Recommended by Claudia Haas

Climate change is front and center here as two people deal with the aftermath of a natural disaster. You have to love that they are both good at natural disasters having lived through them before. Tuft finds humor in the pragmatic, emergency readiness of each character (who knew Classic Cola had so many uses?). The dialogue is swift and sure, balancing disaster with flirtation. This "aftermath-maybe-romance" has no histrionics of the day after, just a warm blending of "getting to know you" and a sly one-up-man-ship of who has the better supplies. A play for our times,

Eleanor is a delightful, slightly off-kilter romantic comedy. At a wake for someone the characters may or may not know, past, present and future converge in unlikely ways. Is it usual to use a wake as a pick-up place? Does it matter? There are smiles all around and some poignancy in the vulnerability of the unlikely couple. How wonderful to see some smart roles for older actors.

This is a beautiful play with three strong characters (two are children) struggling with the worst that can happen to you. Some gorgeous moments: little Lucy researching cancer cells, Lexy switching conversations from the octopus to pulling the plug on her. Burbano finds these brave fronts in each family member but smartly glosses over them with the chatter of every-day life. There's little sentiment but much love. You won't find a tidy bow at the end but you will be happy you spent time with this family.

Salvation Road presents a tumultuous journey of a 17-year old boy hoping to rescue his sister from a church/cult. Gregory beautifully understands the teenage brain in all its sweeping assumptions and denials. The play never veers into stereotypical "cult plot" territory. Later when you meet a former cult member, Cliff's expectations (and mine) have been turned upside down. The pacing of the play is lightening swift. The humanity of all the characters shines with humor and poignancy. With sweeping themes of intolerance (on all sides), this coming of age story will leave you thinking after the play is over.

This was a page-turner in the form of an old-fashioned mystery. I galloped through it wanting - needing - to know more. Palmquist's play is about so many things: unconscious privilege, our consumerism, our belief in our own entitlements. With stark imagery and magical characters, the play deftly weaves in and out of the past and present. A beautiful play about a woman coming to terms with her life. You are left with hope (and probably a desire to know Chico).

A tight, tense, ten-minute play dealing with loss and survival. Fascinating that the "class" system is not just the haves and the have-nots, but the various classes of have-nots that exist. The two roles are multi-layered for the actors and the play leaves you with many thoughts before the final blackout not the least of which is, "How did we get here and how can we change it?"

This is a delightful satire on our coffee consumption needs as it looks to aliens. Aliens who come in peace and then unexpectedly get more aggressive when they order coffee. Jenkins plays with our need to be alone - in crowds, and our addiction to all things metal and caffeinated. By the end, you're ready for a latte and one of those hand-held devices created by aliens.

This is a most imaginative play built on the nitty-gritty reality of Puerto Rico's vulnerability to hurricanes. (Specifically in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.) Looking to soothe a frightened child, a Storyteller creates a tale of safety in the form of an indestructible building. It has all the elements of a fable: good, evil, magic, and redemption. Told through music, dance, movement and mime, Diaz-Marcano has created a gem that sparkles through his hero and heroine. Young audiences will be at the edge of their seats and their families will delight in its theatricality.

A lovely play about a moment in time between a father and daughter that couldn't be more awkward. Bykowski explores their past in one of the more amusing ways possible. She then gives you an ending that makes you hold your breath and wish all good things in the future for the two of them.

The titanic, mermaids and finally a friend/lover who jumped into the ocean. The play sets you up for the magnitude of the loss with these conversations. You mourn with Froggy and North. With such nuanced characters, you feel their loss intently. There's such honesty and beauty in this script that you become emotionally attached to all three characters.