Recommended by Andrew Martineau

I have always loved theatre of the absurd and hated the mundane absurdity of most mattress commercials, so this play hits all the right notes for me. Prillaman even seems to be satirizing staged readings with the stage direction reader getting skewered for a change. Fast paced and mind-blowing. Fantastic!

I was completely mesmerized by this play, and the fact that Matthew Alan covers such a rich, deeply complex narrative in ten minutes is astonishing. The use of four players as a pseudo Greek chorus makes this highly theatrical and tragic in a classical sense, and the translation from realistic dialogue to rhyme shows how the story and the boy’s culpability will remain a mystery, despite concerted efforts to place blame. Incredible use of form and language. I would love to see this in production.

This play is inspired lunacy! It’s the kind of comedy you want to see in a serial format. I also would love to find out what the therapist has in store for this clown couple once the smile wears off—and I mean that literally. I think this short comedy also has a lot to say about not caring what others think and rediscovering the lost spark in a marriage. Fantastic script!

Heartbreaking, yet hopeful. June deals with her grief with some help from the one she needs to talk to the most. As a dad of a teenage daughter, I really got this. And I can picture a beautiful set of blue flowers. Thanks, Curtis Barber. I felt this in a profound way.

A monologue, a speech, a missive: “White Women” is a clarion call for change that should be heard by everyone. it is suited for so many different stages and platforms. It is beautifully written and so relevant. Amazing!

While "Dreamin' Big" works as a "stand alone" monologue ,about a young man who becomes a doctor largely due to his grandma's love and support, I could imagine this as an opening monologue of a play or screenplay. It evokes so much beauty about a heroic woman who doesn't let society or parents of her grandson who have become "lost" stop her from raising a good man. Wonderfully inspiring!

I love plays that juxtapose modern and archaic language to differentiate characters in unique ways, and wow, “The Unicorn Horn” does that in such a clever, sophisticated way! It has the slight feel of a Monty Python sketch, with a little Law and Order vibe to it. Byham has written a very funny play from start to finish. The unexpected plot twists keep things zipping along, and the ending is perfect. Well done!

It’s reassuring to know you can still drink red wine in the afterlife! Teresa reflects on her misperceptions of what she had thought life was all about, ant least in her circumstances, and Peter Fenton creates the right mix of philosophy and humor. I love the last line about freshman dorms—so true! A strong monologue for a middle-aged “femme fatale” type.

From the clever play on words of the title to the uproarious descriptions of the people trying to help, I have to say I love this monologue! Most of all, I love Autumn and would absolutely love for her to encounter The Bear in her escapades. Chris Plumridge is a playwright who could easily write novels as well, and maybe he does and I just haven’t had the pleasure of reading them yet. Regardless, I want to hear more from Autumn!

I love father-son plays that explore a range of emotion, especially when they explore extreme awkwardness due to societal norms that have essentially created unnecessary, unhealthy tension and repression. Don Baker moves from beat to beat in this short play with amazing skill in writing well-crafted dialogue and character motivation. I love Jim's war stories that lead us to see how he can have empathy for his son's boyfriend's desperation, despite his lack of initial understanding of the relationship. Beautiful writing!