Recommended by Steven G. Martin

Sheila Cowley brings poetic language, an open-ended fluidity to performance and physicality in "Boing!" This short play about resiliency and positivity is only enhanced by the inclusivity of performers joining in. I'd love to see this performed with joy,

DC Cathro's visual metaphor in "Resolution" is clever and enjoyable, and audiences, actors, and designers like will love it. I love it, too. But the richest parts of this play for me, however, are the character arc and the dialogue.

There are plenty of reasons in this world not to connect with other people, not to follow our passions. That DC Cathro is showing two characters taking the first tentative steps to counteract those reasons made me smile.

Vince Gatton comically, earnestly, and darkly reminds audiences of the excitement of living at the edge of the new millennium. Everything is possible when the future is so close you can touch it, which is wonderful and freeing but also frightening and scary.

And I love that his main character, Kelly, is in her teens. Her view of the world and her family has changed because of the actions in "Neon Glowing New." Some coming-of-age stories include X.

"The Book of Merman: The Musical" is wonderful.

Three dynamic, talented performers will shine. The score has plenty of standout moments, both with solos and group pieces. The book provides emotional cores for Ethel, Shumway, and Braithwaite -- they have strong needs, they're multidimensional, and they're respectfully written.

It's a knowledgeable show, too, with nods to several of Ethel Merman's best-known roles and to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and "The Book of Mormon."

Audiences will love "The Book of Merman: A Musical" for these same reasons.

Lucy Wang shows off a quick wit and playful style in this romantic comedy. Wang doesn't stop there, though, adding sexy innuendo and mouthwatering culinary bon mots. There's plenty happening in "Scenes from a Chinese Restaurant" that will charm audiences, challenge actors, and entertain everyone.

A writer's skills must be finely tuned to dramatize a moment as delicate as the first flutter of romantic recognition. And then to juxtapose that flutter against quiet, yet persistent, longing is beautiful irony for an audience to enjoy. Vince Gatton puts his finely tuned skills to terrific use in this short romantic play.

I love this affirming father-son storyline. Evan Baughfman showcases the protection of innocence, the encouragement of imagination. You'll smile after the couple of minutes of this play.

This is why I love one-minute plays: They can reveal emotional truths in a moment. In the case of Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn's "Brompton's Truth," it's a bittersweet moment -- accepting the future because the present offers wonderful possibilities. A gorgeous script.

Intense. Mysterious. Fun. Grounded. I wish I'd written this short action-adventure play.

Monica Cross's talent in creating character voices takes center stage in this short play with third-grade characters. Camaraderie, frustration, anger and more fill these few minutes of "Red Pen, Green Ink."