Recommended by Steven G. Martin

The title caught my eye. The story about self-centered adults made me laugh.

Hilary Bluestein-Lyons has written a sharp comedy about being a newcomer invited to join a longstanding group of friends ... and then being treated like a third wheel. I felt bad for Theodore because everything he says in "Not THAT Steve Martin" is ignored or misconstrued or topped by one of the friends' stories. Run fast, Theodore. Run far.

Food and sex, sex and food -- it's all about appetite, and Lucy Wang absolutely has pitch perfect tone with this ten-minute play. A little spice, a little comedy, lots of depth to both because of the terrific dialogue and characters. Audiences will savor every moment of this play.

Dominica Plummer has a beautiful grasp of characters' voices, and the ones in "Cäterwäul" are very specific: young (older teens), regional (Northeast U.S.), and passionate about music, (death metal).

Plummer knows these characters and knows exactly what characters and situations will bring out the worst in them: their parents (older and equally passionate about music) and being kept from playing music. It's such a strong setup and execution.

"Sugar" is a slow burn that builds to a life-or-death moment hinging on the seemingly straightforward action of opening a door and passing through it.

Jennifer O'Grady's characterizations are terrific, especially Jaden's persistence in trying to engage with Lilia. Audiences will genuinely care about the outcome of this 10-minute drama.

The tension starts in the first beat of "Palooka" and it only increases throughout. Wil and Jenna are toxic together, and Claudia Barnett makes that increasingly clear with dialogue that aims to break skin, draw blood and expose bone. This is an uncomfortable play in the best way.

This is an elegant and witty telling of the Cinderella fairytale through the actions and adventures of the mice. Claudia Barnett's terrific short play shows that human nature extends into the animal world, too.

DC Cathro knows relationships, the conflicts that splinter them, and the dialogue that reflects the pain and unease caused by the splintering. "A Gun or a Paycheck" is another fine example of what DC Cathro does oh so very well.

This is farce done very well. The conflicts quickly build upon one another to a ridiculous extreme. "The Great Tinsel War of 1979" tweaks small family holiday conflicts and earnest documentary narration in a swift, funny 10 minutes.

This one-act play is like a dovetail joint: Adam Richter's story about Jacob Marley and Ebenezer Scrooge aligns perfectly into what readers know from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

Richter casts the two characters in a different light than Dickens' original. The audience sees the character arc that ultimately leads to the Scrooge in Dickens' tale and provides motivation for Marley's need to visit.

The results are eerily theatrical and emotionally vibrant.

This short play is a very funny mixture of the mundane, the mysterious and the macabre. Caitlin Cieri's wonderful dialogue includes some lines that I never would have imagined possible.