Recommended by Mark Harvey Levine

What a fun puzzle of a play. I saw a production of this at Madlab's Theatre Roulette 2023, and it was delightful as realization dawned on me as to who these characters were to each other. Steven G. Martin masterfully draws out these characters at different stages of their lives. 153 is wistful and bittersweet but ultimately uplifting.

Laurie Allen creates two wonderful characters in "Stealing A Kiss". In Harvey, Allen does a very difficult thing -- creating a character who talks a lot, and annoys the other character on stage, but charms the audience. I saw a lovely production of "Stealing A Kiss" at Madlab's Theatre Roulette 2023, and it was heartwarming and funny. A sweet love story for actors "of a certain age".

A normal event turned into a heartbreaking and touching scene by Robert Weibezahl. I got to see this at Madlab's Theatre Roulette 2023 and it was incredibly effective. The character of Courtney added some much needed humor, but this play is still devastating.

Greg Lam deftly dances between the sweetness of this funny concept (Taylor, an adult, still believes in Santa) and the inherent greed of the season, which keeps the play from being too saccharine. I got to see a production of this at Madlab Theatre Roulette and it was really funny. We share Alyssa's disbelief -- but it's also heartwarming to see her not try to burst Taylor's bubble even as she finds out how expensive this bubble is going to be.

An emotional rollercoaster! Incredible. Touching and terrifying. Grabs you from the first moments and then DOESN'T LET GO for over 20 gripping pages. This is a master class in how you keep tension going. Just harrowing.

A great lights-up moment, with two people standing there soaking wet. And then we get a lovely rumination on fairy-tale endings, and what they would really be like. A great, realistic look at a ridiculous situation. I saw a very good production of this at Madlab's Theatre Roulette in 2023.

I've seen lots of very funny comedies by Christopher Lockheardt, but this play shows him a master of dramatic short plays as well. I could feel the pain (physical and emotional) of these two women. I could feel the cold (actual and metaphorical) of the night. Who doesn't want to go home? But what if home isn't really your home any more?

One of the best "lights up" moments I've seen in a ten-minute play. I got to see this at Madlab's Theatre Roulette, and we were laughing before anybody said a word. But I lost it when there was a knock at the door and a plaintive voice cried out "Mommy?". Bondage and awkwardness have never been so hysterical. It was one of the highlights of the festival.

The beginning -- and the rebeginning (maybe?) of a relationship that starts in a grocery store. Lots of very funny moments (one character tries to buy seemingly one of every type of alcohol), and also funny/sweet moments, as the sister browbeats a relationship back into existence. Touching and all too real, and set in the aisle of a supermarket!

I love the title, and I love plays that take familiar tales and turn them on their head. I got to see this at Madlab Theatre Roulette 2023, where it got lots of laughs. My favorite line is when the Little Pig describes her smokey flavor. I also loved the Little Red Riding Hood character, who is not as sweet and innocent as she is usually portrayed. I'm a big fan of Ava Love Hanna (and roasted pig meat) so I enjoyed this play immensely.