Recommended by Steven G. Martin

An insightful -- and a bit cringe-worthy -- minute of comedy. Ekstrand has written two characters who would be fun to perform, to direct, or to watch.

A 1-minute, scathing portrait of ugliness, stupidity, and hypocrisy in America. This sharp condemnation of white Americans' attitudes toward race is about as honest as it gets. Read to the end for the ultimate steel-tipped kick to the ass.

You have to love the comic possibilities created when characters with different priorities and mindsets clash. That's what drives the beginning of Sickles' "Canopies and Canapés" (and yes, you'll crave food as you read it/watch it). The lovely part of this play is the blooming of the relationship of the characters as they come together and realize some truths beyond the initial clash.

I am on board for the plot twists, turns, and loops that Vansant has created in "Bluehair." This 10-minute play is funny and dopey, it's a little bit sinister and a little bit sexy, and it's got moments of intense action and heroism. And there are two marvelous side characters whom any actors would love to play, along with the central heroic character whom audiences will cheer.

I watched Kansas City Repertory Theatre perform this comedy during its Online 10-Minute Play Project in May 2020. Everyone -- actors and audiences alike -- had a riotously funny time.

This romantic comedy has it all: snappy dialogue that audiences and actors will flip over, stratagems and reverses to push the plot, and musical references galore that accentuate the joy of this play. Plus a sweet relationship that's just beginning to bud.

I watched Kansas City Repertory Theatre perform this comedy during its Online 10-Minute Play Project in May 2020. And oh, did it shine!

This short comedy is a love letter to actors. It starts funny and slightly ridiculous, but the ending speech is direct emotion from the heart.

I watched a performance of this comedy during Kansas City Public Theatre's Online 10-Minute Play Project in May 2020. It would play beautifully on stage.

Speckman creates such a beautiful, visual, wise, central metaphor about women and their connections to the generations of women that precede and follow them. And even while Speckman revels in the epic, the monologue -- framed as a letter -- also celebrates the most intimate of connections. It's no wonder this monologue for a female actor already has a rich production history.

"Brightly" is pretty frickin' awesome, indeed. I can only imagine the amount of tears that flowed when the audience hears it and watches it performed. Bravo to Deray for the genuine and direct emotion of this monologue.

There are subtleties of darkness in Polak's play. Grief, anger, fear, anxiety, disgust, and malaise wind throughout the Ryan's memories and his current conversation. And there's a haziness in the visuals and descriptors of the titular smoking room. This isn't a pretty play, but it is beautiful thanks to Polak's skill.

This one-minute play is positively Chekhovian. I enjoyed a performance during the Quaranteeny Play Festival from Fat Turtle Theatre Company in May 2020.