Recommended by Claudia Haas

As someone addicted to plays that cover science and history, it is wonderful to see McGregor give Antoine Lavoisier his due. While the play focuses on the final hour before execution, the play never dips into sentimentality but keeps the spirit of science alive. Audiences will be googling Lavoisier after witnessing this play.

Duprey has crafted a moving play about safety nets, acceptance, and most importantly - what does love mean and what masquerades as love? There are reminders that branding a person - whether it’s political or gender or class will always be insufficient. As sudden appearances of hummingbirds desperately flap their wings and carefully-guarded secrets are revealed, the play moves quickly providing a rich experience for all.

A beautiful meld of humanity and science. Through the play you are privileged to the realities of scientists working on the arctic ice. Wendt offers you science realities - easy to relate to - and human emotions side by side as geologists look to uncover mysteries while dealing with a stark reality. A gorgeous melding of science, truisms and what it means to be human.

You never know what moment in time will lead you to new roads and new discoveries. Martin creates that moment for a teen and you wish that everyone could experience that awakening. In one gorgeous minute, Martin shows us what a one-minute play can do.

A very poignant play that is reminiscent of Erma Bombeck’s “light the pretty candle” essay. Martin takes it a step further by centering the theme on two sisters - one who finally understands the value of being alive and one who likes living within the framework of staid rules and regulation. The play moves quickly with banter between two who know each other all to well. It’s a treat for older actresses and a thoughtful gem for audiences.

When the past meets today: Sickles gives a convincing argument to stop hurting people based on who they are, who society condemns them to be, and who history condemns them in the past. I want to be on Sickles’ side as he asks us to move on and treat all with dignity. The monologue at the end is a thing of beauty,

A fun allegory about being different, being unique and being rare. It has its ups and downs as Lawing skillfully shows us. There are a fun few lines about the nature of being “orange” today but the heart of the matter is “lobster” has been given a monologue. And it’s about time.

Physical and silly and sweet as honey. The queen bee may be looking for love in all the wrong places but what she finds is a loving reminder for all of us. Love is all around. And how fun is an origami set!

Both beautifully poignant and to the point, Byham offers up all that is beautiful about origami and a reminder about what is good in humanity. There’s just enough honey to sweeten the play and welcome humor - to help the characters (and audience) cope with reality.

A debate intelligently offered without rancor about a debate that certainly has our own population at odds. O’Doherty gives us a carefully thought-out conversation as two characters grapple with their personal beliefs, their intention to do “good” while constrained by the rules of their church, the will of a family, and a choice that affects the future of a young person. There is a welcome acknowledgement that life is not filled with black and white but filled with shades of gray.