Recommended by Claudia Haas

So I read this to my cat (currently sitting in a box) and while I wanted to get to know Norkin’s cat better, my cat just shook his head and did “the face” that said, “Poor cat. Doesn’t know what they’re missing.” A monologue that will delight cat and dog lovers alike plus the physical choices for the actor are endless.

This is Norkin at his finest. While he challenges the reasons and background for hate, he manages to infuse the play with humanity. Although the play explore the darkest of subjects, Norkin finds some light. Can we sign a petition to get this on stages everywhere? Hate is a choice. So is hope.

A sweet, original rom-com for teens. You may want to go back to your teens, grab a ladder and a stick, climb as high as you dare and shake a stick at the moon. Or if you want to play it safe, read the play. Or if you want to really experience the whole shebang, produce the play. It’s guaranteed to cover you in moonglow. Audiences and performers can always use more moonglow.

Be careful what you wish for? I always thought teleporting would make my life easier. Wrong! I thought teleporting would allow me more time to do what I wanted. Wrong again. If you think you’re busy now, just wait until you’re teleporting. Wild gives you the gift of seeing firsthand a few minutes in the life of a teleporter. It’s a wild and fun ride.

Friendship, first love, a kiss is not just a kiss - in a scant twenty minutes we are treated to what is sweet in life. A meadow, a kite, a birthday and more. Give yourself the time to walk in the meadow with Louisa and don’t stray from the treeline. The play’s a charmer. And it doesn’t have to be your birthday to open this present.

A tale of a father-son relationship, of a connection lost and found, of legacy, and new beginnings using the past - Williams shows family love through the memory of books. The time- tripping is a bonus. The love is real, the bonds are strong and the use of the written word to highlight all rngs loud and clear.

You know those tennis matches where your head snaps back and forth as you try to keep your eye on the ball? Welcome to Alterman’s twisty, curvy, play. The players are well-matched and the outcome will keep you guessing even after it ends. This will keep the audiences at the edge of their seats! It’s a gift to the actors and audiences.

A powerhouse of a play - Delaney infuses his characters with humanity - German POWs and American soldiers alike. Cleverly framed by Moliere’s “The Miser (“it’s a comedy! - well, maybe in this version maybe not), Delaney gives us a bookend of a cultured society on one end and a beet harvest in Iowa on the other - with no judgements. The dialogue moves cleverly and quickly and the characters draw you in. While it’s an historical play, it speaks to us today. Produce it and listen. It has a lot to say.

Ken Love presents a story familiar to some and new to others. As someone who had a backseat to the murder of George Floyd, I remember too well the media coverage that differed from the their reports and eyewitness reports. Love exposes racism in the guise of the white savior and leaves us much to think about if we are honest and true. As I read this on Juneteenth, I reflect on what is next. Can we change the trajectory? Producing Black Fire could be a first step.

Donnelly does an exquisite job of giving us the nuances, the foibles, and the graces of relationships. He brings more to the front than LaRonde - he brings love and acceptance and and a sometimes bitter-sweetness that will stay with you. It’s a thoughtful, honest and ultimately charmed look at this puzzle we call “love.” Theatrical, playful, and honest, it’s a treat for the actors and audiences.