Recommended by Greg Burdick

As an educator, I appreciated the remarkable tension Donna Hoke builds into each scene of TEACH. There is much to unpack for teachers, administrators, and even guidance counselors here... but particularly for students, and the adults they ultimately become. Hoke’s usage of gender fluidity allows us to see this story from a multifaceted perspective, delineating all the scenarios for power dynamics in cases of teacher misconduct. The effect is eerily powerful, as male and female performers must alternate inhabitation of a teacher and student. Produce this play, and spark an important conversation about sexual harassment and abuse.

This is not so much a portrait of a man’s descent into madness, but rather a desperate attempt to ascend from it. When “Concordance” begins, Alexander Cruden is already hopelessly there. Through Minigan’s wildly engaging vision sequences, we piece together the devastating effect that devotion and faith can have in excess. His journey is packed with surprising and satisfying turns throughout. Don’t be daunted by the twenty-two characters to be played by five actors here... produce this, and challenge your performers and audiences with what is a truly stunning piece.

A charming exploration of the challenges seniors face when jumping back into the dating pool, “Gwen Has a Date” juxtaposes old-world standards with cutting edge technology. O’Neill-Butler’s characters are expertly and efficiently drawn in these brisk ten pages that fly right by. Highly recommended for festivals featuring senior performers.

Seinuk’s young married couple, Ren and Rob, must navigate a very tricky moment in these comically awkward ten minutes, and she allows them do so with unashamed dignity. Don’t conceal that freak flag... let it fly. Your partner’s got one too. But you’ll never know it unless you talk about it. This short is a sure-fire crowd pleaser at any 10-minute festival.

A smart short examining power dynamics in the workplace, and the potential perils of challenging the status quo. Pickard uses an eerie presence in the morgue as Semmelweis’ muse that is both creepy and effective. Well paced, engaging, and theatrical.

Matthew Freeman has taken “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and reimagined it in a way that feels dangerously current and unsettling. His ministers of the press, the state, the treasury, and public safety, all bear the burden of enacting policy once spoken. Freeman raises the stakes for them, and for those who don’t see the magical threads, in a manner that oversteps comical and leaps right to chilling. Outstanding commentary on the startling power of suggestion over the plebes, and even those who attempt to sway them.

When children grow up, their fears of the boogeyman in the closet generally fade. But Jaymes Sanchez has found a terrifying loophole... we are always children in the eyes of our parents, no matter the age. And if we’re not good, what then? “The Cucuy Will Find You” craftily explores familial guilt and obligation, and what it means to be a good son or daughter. Loaded with humor that offsets the story’s darker themes, this play may make you reconsider your life choices, and put you on your best behavior. Tremendous opportunities for puppet/scenic designers.

In dark times demanding social activism, you can either endeavor to create or destroy to spread your message of change. In this chilling short play by Abigail Henkin, we see how the residue of hope can still linger after either of those efforts are suppressed. Compelling.

As an educator, I am required to present an anti-bullying lesson to all of my students at the beginning of each school year. It’s a district mandated 90-minute slideshow laden with statistics and information that is repeated annually, with the intention of giving students strategies for coping with, stopping, and preventing the behavior. In “Hunter, Hunted, and Those Who Watch,” Emily Hagemen crushes the same topic in a dazzling 10 minutes. And she does it better. It should be mandatory viewing in all schools. Produce it, and let it steal all the air in the room. Simply stunning.

The news business has become an enterprise specializing in holding our attention. Can we really call it "news" anymore? And in our current culture, outlets that deliver the news do so with a cut-throat mentality... even if the news delivered is not news... but rather, manufactured fiction... speculation... in desperate hope of holding our attention for their 24 hour cycle... so their very existence remains secure. Pauline David-Sax exemplifies the lows we've reached in her unsettling short play, "Frida Sofia Is Not Dead." It will make you mad as hell. Open the window. You know what to do next.