Recommended by Rachael Carnes

Relatable and engaging, this short play feels like a little window between endings and beginnings -- at Target. Writer Bublitz charges her characters with plenty of chemistry and humor, as she has them test the waters with each other and the future. This play offers creative teams lots of space for dynamic staging -- perfect scene for a college or university setting, or a contemporary festival.

This little play is a GEM! So funny — And silly and delightful. This nutty set-up offers creative teams so much room for comedy and the big, broad strokes that musical theater affords, all in just a few pages. Perfect for a festival of short plays. Love this!

A provocative — yet charming and accessible — inquiry into race, culture and family, this play has a brilliantly curious title, evoking a kind of gothic cautionary tale. The titular character has a major exam coming up to become a board certified pediatric neurosurgeon — “It’s a very important time for her,” as her father would say — but before she can sit for the test, Hannah learns that there’s trouble back home. Home is South Korea, a place Hannah barely knows. A beautiful play. I was fortunate to see its premiere at at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2017.

A cycle of life explored lovingly and with great humor. There’s something so relatable about writer Goldman-Sherman’s language rhythm, the way the meaning and themes hover just below the brittle banter between these two characters, as they find themselves renegotiating everything.

Consistently funny, and nuanced and engaging, Wyndham’s character monologues develop dynamic intensity, tackling big issues with emotional empathy and a strong, witty point of view. I’m appreciative of the writer’s ability to create contemporary roles, multidimensional, interesting roles, for young people. This piece is a perfect study for a younger performer or a showcase.

Wowza! I love it when in just ten short pages I am completely transported into a different realm of time and place. Writer Partain not only delivers a satisfyingly grim story arc, but carries it out with two sympathetic and multidimensional characters. This taut, remarkable play is imagistic and clever without veering too far from reality. Is this now? Is this the future? This is right where it needs to be. Can't wait to read more of this writer's work. What a treat.

Faith in humanity restored by this wonderful play. Thanks to some hardworking Playmobil figures, I feel better than ever about my voting rights and why they matter. A lovely and engaging work that has the potential to go viral by the midterm elections.

This play is a delight from beginning to end — Or, given it's clever construction, end to beginning? Barbot's wit is matched by his powerful sense of satire — Not easy to pull off! — But he does, slaying the Greeks and our own ineptitudes in one fell swoop. I love the idea of the all-woman cast. What fun this show would be to see onstage! A rollicking new work for the Classics SuperFan or just someone who's trying to figure out... Where we went wrong? Grab the cut-rate armor, bring on the tunics, and produce this gem!

It is ON. When a playwright can capture in just a few pixels the power imbalance and incongruities of modern work — you're in for a treat. The character "Her" is likely needed in almost every corporate environment. Or can she be hired out, as a temp? My only question — When is this idea going to be franchised for a three-movie series and its sequels? Viva 'Her'!

No wonder this play has a bajillion recommendations! It's hilarious. Bohannon hits all the write notes with great good humor — Her effervescent, but seemingly effortless, dialogue carries characters from silly ha-ha to spinning deliriously, yet believably, out of control. Oh, I love a good train wreck. It's just delicious! Fruit and wine! Viva this play!