Recommended by Rachael Carnes

What a delight. I love Bavoso's work - Invariably funny, bright and relatable - with these stakes that *immediately* draw us in. I saw a wonderful production of this short play with Theatre Three, and I was so grateful for the 10-minutes when I forgot about the pandemic. This is lovely, lush theatre, and absolutely perfect for Zoom. Get it! Produce it! A sweet, hilarious charmer.

With all the imagination, empathy and craft one expects from a Hageman play, this lovely piece is a warm, rich exploration of a universally relatable moment. No spoilers, but what an ending. I saw a beautiful performance of the play, presented by Theatre Three in Dallas, via Zoom, and was dazzled by the emotion - humor and grief - that shine through the videoconferencing medium. Choose this one for your virtual play festival, it's a gem.

I just love the mind of Lee Lawing! His plays often hover delightfully in the sweet spot between boundless imagination and relatable emotion, and this fantastic short play's no exception. I enjoyed a reading with Panglossian Productions: Hearing the work aloud underscores the rhythm and dynamics of this unique, funny-as-heck play.

Fix Curry gets at the heart of the sibling dynamic in this dynamic short play. The setting - the Staten island Ferry - is perfect, a rolling stage where foibles and flaws spill out all day, every day. (I know, I commuted to and from S.I. to Manhattan every day for five years!) Funny, relatable characters, compelling dialogue and a rewarding pay off make this a great choice. Lots of great stuff to dig into! On or off the boat.

A hilarious comedy that asks age-old questions, this delightful new piece by Hoke examines expectations, existence and the need we all have to belong. Funny and fresh, this play's a wonderful escape from Covid, and Hoke's unique creative process, described in her blog, offers a terrific model for writers. I'm grateful for the laughs, and inspired to continue to build new work, even in these unprecedented times.

You think you're on the receiving end of a robocall but things take a quick and hilarious downward turn in this breakneck comedy, perfect for Zoom. Allen starts at a rollicking pace and amps up the chaos from there. The resulting absurdity reminds us that our new virtual video call world has issues. This play would be a great way to explore these new limitations, online or maybe one day, onstage.

A satirical knife's edge is wielded in this engaging piece. Affoumado bundles insecurities in a mantle of excuses and righteousness, digging this character into a trench of ideology and bravado. It's hard to listen to, or read, but also is so deeply satisfying, like scratching a mosquito bite til it bleeds. This is smart theatre, that strikes at the heart of this unreal moment, when politics and pandemic conjoin. Bravo!

Perfection! When the craving for hyper-productivity crashes on the rocks of Covid reality. Nothing is in our control, everything's terrible, f-ck 2020! Yes, and do your part to get us through this, darn it. Wyndham never holds back, this monologue is so fresh, so fun, and aches with the subtext we all feel: When is this ride going to be OVER? The perfect online audition piece - or feature for your next pandemic theatre festival.

A stunning short musical on the losses that continue to reverberate, long after gun violence. A beautiful addition to the #CodeRed Playwrights Anthologies, this play anchors a collection of plays in response to gun violence in places of worship. Includes sheet music and music track, to facilitate the full experience (and power) of this beautiful piece.

Wow! High School drama and speech coaches - get your hands on the rights to this gem of a play! Koivisto cracks the Zoom Theatre wall with dialogue that's fast-paced and unexpected, finding resilience where we've always looked: In young people. This four-hander offers terrific rhythms and dynamics for younger actors to sink their teeth into. Refreshing and relevant. Worried about teaching online classes in the Fall? Here's a great scene study, or an anchor in an evening of online plays.