Recommended by Daniel Prillaman

A wonderful short about family and what part blood relation truly plays in it, Corley's play is a surefire hit for any festival. The pacing is absolutely brilliant, truly letting us into Baxter and Andy's situation layer by layer, bit by bit, so when the insecurities and fears finally hit, they land. You don't often see the complexities of fatherhood laid bare so deftly in such a short time. Bravo.

We say often that theatre "holds up a mirror" to the audience in order to reflect life. What happens when the play itself is full of mirrors? In Harriet's case, a resurgence of past Halloweens' traumas. Syran's short play is a powerful, introspective descent into grief, anger, the difference between "trickers and treaters", and just why some of us don't actually like certain holidays, thank you very much. A tender, horrific reminder. Take a deep breath and dive in.

To say that "The Story of Jimmy Kaplingus" contains multitudes is the understatement of the year. There's musing on voyeurism, the relationships between watcher and watched (audience and actors), as well as the sheer, existential terror of being alive and/or being a crab. There's also a plethora of highly curated and cared for Bro puns. Everything you're looking for in a play is here. Absolute fun and incredibly theatrical, with ample opportunity for the entire production team to do something they haven't before. And isn't that what theatre is all about? Or life?

Or maybe watching is better...

Every once in a while, we encounter a character who leaps off the pages and immediately into our hearts. It's hard to describe the majesty and charisma of a man like Pat the Exterminator. What drives a man with so many learned skill sets to choose the profession of humble pest control? What leads a man to act with such kindness and gentleness? Is it the parenting? Is it something hereditary? Something just naturally there?

Another hilarious adventure of Pat's "day?" job. I wish he was running for president. Bravo, Soucy.

Sometimes you want a snack. Thankfully, when you come to Scott Sickles' work for one, he always provides. This short spooky terror is a delicious snack indeed. A perfect scene that knows exactly what buttons to hit, and when to push them. I am most full.

And ironically, still hungry. ;)

Look, all great tasting meat substitutes come with a price. What Soucy's penned here is probably not that bad a trade in the grand scheme of things. A gut-busting little romp with some of the best character names I've seen in some time.

Who knew that there was such a detailed hierarchical system to be found in nerdom? Vansant's play is a delightful, wholesome, and above all, fun dive into languages and the spoken word. How they change, how they are made, and how to make one for a new episode of your nerdy sci-fi show in order to please your boss. Nerds are brutal. It's gotta be perfect. They've torn less to shreds, you know. Great fun and theatricality for all ages.

Women have always been (and still are) subjected to abuse and harassment in the workplace, even if they don't want to move up the ladder. Hilder's tale is not only a blistering, raucous reminder of this, but a breakneck and brilliant update of the classic fairy tale for today's society, filled with so much debauchery it's actually uncomfortable. At least the career advancement is worth it. Right? Right? Right? Beans!

Brandli depicts an intimate desperation between a couple trying to overcome the impossible. It's incredibly tight writing, and you feel the yearning of the characters practically leaping off the pages. The central, perpetual, and haunting imagery is the cherry on top. A great scene and short play for two actors to really dive in and stretch themselves.

The best duos are often the most unlikely pairings. In the titular laboratory, an innocent mistake (or several) in locale leads to a surprisingly wholesome and educational meeting between mad scientist and exterminator. Turns out, reanimation is a less limited skill set than you might think! Guffaw-inducing and with endlessly delicious wordplay, if you're looking for a new comedic and spooky short, this is it.