Recommended by Steven Hayet

Wow. A beautiful and heartbreaking piece. In just one minute, Scott Sickles concisely and cleverly captures humanity's most basic need in a time we're supposed to be apart. Perfection in one page.

To quote Jed Bartlet, "What’s next?"
We live in a world where society is always ready to move on and focus on now. In a time where many Americans' attentions are concentrated on who is hoarding toilet paper, we've swept under the rug the crucial issues that are more than a few news cycles old. In Corona with ICE, Franky Gonzalez cleverly reminds us that the arrival of a new problem does not fix the old ones.

I love when a playwright can take a well known tale and flip it on its head. John Bavoso does that and then some with Prometheus Shrugs. Putting us in the shoes of the titan Prometheus and the bird sentenced to an eternity of eating liver, Bavoso has written an exceptionally charming and quirky comedy about friendship and the comfort of predictably. A perfect blend of heart and laughs, Prometheus Shrugs would be a highlight of any short play festival.

What an interesting premise! A mission to have the first child born in space. Two potential mothers. One sample. Who decides which candidate gets to make history and which will forgo her dream of motherhood? A clever piece about rules, dreams, and who is in charge of them.

I don’t know if “Eleanor Descending a Staircase“ is art or if it’s anti-art, but I know it’s hysterical.
Ian August has written a gem of a short play that takes us around the world with sharp, witty, Monty Python-esque banter. Great roles for strong comedic actors. "Eleanor" would provide a jolt of absurd fun to any short play line-up.

A beautiful solo piece. Szudrich is a truly gifted storyteller taking you on this journey that will make you laugh and break your heart. Would be a great addition to any short play festival.

Berryman has written a play that lives up to its name with this powerfully honest (and funny) ten-minute piece about bias and privilege in the theatre community. Winner is a conversation starter. Instead of reading ‘“The Old Family” five hundred times,’ college students should be reading this. Berryman truly has a gift with dialogue. The conversation between Walker and Harvard is so natural yet also incredibly sharp and clever. Simply a fantastic play.

An emotional gut punch of a play. Franky Gonzalez has written a beautiful autobiographical piece that is vulnerable, honest, and just unapologetically Franky. We have all been in those situations where we regretted not saying something and vow to next time, hoping then we'll have the strength to speak at the moment when it’s most needed. However, when that moment does come, will we? And if we can’t, hopefully we have an Aaron to lean on for support.

A sweet one-minute play about refusing to give in to negativity. Great addition to any short play festival. Perfect for performers of all ages.

Langley has written a powerful captivating two-hander that stays with you long after you’ve put the script down. With this play, Langley dives headfirst into the darkness and poses impossibly difficult questions. Can someone make things right after he’s committed an unspeakable wrong? Or are some acts just unforgivable? Monsters Are Made is an extremely relevant conversation starter. Bold. Thought provoking. Theatres, produce this play.