sharp, witty fantasy playlet reunites Queen Úrrél with her former king, Amrúnadan, who abandoned the elven realm for love and returns bearing a gift for a heroic quest. Their encounter crackles with humor, regret, and unresolved devotion as past loyalties collide with present choices. Elegant yet disarmingly human, the play offers actors rich emotional turns and audiences a poignant meditation on love, identity, and what we leave behind. Brilliant work as always.

Set in the anxious calm of an airport terminal, Unchecked Baggage follows a family whose pre-flight nerves quickly unravel into hilarious emotional turbulence. As Dinah, Seth, and her tightly wound parents spiral through worry, love, and absurd “what ifs,” their clashing personalities reveal both generational tension and deep affection. Fast, witty, and actor-driven, it’s a lively ensemble piece audiences will instantly recognize and enjoy.

Set in a recording studio, Audio Commentary reunites three actresses whose once-shared teen comedy has aged as unevenly as their careers. As Mandy, Ramona, and Jackie revisit the film, buried resentments, ego, and desperation erupt into sharp, hilarious conflict. The play’s biting dialogue and escalating tension make it a fast-paced, actor-driven piece that offers rich roles and a wickedly entertaining theatrical experience.