Recommended by Robert Weibezahl

The brief moment captured in this very short play speaks volumes. In just a minute, we know Timothy and Tuck (what perfect names!) more intimately than we know some characters after pages and pages of dialogue. A poignant, minimalist gem.

This comical short play about the pretentious side of theater making (and we've all been THERE!) hits the bull’s-eye with every dart that’s thrown. And those darts keep on coming. Bravo!

I hope John Busser leaves his brain to science, though I in no way wish him dead (despite my chronic envy of his comic talents). If “Deliverance” had been written by Garrison Keillor and directed by the Coen Brothers, it might have added up to something resembling this quirky whirlwind of a monologue. All comparisons aside, though, Busser is a true original. Busseresque will soon be an adjective. Maybe it already is.

This tense 10-minute play explores so many heady realities: loneliness, repression and depression, human connection (and lack thereof), the thin line between passion and hatred. In the end, it leaves us wondering what comes next (just like life). And some of the possible answers aren’t necessarily pretty. Nice work, Mr. Love.

An honest gut-punch of a piece, Braverman probes the emotional complications that neither time, nor self-justifications, nor empty platitudes can fully assuage in the long lingering wake of family tragedy. The thing that perhaps surprises the most about this deft and heartfelt solo piece is how well Braverman infuses it with the kind of dry humor and insider code that can sustain a family through both good and bad. Art drawn from pain, a brave work about guilt and survival.

‘Lord of the Flies’ for the daycare set … much hilarity ensues amidst the power struggles of these warring three-year-olds. And then things turn dark (but still brutally funny). Plumridge captures these little monsters with dead-on accuracy, both in speech and actions. Adult actors in these roles will be amazing to behold.

A marvelous one act that takes so many surprising turns. The ever-witty Floyd-Priskorn has concocted an unexpected comedy that dares to explore the cosmetics industry, beauty standards, corporate duplicity, gender roles, ageism, … even aliens … whew! … all in thirty raucous minutes with a Roald Dahlian squint. Produce this play!

The aspiring playwright in COPYCAT is not the only one in for a surprise – real-life playwright Bruce Karp has more than one surprise in store for the audience as well. This wicked short play about the perils of plagiarism, with its delicious concluding moment, will resonate with any creative.

A delightful large-cast play for young audiences about the search for identity and finding one’s place in the world. Never preachy and always funny, Mulkerin’s clever play could be performed by adults for children, or by the children themselves. Middle school drama teachers should be lining up to stage this gem.

From the outset of this tense short play we wonder why have these two very different sisters taken refuge in the woods. Even when the reason is revealed in the final minutes, we are not prepared for what comes next. Playwright Green does an expert job keeping the suspense high throughout, and he creates indelible characters with just a few brushstrokes. A perfect entry for any festival looking for a thought-provoking piece about our much-changed world.