Recommended by Claudia Haas

Conversations can work. If both parties are listening. I’ve seen it firsthand and I am gratified to see it here. Ellen Davis Sullivan dishes up a confrontation that can go terribly wrong and then turns it around as some true listening begins. Want to find common ground? That play simple says, “talk to each other.” Maybe this should be on the evening news.

Yes, left review on Plumridge’s page but needed a turn at a Morey.
I did not take the advice of the playwrights and I sang a lot of lyrics. A ton. Too many. Don’t sing the song lyrics! And don’t feed the plants. Or you will be as demented as Plumridge and Norkin. Hmmm… Plumridge and Norkin - sounds like a couple of P.I.’s. Or could they be the newest composer/lyricist in town? If so, a plag(iarize) on their houses! Read this at your own peril. Best viewed with pie.

I did not take the advice of the playwrights and I sang a lot of lyrics. A ton. Too many. Don’t sing the song lyrics. Don’t feed the plants. Or you will be as demented as Plumridge and Norkin. Hmmm… Plumridge and Norkin - sounds like a couple of P.I.’s. Or could they be the newest composer/lyricist in town? If so, a plag(iarize) on their houses! Read this at your own peril. Best viewed with pie.

I know for a fact these conversations have happened. Sometimes with the same outcome. Sometimes with another. Martin does a beautiful job of conveying grief and compassion with few words. The title (and action) speaks volumes.

“There are a lot of ways to channel your anger. Me? I write.” And Palmquist does - gloriously and passionately. I am a fan of Palmquist’s work as well as a serious Lake-Superior-addict. The careful melding of science and how to inform an unscientific public drew me in and would not let go. Palmquist gives us the mystique of this great lake along with its sign posts to climate change. There’s a celebration of winter here coupled with an alarm that will haunt you. Theatres: produce this now. Minnesota theatres: this is a gift for you.

Syran has created a treasure trove for those who work with elementary school actors (and many of the tales would work well in middle schools). As someone who taught theatre in Grades 1-5 for fifteen years, this anthology would have been my go-to book. The tales are witty, with strong characters that young people can wrap themselves around. Her clever use of mixing in nursery rhymes and various children’s songs into the mix will delight those onstage and in the audience. If you do theatre with young people, you need this book.

A champagne rom-com for our times. The play delivers sparkles and sparks. In the olden days, we had Much Ado. Later there was Philadelphia Story. Now, Henry has delivered us a tale with lightening-speed wit, honesty, and hearts that break, mend, and search.

DeFrates gives us a confection that is the perfect antidote for these times. Say abracadabra and keep the light glowing. The relationship between the siblings is hope for the future and the roles for the two young actors will engage both young performers and audiences of all ages.

What a gorgeous play about memory and belonging. As a native New Yorker, some parts really hit home. As someone who did leave, the play touches all the hotspots of “when we were happy” and “could we be happy again?” Mabey’s relationship between the sibling strikes a real chord and the last few lines leave you with hope for the two of them.

Well, that didn’t go the way it was supposed to go. Or did it? An event-filled, quirky look at fandom with lots of unexpected curve balls to delight audiences.