Recommended by Andrew Martineau

This highly clever, funny and insightful short play about societal expectations about adult behavior and making meaningful connections is outstanding. Rachel Feeny-Williams is an expert at creating a concise, thought-provoking comedy in a mere ten minutes. I reflected on my own perceptions of maturity and conforming to cultural standards of adulthood as I read this play and considered if the boxes I check in my own head align with my own desires and needs. Fantastic!

Joey at age 7 has a remarkable ability to find his own survival tactics. One method of survival is through an imagery friend who helps him, not as a licensed therapist could, with expert insight into trauma, but with empathy and the ability to listen and react with kindness. Another tactic is through the regimens Joey finds to document the abuse, which gives us a sense of hope that he will find a way to cope, moment by moment. The final line is heartbreaking, and Swenson’s skill at creating a raw, deeply honest account of this horror is truly amazing.

This absurd short play is very funny, and it convincingly captures the frustration that accompanies writer’s block. I know the concept is both real and hard to describe, so Levine’s use of unlikely imaginary animal friends is bizarre madcap fun. I loved using my own sometimes overblown imagination to envision a horse trying to sit on a couch or be a puppeteer. Now I have to see it live!

This play examines what words inscribed on headstones mean and whether they have any value at all. It also got me to reflect on how death shows us how we are alike, and how leaving a legacy that lives on in loved ones’ minds is a worthwhile endeavor. I loved the spareness of language and the deep well of emotion in this brief play. Excellent work.

Hauntingly beautiful play that resonates on many levels. Joe Swenson writes with deep emotion about different generations of a family, told through letters and memories in this ghost story revealing heartbreak and profound sadness. The grandmother’s gift is generous and shows the bravery and love she has for her family. I would love to see this onstage.

One of the keywords Shriwardhankar lists for this monologue is “museums” and so I imagined someone looking for a “museum” play and reading this! Oh, man, this is so funny and so honest. This is funny because it’s blunt but extremely sincere, as well as memorable. Who doesn’t want a memorable, hilarious monologue for an audition? So good!

I really wish the CPR trainings I have participated in had been as interesting and provocative as DOLLS AND GUYS. I might have learned more. Speaking of learning, Moran provides a wonderful twist in which a seemingly physical comedy about resuscitation dummies turns into a rather sophisticated and clever play about our psycho-emotional needs and just what can happen when those needs are not met. Highly engaging and hysterical!

Every day parents and families deal with the loss of a child to addiction, and sadly, they often struggle with how to talk about it with the outside world. Ellen Davis Sullivan's play talks about it as a way for the characters, and mostly importantly, the audience, to begin to discuss the grief, confusion, and emptiness without blame or shame. Writing a eulogy is painful, but this dramatization is writing that can heal wounds through communication. Beautifully rendered requiem.

Well, we can all certainly relate to Lex and Maddie. The rapid short phrasing and unfinished thoughts is indicative of two friends who haven’t had a great deal of contact, and yet their ability to communicate effectively in this way shows they have been living the same nightmare, despite their hopeful, upbeat attitudes. This would be an excellent play for actors willing to relish the subtext. It would require great listening skills and expert timing. A strong play for our turbulent times.

Amanda makes a compelling argument about why words hurt, especially when she hasn’t done anything to explain why they are being cruelly thrown at her, not that her actions should warrant them either. What I found so unique about this monologue is that Amanda imagines what it would be like to have a reason for the verbal abuse, and the fact that she cannot get an answer why her friend abandoned her is what is so confusing and hurtful. This is powerfully relevant and action driven. Important words about the importance of watching what you say.