Recommended by Rachael Carnes

What a GEM. With breathtaking clarity and succinct word choices, Gonzalez develops a miniature world for this lost soul, seeking solace and salvation, and knowing she has it buried somewhere within her all along. I love the treatment of the 'other' here — the person listening to this comes into focus as we see the protagonist climb the foothills, the mountain, and peer into the abyss, all with subtlety and that important dramatic element: Humor. I'd love to see this performed onstage! Would make a terrific audition piece, as well.

This lovely play is like catnip for me. Dance and history in one piece? Bring it on! Rose does a wonderful job playing with the dynamics of the studio, its competition and fear, while wrestling against the porcelain illusion dancers create for an audience. She makes bold choices, asking creative teams to build movement, to be embodied, in words and dance. I'd love to see this onstage!

Hageman gets at the heart of fear, connecting unimaginable horrors and looking through sensorial lenses at the wobbling unreality of war. It's clear what her subject matter is, the events of 9/11, but what's remarkable here is a well of empathy, the way the fight or flight takes hold, and is a kind of universal — rather than sit on familiar narratives, Hageman widens the panorama, taking in the painful whole.

What a charmer! Right from the get-go, Hayet's humor grabs you -- I love that this short play is packed with family farce, stuffed with character and hilarious dynamics. It's such a clever idea, and Hayet hits just the right notes. In an evening of short works, this one would be a standout: Totally relatable and endearing!

Haha! What a great li'l nugget of a play. Hayet encapsulates the drama of High School Drama Club *perfectly* -- in just a couple of pages! This relatable play could translate easily for any audience, though -- it's not really about who gets to play Dorothy. It's about who *has* to play the tree.

Such heart and humor in every moment of this monologue for one... Noodle! Yes, a noodle. I love this creative romp, and what we value and how the world finds value in us. Endearing, charming and brave, this piece would be delightful onstage. I'm so enjoying working my way through writer Lawing's collection of imaginative work. His ideas and craft are tremendous!

This play needs to be read from the rooftops. Minigan creates such warmth and familiarity between mother and daughter - and the daughter's group-chat community. The fear is all-too real, the scenario terrifyingly prescient. I'm grateful for plays like this one, amplifying the very real voices of those who can't yet vote, but who will pay the price for the decisions that impact them, body and soul.

Evocative and lyrical, this short play walks a path between absurdism and viscera, skating between clever language play and devastating, war-torn loss. It's a unique space -- a world where beauty and pain coexist, like a rose budding with life, while its neighbor withers. Writer Mooney confidently wields a linguistic broadsword - creating a whole world in just a few pages. This play would give a creative team boundless possibilities to explore.

Chilling! From the moody setting to the particular details of costume and props, Lawing evokes powerful and recent memories of these two wonderfully gothic characters. I can almost hear the audience holding their collective breath as they take it all in. This play is a playground for actors, directors and designers, and would anchor any festival of short horror.

What would Martha Washington wear to a presidential protest rally? This clever play plunges us into a little slice of life with George -- asking, what would their response be to today's reality? Writer Gartner sets us up for discovery with this gem.