Recommended by Andrew Martineau

Oh, the complexity of love and relationships that shift to something else a year after the divorce. The humor is sharp without sounding forced or fake, and the tension reveals how these two cared for each other despite their differences, including their contrasting taste buds. What a wonderful play for actors to play and for audiences to relish.

A bride having second thoughts about getting married on her wedding day is always a good plot line, even though originality can be hard to come by with so many stories out there on the subject. What I love about Reyna De Jesus’s brief play is that it is light and funny, much like those old movies with witty, emotional exchanges between the bride and her bestie before everything goes to hell. Ricky offers some great one liners, but the letter Melissa writes to the groom at the end puts the perfect cap on it. This is fun!

This is a sweet, surprising and deeply satisfying story about dust bunnies making an impactful connection, despite the frustrating randomness of their movement. I loved that the vacuum cleaner only comes out three times a year, and it’s nice to know that a dirty home benefits someone! So creative and theatrical!

This is a fascinating play about the need to follow orders in a military operation, even when the command seems questionable. The dialogue is sharp and the objective is focused and clear. Binz’s brief drama is captivating on the page and ready for an engaging performance and post-show discussion. Well done!

A true romance play needs a realistic obstacle, and what better obstacle can there be other than potential objections from parents about a suitor’s creative occupation? The ending is quite satisfying, even though I wanted this brief play to be longer. Charlotte and William are strong, sympathetic characters to root for. Nicely done!

This is everything a ten-minute should be: theatrical, witty and metaphorical. This fridge, for me, is a metaphor for the high cost of a relationship you feel comfortable with but are not sure is worth the emotional investment. Then you have the people on the outside of the relationship just making everything worse. I love the fridge’s affirmation that it can make it after all. Wonderfully inventive and heartwarming!

This has got to be the best Karen monologue ever written. Brestman’s humor lies in its remarkable specificity. “Do I look like I need a chamomile?” Karen asks. Why yes, you do, and you can wait for the damn hibiscus like everyone else. The ending of Karen’s rant reveals some less trivial concerns, (should I feel bad for you now?) but man, the trivialities are outrageously funny. I love this.

I was really struck by how original this premise is and thought to myself, I can’t believe I have never read a play or scene in which two people meet first in a dream and then in real life! What a great acting gift this is. Simple and yet mesmerizing at the same time. I was so happy for Ari and Ellis!

There is an authenticity to this “back lot” short play that kept me intrigued from start to finish. Alaina Tennant is able to write dialogue that sounds like it is from a bygone era and yet much more realistic than the melodramatic dialogue in the movie script. I love the budding friendship between the ingenue and the director’s inexperienced son. Wonderful!

As a fan of Turner Classic Movies and nostalgia about the Golden Age of Cinema, I was completely drawn into Tom Erb’s story, especially knowing that it is based on a true event. I love the Sunset Boulevard feel to it, without the melodrama. George’s monologue alone is worth the price of admission. I wanted to keep reading more, and I wondered if George ever met Orson. Fantastic piece! I am sure it will get many productions.