Recommended by Claudia Haas

An honest look at all we have been feeling during 2020 and beyond. Vovos has his characters teeter between the light-hearted banter of friends who are thrilled to be with each other to the emotional toll the year has taken on their lives. Anger, depression, hope and yearnings change with each of their footsteps. This is idea for radio, an outside venue as well as in a theatre. Audiences will relate to the characters every step of the way.

I love unsung heroines. Miller has fashioned a monologue of a determined teen on a mission to do the right thing regardless of who thinks otherwise. The Revolutionary times are vividly captured and a young actress would have a grand experience diving into this monologue. It’s perfect as an audition piece or in an evening featuring female heroines.

Levine offers up a “mid-lfe crisis” in the time of Covid. It’s the antidote that all of us duly-masked, CDC rule-followers need. It’s perfect for zoom (what an accomplishment), contains sparkly, high waves of dialogue, and the promise of an endless summer - a promise which we would trade in all of our masks and sanitizers for.

Delete addresses so much in a scant ten minutes. Deleting is too easy. Ending life is simple. Accidental or intentional, there is no redo. How can we make it harder to press “delete” and easier to ask “help?”

Wang provides us with the Horn of Plenty. It's there. It may not show up when we think it should, but it's a golden carrot ready at different times in life. The dialogue is so vivid, we see the gardens, touch the seeds, hear the secrets, and keep them close. Wang gently layers the play as we layer our garden for optimum growth. There's trust that a sturdy life will overcome the weeds. The conversation crackles and sparkles but underneath you'll find quiet wisdom that was born from struggle. Wang's feast is filled with unexpected riches.

Part memory, part dreamscape, and filled in with exquisite remembrances, Williams offers up a song of love. It is a thing of beauty that a simple walk with those you love (human and canine) is the stuff that dreams are indeed made of. You wish for these dreams. You're lucky if you had those walks. Luckier still if you get to keep them close to you and call them up when needed. Yes, there are places here for tears. And so many places for smiles. Williams supplies all of that and more.

Zaffarano's poignant play brings out the memories of those we have lost and finds a way for us to process our grief in remembrance, in ancestry, and in history. The dialogue between the parent and teen rings true and honest. We have a feel for these people. We experience their loss. We get to know an unseen character and grieve. The play's a gentle gift of love and loss and how we cope.

What a gorgeous, sweet play. Set in the dark, it brings light and love. Even in the darkest times, love shines a light. Gitter shines a bright life and you dance with the couple in gratitude (just before you have blintzes).

Carnes nails down the quarantine. Are we starfish? Are we golden? Can we still fly through the air in a jeweled unitard? Who will catch who? What is past? What is future? And she gives a future that’s not too shabby. Even if we are older.

Oh! Wicked play. Wicked people. And such great fun for the audience. Love the twisty turn-around and the satirical look at what passes for friendship nowadays.