Recommended by Claudia Haas

  • Claudia Haas: Tar Beach

    I remember that Son of Sam summer and Ryan captures the heat of those days. I love how Ryan delves into a fairly dysfunctional family but still manages to give them grace notes. Laced with comedy, the dark undercurrents run deep. Reenie smashes your heart. The imagery of the tar beach and Reenie’s mask stay with you. Gorgeous roles for three female teens.

    I remember that Son of Sam summer and Ryan captures the heat of those days. I love how Ryan delves into a fairly dysfunctional family but still manages to give them grace notes. Laced with comedy, the dark undercurrents run deep. Reenie smashes your heart. The imagery of the tar beach and Reenie’s mask stay with you. Gorgeous roles for three female teens.

  • Claudia Haas: The Ring

    Just achingly beautiful and heart-stopping. Burbano shows us that one victim murdered by a gun includes many victims. Because of a shooting, a young woman is robbed of her future self. In a scant ten-minutes, we witness a romance, an engagement and an aftermath. I will never look at stars in the sky the same again.

    Just achingly beautiful and heart-stopping. Burbano shows us that one victim murdered by a gun includes many victims. Because of a shooting, a young woman is robbed of her future self. In a scant ten-minutes, we witness a romance, an engagement and an aftermath. I will never look at stars in the sky the same again.

  • Claudia Haas: Stand Still

    Whoa! An absolute thriller of a monologue. You will be riveted from start to finish. It’s a powerhouse of a monologue. I love how Cooper manages to interject humor while you are left biting your nails praying that Rachel doesn’t get eaten by a bear.

    Whoa! An absolute thriller of a monologue. You will be riveted from start to finish. It’s a powerhouse of a monologue. I love how Cooper manages to interject humor while you are left biting your nails praying that Rachel doesn’t get eaten by a bear.

  • Claudia Haas: Self Promoted

    How often do you relate to three diverse characters? (If you do, you probably have spent time in a cubicle.) All three have a deep want/need and as a carrot is dangled in front of them, they must re-examine what they’re wishing for. A great short satire on our workaday world.

    How often do you relate to three diverse characters? (If you do, you probably have spent time in a cubicle.) All three have a deep want/need and as a carrot is dangled in front of them, they must re-examine what they’re wishing for. A great short satire on our workaday world.

  • Claudia Haas: Really Adult

    I’m not sure there were any adults in the room but I did love the lengths the characters go to convince themselves. Bublitz’s dialogue crackles with honesty and self-consciousness that endears you to them. Julie digs herself a quagmire from which she (maybe) wants to escape. Or not. I love how Bublitz takes an ordinary situation and makes it extraordinary.

    I’m not sure there were any adults in the room but I did love the lengths the characters go to convince themselves. Bublitz’s dialogue crackles with honesty and self-consciousness that endears you to them. Julie digs herself a quagmire from which she (maybe) wants to escape. Or not. I love how Bublitz takes an ordinary situation and makes it extraordinary.

  • Claudia Haas: Everafter.com

    Hageman clearly knows that cheese-lovers are the best catch. What a fun twist on fairy tale characters. There is a lilting feminist arc where the heroines of our most beloved childhood tales realize they’ve been had by a cad. You have to love a tale where the cheese-lover is the fountain of wisdom. This is perfect for teens who are figuring out their “social adjustment.” Without being messagey, the play tells you - you are wonderful, even if you don’t fit the mold.

    Hageman clearly knows that cheese-lovers are the best catch. What a fun twist on fairy tale characters. There is a lilting feminist arc where the heroines of our most beloved childhood tales realize they’ve been had by a cad. You have to love a tale where the cheese-lover is the fountain of wisdom. This is perfect for teens who are figuring out their “social adjustment.” Without being messagey, the play tells you - you are wonderful, even if you don’t fit the mold.

  • Claudia Haas: Prayers in the Pines

    You can grow up, be responsible and all adult-like, but the minute you’re in a tent in the middle of the night - every ghost story you ever heard comes back to haunt you. A very funny, quirky play with three equally funny, quirky characters. A delight for the actresses and audiences. Make sure you read the closing stage directions. You may just sleep with the lights on tonight.

    You can grow up, be responsible and all adult-like, but the minute you’re in a tent in the middle of the night - every ghost story you ever heard comes back to haunt you. A very funny, quirky play with three equally funny, quirky characters. A delight for the actresses and audiences. Make sure you read the closing stage directions. You may just sleep with the lights on tonight.

  • Claudia Haas: We Will Not Be Silent

    I read this one year after finishing my play about Sophie Scholl. I am invested in her. Meyers does a lovely job of finding the conflicted Sophie who finally decided on her own ethics and morals. The scene between Hans and Sophie is gripping. Their love, respect and fear is center stage. They are an important part of WWII history which Meyers brings front and center,

    I read this one year after finishing my play about Sophie Scholl. I am invested in her. Meyers does a lovely job of finding the conflicted Sophie who finally decided on her own ethics and morals. The scene between Hans and Sophie is gripping. Their love, respect and fear is center stage. They are an important part of WWII history which Meyers brings front and center,

  • Claudia Haas: The Excavation of Mary Anning

    I will admit to an obsession about Mary Anning and this play fulfills it in the best possible way. It's theatricality wowed me. The visuals at the end are breathtaking. The colorful characters, Mary's mission in life and wonderful Tray made this a page-turner. August fully captures the raging war between science and religion and the woman-scientist who fought for acceptance in a world determined to leave her buried at the bottom of the Lyme Regis cliffs. This will be amazing on stage.

    I will admit to an obsession about Mary Anning and this play fulfills it in the best possible way. It's theatricality wowed me. The visuals at the end are breathtaking. The colorful characters, Mary's mission in life and wonderful Tray made this a page-turner. August fully captures the raging war between science and religion and the woman-scientist who fought for acceptance in a world determined to leave her buried at the bottom of the Lyme Regis cliffs. This will be amazing on stage.

  • Claudia Haas: Hiccups

    Rosenblatt covers a lot of ground in this very human, nuanced play about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD takes many forms and there are varying examples throughout the play. There are poignant moments where the characters explain how they have needed to hurt someone so that they wouldn't hurt that person. Then there are the various way that people dismiss them, "Don't do that. Germs are good for you." Told with self-awareness and humor, audiences will find something to relate to in this play. Everyone has a hiccup in the brain at sometime in their life.

    Rosenblatt covers a lot of ground in this very human, nuanced play about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD takes many forms and there are varying examples throughout the play. There are poignant moments where the characters explain how they have needed to hurt someone so that they wouldn't hurt that person. Then there are the various way that people dismiss them, "Don't do that. Germs are good for you." Told with self-awareness and humor, audiences will find something to relate to in this play. Everyone has a hiccup in the brain at sometime in their life.