Recommended by Claudia Haas

Dear high schools and universities” Look Away is for you (and me and all of us). A little known piece of history that should be common knowledge is handed to us and we must pay attention. While it focuses on anti-semitism (growing by leaps and bounds here and abroad), it is for all the people whose rights have been violated over the centuries. What’s frightening is Grant’s Order was a knee jerk reaction without a lot of thought that he regretted. Today’s news sound bytes are all too similar. May the play find a multitude of homes.

Love and regret - a combination that rears its head too much in a life. Alterman gives us both and the inevitable question, “what if we just said what needs to be said?” What a wonderful world it could be.

An insightful (and welcome) prequel to the canon of fairy tales - Cern finds new angles, new truths and a welcome coming-of-age to an old tale. Along the way, there are nods to history and the complexities of immortality that add even more nuance to a play that addresses how new fairy tales can thrive in our times.

And sometimes there is a play fit for many holidays that encompasses the season of love and care. Cathro has found it and audiences will be grateful. As am I.

This play evokes a romantic era of Paris seen through gauzy, loving eyes. Syran offers us an art movement that changed the rules of what a painting can say and do. Seen through the eyes of Suzanne Valadon, we are offered a feast of color that is both lush and street savvy. But make no mistake - this is theatre - packed with action, music and the jealousies of geniuses who love their work. I am appreciative that Syran did not forget the ladies - and places them center stage. Designers and directors will gobble this up.

After reading this, if you have no sugar and carbs in your kitchen, you’re destined to make a quick trip to the market to find some. An homage to all the foods that we’re not supposed to eat, Lermond finds many delectable four letter words that provide fun and love. Excuse me now, while I look for that leftover cake…

Christmas changes at different stages of our life and Hall provides some cheer to figure out how to meld old traditions with new. The twists of farce and poignancy are combined in a rare holiday treat of belly laughs and the tug of heartstrings. Carollers, ghosts and ugly Christmas sweaters deck these halls and gives the play a merry jingle. It’s a Christmas confection for all.

As someone who did the “cut your own trees” during frigid Minnesota winters and loved it - Szymkowicz strikes all the right notes here. The vignettes are holiday friendly without being cloying. The relationships have truths, the loves are complicated, and the joys of the holiday are mixed with remembrances of past, present and future. Christmas carries a lot of weight but Szymkowicz concentrates on the hope and love we wish for in this season.

Fenton delivers a perfect Yuletide entree of silly politics, Christmas carols, and Red Riding Hood (you heard that right), all wrapped up with the perfect bow. A delight for elf-lovers, parents, and children, there’s something for everyone which is always our holiday wish.

Just in time for Christmas, David Taylor Little tugs at every heartstring. He knows sentiment. He knows caring. He knows his audience wants love and merry and supplies all. Set in a time of grief and hope, we are given the hope.