Recommended by Steven G. Martin

I love the diverse tones and emotions across these eight 1-minute plays from Jacob York. Audiences will get doses of horror, bittersweetness, comeuppance, cringe/sass, and more.

Blevins shows that even if a relationship isn't meant to be, it doesn't lessen the heartbreak. "The Prince's Shadow" is so well written; it dovetails in a lovely fashion between Shakespearean histories.

An excellent mystery about purpose, responsibility, duty, and identity. Baldwin's play will unsettle and disorient an audience in the best way with the use of language and an ending that will be a shock as more mysteries are solved. Good stuff here.

Another funny situation brought to life by Starkey, as this time our hero gets to con cons. Plenty of wordplay games to entertain an audience, a little insight into how psychics do their job, and hey, a happy ending. Just a lot of fun from Starkey again.

I'm laughing out loud at this film noir spoof that combines the sweetness of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, physical brawls at a bar, and a human perspective on cat behavior. Superior laughs from Starkey.

I'm in full agreement with Ruben Carbajal's recommendation: The tone of "Six Dirty Words" swirls and whorls. A whimsical premise, a dark underlying core, and a touch of hope at the end with a promise of healing. Read it again.

This short play is a bittersweet comfort.

This romantic comedy is totally sweet and cute. An audience will love Mazunik's reveal.

"Roots Deep, Trunk Wide" is another beautiful example of the depths of character Scott Sickles plumbs in his plays. I dare anyone not to feel for and love Bascom and Isaac.

Eleanor Evans-Wickberg puts her characters through a lot in The List. From the harshest slam a person might ever receive to redemption to -- at least for me -- questions about lies and truth and perspective. This is an intense short play.