Recommended by Claudia Haas

There’s a whole new level of “beards” in this cleverly conceived comedy. Long after the laughs, long after you’re done rooting for both Tiffany and Rupert, you will be lost in thought. Bavoso will have you in the palm of his hands. As it turns out, it is the perfect place to be.

It begins with a little girl on a mountain. I tore through this play and then had to stop, catch my breath and think about what I read. I heavily invested in all of the characters. By turns, they both frightened me and made me want to throw a warm blanket over them and comfort them. Merilo’s unique voice finds compassion and hard truths in an uneasy alliance. This was born to be staged. This was born to be in front of an audience. That little girl on the mountain will be remembered long after the play is done.

If you ever wondered what happend to Daphne after she was turned into a tree, it’s answered in this clever play. Paying homage to the myth, Lord construes a new, modern ending and leaves you wondering what the future holds for Daphne and Sam. One part silly, two parts heart - this is a delghtful, twisty tale for all.

Listen, when the bunnies are telling you to vote- you need to pay attention. I see fields of bunny discussions or possibly the woods are alve with pairs of woodland animals in discussion. This would be fun to see everywhere each and every autumn.

This is an eye-opener of a play into a subject not addressed much in theatre: how we educate our young people. Through the lens of a teacher in severe burnout, the flaws of how we not only fail our students, but our educators as well is laid bare. Yes, it's infuriating. It's also bitingly funny, poignant, and you find yourself at odds about who is the villain (is there one?) and who is the hero (is there one?). This play will spawn many debates and let you look at our system with new eyes.

This is an absolutely delightful modern take on an old classic. Hoke brings Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy into our time with nuance and care. There is a delicate balance between sisterly affection and sibling rivalry with their quick banter that makes you get to know them from the earliest pages in the script. Their growth into adulthood has some surprises that I believe Alcott would love. The play contains rich, detailed roles for many women as well as two meaty roles for the men. I loved getting reacquainted with these little women again. Read it. Better still, produce it.

I like a good fable and this has all the ingredients: danger, silly with high stakes, cuddly, silly characters (cute and clever) and a wonderful physicality all through it. The dialogue snaps and purrs and is just delicious. These days, it is especially satisfying when a blowhard gets his just desserts (or doesn’t). Fun for all ages. Young audiences will delight in the river scenes. And you never know, some may even root for the coyote. He has his own determined charm.

It’s funny what yo’d really want IF you had the money. Yes, I’d want cheese. I save for cheese. So I related to this person who would choose cheese over carpet cleaning. The monologue’s a dream - choosing something over the mundane. Choosing something in the moment. Choosing something if only ... you had a different life. Comedic? Yes. But with honest poignancy.

I felt a tad wicked with every laugh (and there were many). I love the dark places of the characters mixed with the “jingle” of the holidays. Death can be inconvenient. Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese is important. Babysitters are expensive. These are universal truths that Bohannon mines with humor that is golden.

I was fortunate enough to see this at the Inge Festival. It grabbed my heart then just as it did now. There is so much grace and love in this relationship. Williams manages to give us their history through dialogue that is peppered with quips and jabs but served with care. It’s refreshing to see a love story that gives us “later love” and not “first blush.” A beautiful tango for two actors.