Recommended by Iyna Caruso

The act of gift-giving can be as joyful as receiving. Except if it’s the case of an ungrateful recipient in HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Michele Clarke manages to craft a fully realized character with just a few lines of dialogue and some subtle body language. The character may be off-putting, but Clarke’s ability to cut to the heart of the matter is impressive.

I read this with tears in my eyes. Raw, true and honest. Barry Wallace’s play is set in the most ordinary of places, a grocery store. But it becomes a minefield of memories for a grieving widower. The tears were for his disorienting loss and also for the kindness of a young store clerk who comforts him. This one will stick with me.

In A BAD PLAY, a struggling playwright asks the age-old question: “How do I make my big break happen?” The answer is a vision-clashing showdown pitting profitability against creativity and cynicism over hope. Brian Cern’s satire works so well because it hits so close to home.

This sweet and funny nostalgic trip of two school friends who cross paths after 60 years at a senior complex takes an unexpected turn as they recalibrate their assumptions about the people they’ve become. Youth is great but self-acceptance is the real prize. Well done.

I love this play about the other Franklin—Ben’s grandson, Temple--a teenager already asked to make sacrifices that could decide whether he leaves a legacy or fades away in obscurity. Alaina Tennant has crafted this little-known historical character with such skill, he’s never overshadowed by the two more pivotal and celebrated characters of the era, John Adams Marquis De Lafayette.

This play starts with the familiar: A host of a popular TV cooking series demonstrates how to make a traditional holiday cake. But then Melinda Gros takes a brilliant turn that shows us how an ordinary act like baking set against grave circumstances can be a powerful tool that brings hope, connection and unity.

What goes through the mind of a thief who nabs one of the world’s most famous paintings? J. S. Puller cleverly explores the motivations, the unresolved pain and the internal debates that lead to the shocking act. Puller packs a ton into 10 minutes, a testament to her storytelling skills.

I wasn’t aware of the Ruth Ellis case, so I love that Feeny-Williams put me in the role of both student and juror. This is a great think piece with an ending that set off many internal debates. Feeny-Williams does what every writer aims for: leave the audience wanting to go down the rabbit hole to learn more.

The heartache depicted in Ian Donley’s play is so relatable, a period when emotions fluctuate wildly and actions can defy logic. This story revolving around the spirit of a dead lover feels real and even hopeful. The grief-stricken character left behind to pick up the pieces of his life gets answers to his lingering questions and a chance to say things that were left unsaid. Skillfully done.

Is a series of repetitive and unwanted texts a technical glitch? An annoying prank? Or something more fiendish? I love how Christopher Plumridge’s character has the matter under control – until events take a chilling turn and leave us with a sense of foreboding.