Recommended by Steven G. Martin

A little dangerous, a little sexy, and a perhaps a little prologue to the remainder of the characters' night. Susko presents power play and reversal in this short script.

It feels like a universal truth: Men are unable to speak with other men about their emotional wants and needs. Baughfman dramatizes that truth on stage with Josh and Mike in this funny but bittersweet one-minute play.

"Fumblewinter" is a difficult, dark, ridiculous, jarring, and rewarding full-length satire that will shake a lot of audience members. It's funny, violent, heartbreaking, and prophetic.

Although set in 930 A.D., Rachael Carnes takes aim at contemporary issues of power and groupthink, the subjugation of women, environmental catastrophe, and technology as a distraction.

"Fumblewinter" will appeal to directors, designers, and actors who appreciate complexity.

Juntunen's "The First Yes" is a play to enjoy more than once. Its structure, its use of dialogue and commentary, will spark an audience's imagination. Its story of living and loss will touch an audience's emotions.

While the ultimate conflict of "Fable" is a matter of historic fact, DeVita shows the winding path it took to reach the end point. This one-act play has an audacious theatricality and style. It tells a hugely personal and emotional story. All the characters have agendas and flaws and moments of victory and loss. Highly recommended.

Audiences will feel like voyeurs while watching Dabalsa's short drama -- the play feels like an exposé on modern marriage. Credit Dabalsa for adding further complexities to the characters' lives all the way to the end.

Holly Arsenault dramatizes a relationship that shouldn't be. These are selfish, blinkered, destructive people who try to assert their dominance over the other.

Arsenault beautifully characterizes Brian and Catherine through their actions. Brian never stops moving in this short play, and we understand how he is wearing on Christine. And with the simplest, most direct of actions -- like a sledgehammer through crystal -- Christine breaks Brian.

The problem with most rom-coms? There's not enough romance or comedy. "Hotter Than Thoreau," however, gives an audience plenty of laughs and plenty of romantic moments.

Additional cheers as Zaffarano provides Coke and Denny with more than just a horndog dimension. It's not a plot twist, it's depth.

This is a wonderful mash-up of first-date jitters and 1950's B-movie tropes. The characters have genuine chemistry, there are knowing one-liners and zingers galore, and oh the visuals and action!

Hernandez's theatricality is relentless in the wonderful "Momma." There is joy, sadness, and tension as the story unfolds not only through dialogue but also movement and visual metaphors. Hernandez also trusts the audience's intelligence as we receive only glances at Karen's and Evelyn's backstories, and the play concludes with an unforgettable image.