Recommended by Andrew Martineau

I love the rhythm of this play. It deals with two women who followed societal expectations and have lost sight of their aspirations to write. As they lament their choices, the dialogue takes a fascinating rhythmic turn as though they are writing to young girls to inspire them to follow their dreams. A wonderful play that uses form to say something profound about the power of writing, especially for women who realize they can be whatever they want to be and can use the power of language to say it.

This play is an awesome example of how to write a play that is only a few minutes long. Nora Louise Syrian expertly captures the anguish and myriad emotions that writers go through when a critic hits a nerve. The reader offers great counterpoints to the writer’s impulsive behavior and how to be more positive with one’s words, particularly with the written word. Nice work!

This is truly a play for our times. The frightening manipulations of those who may or may not be deluding themselves with the false information they were taught to believe and to accept with blind faith are examined here in a riveting drama by John Minigan. There are no easy answers here, but I see this as a wake-up call for us all. Powerful and highly compelling.

There is beauty in the simplicity of being there for a terminally ill loved one and sharing memories or a rerun on TV together. Scott Cantrell has given us some simple moments in a highly dramatic, heartbreaking scenario that shows what love is and can be when the unimaginable becomes a reality. Very touching piece.

I love how completely original this play is. While it is grounded in realism, a spark of absurdity shines through. I love the very serious idea that it is when we accept the possibility of death, not by choice but by circumstances, we can make peace with it and live life again, recharged. Beautifully done and funny, too!

This monologue encapsulates the sadness and profound loss of losing a parent, and how the reduction of cherished objects into one small box adds to a grown child’s overall grief and guilt.
Debra Cole has written a monologue with a spectrum of emotion so concisely and expertly, that this short piece could be used for playwriting students on how to craft a monologue that reveals complex feelings without unnecessary words. Wonderful!

The choices we make that lead to life or death situations can be as difficult as dealing with the actions that others cruelly inflict upon us. There is so much nuance in this brief drama packed with decisions that make us question our own ethical stances. Richard Lyons Conlon has crafted a powerful, thought-provoking play that will stay with me for a long time. Great stuff!

The Meadow is one of those short mystery "noir" plays that you pat yourself on the back halfway through when you think you have figured out where it's headed, only to find out there is a last minute twist you had not seen coming! I saw an excellent video production of the play with strong performances by actors obviously relishing in the expertly crafted dialogue. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Having read several plays in this series of devastating and emotionally raw real life dramas, I wasn’t quite prepared for the ending. Swenson shows how complex and confusing trauma from abuse at a very young age can be. Joey’s remarkable bravery and ultimately, his forgiveness, cuts deep and offers a lesson in survival and for living that I will never forget. Incredibly moving, as is the whole series. Thank you, Joe.

I was highly entertained by this fractured version of Red and the Wolf, and I must say it may me think about the story in a more serious light. That’s not to say this isn’t funny. Red has some very funny lines. What I found touching is how this deals with the need to connect and the playful connections exhibited in unexpected ways. It made me think about all the seniors who were unable to see loved ones for so long during the pandemic. Wonderful storytelling!