Recommended by Claudia Haas

Helicoptering parenting spirals out of control and all suffer. Rusty knows he is smothering his daughter but is stuck - sure that his well-laid plans will yield positive results. Elena has seen the results of trying to protect and create the perfect child in her classroom. She sees what is happening in her family but cannot stop it. And daughter Chloe is on a downward spiral with no safety net. It's a cautionary tale of molding perfection and mistaking control for love which leads to a heartbreaking conclusion. You were rooting for all of them. A play for our times.

It's scary to lose your baggage - your physical baggage and your emotional one. A couple who just may be wonderful for each other must first come to terms with what they can let go of, what they can toss, what they're willing to lose. You like them. You root for them. Every audience member will be able to relate.

It's a play about a walk in the forest, the giving of gifts and being part of the universe. And that's just the beginning. The imagery is striking as is the magic. You stay intrigued - where are they going? What are they doing? You need to know. And when you do, it takes your breath away. Partain finds beauty in everything. It would be gorgeous on stage.

There is no time limit for grief. In a span of 18 years, we watch a young boy grow up but still hold on to this mother's ghost who visits every Christmas Eve. It may be comforting at first but as he matures, he's in limbo wanting to move on but paralyzed. Partain's play packs a wallop in a scant ten minutes. Grief is explored in a tender and poignant way.

A Hamlet for our times. Shakespeare would be pleased. Part family dysfunction, part Shakespeare and a whole lot of great fun and cleverness. Now this is a Hamlet I would love to see staged. (It could be an interesting prologue to Hamlet....)

A nursery rhyme for our times. The digital age has changed dating as evidenced in the play. Even if you vow to take a break and unplug, it follows you - even into the clouds. A delightfully quirky play perfect for festivals about romance, disconnect, millennials and tech. Beware: you cannot escape the tech monster.

This has to be one of the more ironic play titles I've met with thus far. What starts out as a sardonic, black comedy involving consumerism takes a very poignant turn. We meet two workers whose job is to fulfill Christmas dreams - think Santa's elves. But one "elf" (Mimi) is literally at the end of her rope and the other "elf" Alex becomes her cheerleader and ultimately her savior. This would be a grand addition to holiday-themed festivals. Bonus: you'll think before you order more "stuff."

Momma mia! Twelve Dancing Princesses meets Tomie dePaola meets a Unification of Italy history lesson with some magic and an invisible cloak thrown in and you get a family-friendly play that pleases all. There is something for all ages: dancing, love, farce, disguises, word play, biscotti and a fight scene that keeps you guessing. This is fast-moving and captivating for young audiences. Designers too will have a field day.

Oh the ties that bind. There's a hurricane brewing outside a cabin and inside, family members are fighting their own personal hurricanes. This family drama highlights the challenges of diverse family dynamics without eliminating the love and care that makes blood relations such a human puzzle. We love, we lose, we fight, we anguish, and then amazingly - we love again. The sudden appearance of wildlife at crucial moments highlights awareness of our relationship with the natural world and how it informs our relationships to others.

This is the loveliest "champagne" romantic comedy. Lots of bubbles as you root for the two characters - who of course have their challenges - and of course - you want to see them together. But when excuses get in the way of honesty, can it come to pass? A perfect play for all those "romance-love" festivals out there - especially around Valentine's Day. Do you need a smile today? Read the play.