Recommended by Donald E. Baker

"Let it be known that homosexuals are not cowards." John Mabey lets it be known in this wonderful short docudrama about Willem Arondeus, a gay member of the Dutch anti-Nazi resistance who paid with his life for his heroic participation in the bombing of the Amsterdam public records office and the destruction of Jewish identification records it contained. Denying his homosexual relationships might have helped save him from the firing squad, but instead he uttered his now famous last words. It still takes bravery for gays to come out. This necessary work shows us what real courage looks like.

This is a wonderful play about how casual encounters can lead to profound connections. Just as life comprises comedy, tragedy, grief and hope, so does this play. The old man at its center is a great role for a senior actor, and the characters that surround him all have playing weight of their own. It would be a credit to any theater that produces it and provide a memorable experience for everyone involved, most especially the audience. It is simply great work by Darrin Ingram.

A family drama replete with dueling memories, ancient hurts dragged into the present, reconciliations offered and rebuffed. On their own, each character deals with their own griefs and challenges, including how to protect themselves from harm inflicted by the others. Together their toxic and shattered relationships seem beyond repair. But are they? Donnelly resists giving this play a facile happy-ever-after ending, leaving the reader to ponder what will become of these people after the final curtain. Engaging and thought-provoking work.

A delightfully silly tale of impossible quests and misplaced chivalry in the wink-wink, nudge-nudge tradition of Spamalot. Head turning anachronisms and groan-worthy jokes abound, and the whole thing is intended to be presented with a tongue-in-cheek "hey, gang, let's put on a show" attitude and found-object props and set materials. Everyone will have fun with this one--the actors, the production team, and, especially, the audience. They'll have a great night at "Good Knight and Goodbye."

The concept of Jesus having to make reservations for one last get-together with his twelve best friends--plus Leonardo to document it--is inspired. And hilarious. One pities the restaurant manager having to accommodate all of his very specific requirements, particularly a table long enough so they can all sit on the same side. And separate checks, of course. Love it.

People like the villain of this piece don't believe they're doing evil; they believe they are doing the right thing. It's a heartbreaking reminder of a time when families who rejected their sons because of their sexuality could could swoop in to exclude lovers, friends, and "roommates," when that son died of HIV/AIDS. Marriage equality has given us some protections, but there are people out there who would return us to the bad old days when gatekeepers could turn away precisely the people who need to be present at a loved one's passing. Fine and necessary work. Thank you.

To their principal's consternation, two high school students stage a demonstration outside their high school to protest the banning of certain books. They were inspired by knowledge they absorbed from their world history, civics, English, and theater arts classes, and the event is very effective. They knew what they were doing and why. There are places in this country where this play would not be welcome because the students embody what some people most fear about education. Which is precisely the reason it must be performed, there and everywhere. A most timely work.

Davenport met his demise, shot and dumped from a hearse at the Heavenly Gate--funeral home, that is. But is he really Davenport? Is he connected to the person whose funeral was in progress at the time? And most important, can Detectives Tully and Monroe, aided by the latter's intuitive frontal lobe, discover who did the dastardly deed? Stay tuned! (It's lots of fun. Read and enjoy it.)

Second only to how to hang a toilet paper roll, how to hang tinsel on a Christmas tree has to be one of the great sources of friction between couples. Here Christopher Soucy sends such a dispute over the edge and over the top, involving not only the couple but their families. Then he packages it like a retrospective on the History Channel. It's hilarious. It would be the perfect spark for a holiday short play festival.

The most golden thing about the golden years is having close contemporary friends who understand what you're going through as you age and perhaps lose a spouse. The questions seem endless. Should I sell the house and move into independent or assisted living? Am I ready to seek a new relationship or accept one that may come my way? This old man appreciated Marj O'Neill-Butler's sensitive treatment of two old friends having an essential conversation about these issues. It's realistic but not at all grim. Quite the opposite. It would be a popular addition to any short play festival.