Recommended by Steven G. Martin

A little silly, a little dark at first, but moves to a very thoughtful, philosophical mood that's ultimately uplifting. Amy Dellagiarino provides a lovely story about looking outward and helping others.

Twisty and meta. There's also a nice layer of romance, which makes "Kill your darlings" even more apropos, as others have said in previous recommendations. Nice storytelling with an askew POV by Alterman.

"Pause" is like a wristwatch, but without the ticking. This play is precise, detailed, intimate and ultimately positive. Actors who understand the importance of a glance, a frown, a smile, a grimace will love Ricardo Soltero-Brown's "Pause." So will audiences.

"This Grass Kills People" is equal parts scathing satire, dark comedy, and tension-filled horror. It is blunt, it is playful, it is upsetting, it's shaming.

It's a very rich script that speaks to current times but will, unfortunately, always feel relevant as truth-tellers are ignored.

I love that Paula stands up to Dr. Sanderson in "Teeth." Yes, you can love this script for its dark humor, absurdity, and even brief interspecies interlude. But don't overlook the anti-prejudice thread running throughout. Well done, Max Reuben.

Adam Richter's play is a gently romantic, comedic reminder that opposites can attract and complement.

Along with being performed on a stage, "Dog Chases Rabbit" would be great in an outdoor setting.

"Epitaph" is intense, thought-provoking, and dark. Carbajal again creates a standout 1-minute play.

Mary Sue Price beautifully builds tension in "That Midnight Rodeo;" an audience will immediately feel something unspoken is hanging heavy in the air.

Along with the tension, Price shares Cindy's history and her and Bo's current situation are shared, all of which impacts a decision that Cindy needs to make. Strong writing from Price here.

"Endangered Species" is a clever and pointed combination of fairy-tale tropes and modern sensibilities. There's plenty of laughs, but I also appreciate Aly Kantor's bittersweet ending, which suggest that times may change but some people may not be able to change with them.

Emily Hageman's highly enjoyable one-act comedy puts extraordinary people in one of the most banal situations. Those extremes lead to a lot of comedic moments that audiences will love.