Recommended by Andrew Martineau

I have always been a real sucker for comedic, madcap wordplay with characters in absurd predicaments, especially in the style of Abbott and Costello or other great comic duos of the past. Mike Byham has created a comedy gem with Tony and Joey in their unlikely therapy session. There are some nice plot twists here, but the clever, goofball dialogue is the main treasure here for me. This is very funny stuff!

This brief play takes a very naturalistic glimpse at three high school seniors at their prom on the cusp of adulthood. Julie Brandon cleverly shows us how teens at this age fluctuate between their ideology (smashing the patriarchy) and dancing the night away before over-indulging onburgers and ice cream. A nice piece for teen actors.

I love how direct this character is in stating what she wants and in empowering her children to be more autonomous, which provides a “win-win” objective. This monologue is perfect for an acting class because it’s so clear in its intention, and I can’t imagine an audience not cheering this self-actualized mom on, as it builds in intensity. Well done!

There is nothing more I love better than a monologue that constantly surprises me from one minute to the next and blends dark humor with metaphysical musings about life and love. Now when the speaker is a Christmas tree, or at least in the body, or should I say trunk, of a Christmas tree offering a blunt warning to its “owner,” I have to say I was enthralled. This is not the Hallmark moment I was expecting, and that is a very good thing. I would love to see this performed. The costume possibilities alone make me laugh so hard!

Behind the clown facade of a truly disturbed middle-aged man who sees himself as a complete failure because children and parents see him that way, Tickles the Clown just wants to be listened to in his final moments. There is great dialogue here between a priest and a clown, two types of people who are often misunderstood and stereotyped. West’s story is compelling in that it doesn’t offer redemption or sympathy; what it does offer is an explanation, and that is enough. Very original and provocative.

Reminiscent of Joni Mitchell’s song “The Circle Game,” D. Lee Miller uses a literal circle to spin us through a married couple’s long life together. It has wonderful overlapping of conversations that show how connected the two are in a deeply loving way. I wasn’t prepared for the tear-jerker of an ending. A touching and theatrically innovative piece.

There is a surprisingly fresh theatricality to this brief play that beautifully demonstrates how fleeting life can be. I love how Agnes Palfi weaves familiar connections of family life around the kitchen time that race by in an instant, such as Mam’s shortbread and The Little Prince book. What a wonderful play for actors to practice their craft, and what a revelation for audiences. Very original and profound.

Don Baker’s monologue on the “road not taken” and whether it is better to accept our choices in life from the perspective of gratitude for what we have, or to recognize that even with a great life, acceptance of regret shows maturity and wisdom. I commend Don for a great monologue for an older actor; they are few and far between, but this is one that packs a punch. Wonderful and thought-provoking.

It's rare to hear stories from parents who are desperately trying to hang on to hope in the face of their children's addiction, but Middaugh dramatizes a support group for parents with realistic narratives filled with terror, despair and disbelief. Many of us have dealt with similar family stories, and they need to be told. This play would be a great service to parents who may not think it could ever happen to them.

I have always thought of menus as items you just want to get out of the way when dining so you can move on to pleasant conversation or a refreshing cocktail. Well, now I really think this way, and I was eerily reminded by Cindi Samson-Braff that choices in life can be intimidating and stressful, despite the benefit of having the power to make one. Choices about death and preparing for it are a part of life, and this short play brilliantly highlights this grim fact. Very thought-provoking and original!