Recommended by Matthew Weaver

Searing social commentary with a delightful premise AND a fun delivery. Levine gamely breaks the fourth wall in a completely fresh and invigorating way. Two strong performers (and an audience) are sure to have a blast with this work, which leaves no suspect food trend unscorched - and that's coming from someone who enjoys charcoal in his coffee. Sherry is fun, but we all are or have been Bill at some point in our lives. Levine ably shows off all of his strengths: Quick-witted people who love each other, bickering before a live audience. A sharp, tart, zesty delight.

Destined to be a conversation starter at festivals. Hageman doesn't offer easy answers with this no-holds-barred look at a relationship between two flawed characters, not bothering to present either of them in their best light. In doing so, she presents an honest, unflinching work at two deeply flawed people. Jason only wants Dani when he can't have her; Dani would be so much better off without Jason but can't seem to resist him. What happens to them both? That's not up to Hageman; it's up to the audience to discuss long after the show is over. This play is important.

*happy, delighted squeal* What a lovely, charming, lovely - I know I said it twice - play. Bykowski has written an irresistible love story (several times over) that breaks your heart (several times over) with complicated, flawed, wonderfully strong characters. Literally, every character here is a force to be reckoned with, in the best possible way. Expect to see this one produced in a lot of festivals, and expect a lot of teary eyes from the audience. To a T, each of Bykowski's lovely characters lays their hearts bare. One of the best plays NPX has to offer. A gem.

A grieving father races against time to recover his son, and finds a very different journey, learning more about the people around him and himself. Hosking takes us on a time-traveling adventure that's really the exploration of the fears of being a parent: Of failing, of loss, of not being fully present for the things that are happening as they happen. Wry, subtle humor laced with heartbreak keep the audience invested in Sam, Marie and Brad's stories, from young to old. A compelling, intricate, delightful story. A good mix of drama and sci-fi, told with Hosking's unique blend of storytelling.

"America is a myth." Burbano puts all of her power, her empathy, her RAGE, into this monologue, a Pakistani college student sends out a mournful wail/call to arms in memory of a cousin killed by gun violence in a school shooting. By terrorism. "What else is it? What other name is possible?" Burbano's Mourner asks us. The Mourner is all of us, pleading with the audience for change. Burbano is one of the best playwrights around, and this two-page, eight-minute monologue is just another example of her uncanny ability to give grief a voice.

I so dearly love this little play! It's sexy, it's sophisticated, it's funny, it's thoughtful, it breaks rules and tantalizes in a very short period of time. A grand showcase for talented performers, particularly for the two women ... Make no mistake, this is Mullen (a maestro of the short form) just purely, utterly frolicking. Quite possibly my favorite of all his plays ... except for, you know, all of his other ones.

A love story in the midst of war, tragedy and youth. B and H are all of us as they awkwardly navigate their own connection until the world creeps in, even though they do a fine job tearing themselves asunder all on their own. ARCHIPELAGO is a vivid, epic, intimate poem between two stumbling souls. It's sweet, it's sad, it's innocent and world-weary all in the exact same breath. Svich shows who we are and how we keep hurting each other as we try to make sense of it all. And how we rise to come together when it counts.

There's just something about Wyndham when he writes a Kid piece. The various youth - Dino, Turtle, Earthworm and now Dolphin - all lay their hearts purely, utterly bare and ask we the audience: Who are you that you let these things happen? Who am I and what am I going to do about the things that are wrong in society? Things are not OK, and Wyndham gives those feelings a voice and issues a challenge to you, to me and future generations. One of the best writers of social issues plays around. With so little, he does so much.

A hilarious and knowing insider's look behind the scenes of a stage. Sickles deftly balances the complicated attractions - the narrator and playwright Harvest, director Edwina and veteran performer Mike. Virtually everyone is in love with young Buck. Characters are, refreshingly, consistently inconsistent. Actors, directors and stage managers in particular will enjoy Sickles' knowing winks that the true drama goes on between and beneath the dialogue. Particularly funny is Edwina's blatant attempt to partner Mike and Harvest, and their ensuing reactions. Sickles brands this a mockumentary, but really, he captures experiences which are all too true. A genuinely perfect scream.

This may be my new favorite of Hageman's, as much for the literary references as it warms my raven-loving heart. Love that Hageman's raven checks in on our struggling narrator, albeit to ask if he can keep the lamenting down because bird dude's got a hot worm-eating date coming up. Hageman lovingly tweaks Mr. Poe - who amongst us HASN'T engaged in a war with a rug? - successfully achieving revenge for everyone who's ever had to write an essay about "The Raven," while also knowingly winking to the literary aficionados. Pure joy. Quoth the raven, please, please, more.