Recommended by Andrew Martineau

I wish I could have focused only on the hilarity of this play about a US medical system gone horribly wrong, but it was difficult because the chances of this dystopian hospital system seem so plausible in the near future. Bryan Stubbles doesn’t hold back in this nightmare scenario that made laugh and scream simultaneously. Now I can’t stop worrying about the prospect of C-shots. Terrifyingly great!

This is the kind of monologue that resonates in a painful way for those of us who have experienced tragic, unexpected losses, which is many, many people. I thought that it would have been too heavy a “weight” on me while reading it, but it had an opposite, therapeutic effect, that of a grieving person offering words that are relatable, and that was comforting. This is an extremely powerful monologue that would be great for a festival of monologues or used for an audition.

“The Bremen Town Musicians” was one of my favorite stories growing up, but I always thought that the Goldilocks story was a little bit odd. So when I came across Nora Louise Syran’s inspired mashup of the two stories, I was happy to read it. Now the Three Bears finally have some heroes to cheer for! This has loads of characters for young kids, and there is a lot of great humor and action. Perfect for young actors to ham it up and have fun!

There are such strong atmospheric, spiritual and dramatic vibes to this play, and I think it works emotionally due to it being conveyed in verse. This would an amazing opportunity for two actors to play with heightened emotion and urgency. I am imagining really cool lightening, as well. If Lou Jones does make this into an extended musical, as indicated, I would love to see and hear that, too. Very interesting piece!

I love how the characters in this very brief play mirror the characters in the Pinter play that these two mature actors talk about playing in their senior years. The discussion about who should be allowed to play certain parts shows how they are from another era but still have a need to stay active and continue to pursue their passions. I really hope they get their “dumb waiter” and prove to the world they still have what it takes! Nice work.

So many plays or monologues about homeless individuals focus on the pain of hunger and the desperate fight for survival, which is understandable given their bleak circumstances. What is so lovely about the character that Marc Harris has created is that he sees beauty in nature on Christmas morning, with heartfelt musings about old trees and the prospect of a robin making a nest in his long beard. I cannot think of a more suitable Christmas monologue about the wonders of living, even under extreme duress during the holidays. Beautifully written.

Coincidences and awkwardness abound in this clever play about two men given the same room in the same hotel where they are staying for different snack food conferences. This would be as fun to perform as to watch, I would imagine, due to the need to remedy the problem, and quickly. I am optimistic that these two men will become fast friends. Enjoyable play for its quirkiness, unexpected tension and witty banter.

I loved reading this short mafia play inspired by the Nativity story! It's so creative, funny and action-packed. I haven't read many short one-acts with this much action and violence, and I was all in for it. The dialogue is so spot-on for a gangster play satire, and Maria is such a smart, independent young woman that I got the sense that "Daddy" is not going to get the best of her! The baby's final action is hysterical. I would love to see this performed, especially for a Christmas-themed festival.

I was thoroughly engaged in this life or death, horrifyingly bleak scenario because the stakes are high and the existential dread of this poor man feels so painfully real. Like a good Poe story or a Beckett play, Dzubak gives us glimpses of a guy fighting for his life by trying to talk through all the successes, regrets and trivialities of his life. Great stuff, Cole!

Underage. It’s ironic how we have teenagers perform active shooter drills in school and then get bent out of shape about them seeing R rated movies. Bultrowicz’s monologue moves beat by beat through the process of anxiety, paranoia, guilt and excitement that the boy goes through in seeing content he was not prepared for. The last line is perfect. A fantastic monologue for a young actor to show off their emotional range.