Recommended by Steven G. Martin

Beautifully written.

The audience understands the depth of the conflicts in "I'm Not Wearing the Green Dress" slowly, which I like a lot. That also shifts perceptions of these characters, too. Jillian Blevins has done beautiful work with this script from world building (what isn't said provides a lot of information), character depth, and the use of action and visuals. This story about siblings would be terrific for a holiday festival.

Philip Middleton Williams' satire is a perfect play for Christmas- and holiday-themed festivals. It's a refreshing, sour look not at the holidays but rather human greed that provides a strong opposition to treacly sweet stories. I also love that Williams, like some of the advertising methods he tweaks in this comedy, is not subtle: This is a straightforward short story with a clear point of view.

Scott Sickles has created one of the most benign, accommodating, low-key personifications of death on this or any other plane of existence. What I love even more is the character of Michael: uncertain, wanting to know, afraid but accepting. There's a chemistry between these two that's lovely: heartbreaking, comic, compassionate.

"You May Have 6" has a really terrific character arc for its protagonist; this full-length dark comedy could be subtitled "Education of a Selfish Asshole."

DC Cathro's skill with backstory, character development and dialogue is on full display here. I was part of a reading of this play; I'd love to see a full production.

This one-act play is strange, delicate, affirming, mysterious, emotional. It's very of this moment when it feels like so many people feel alone and detached, but cannot bring themselves to say that.

Credit Greg Vovos for writing two distinct, wonderful characters and for making them relatable rather than oddly fantastical and cloying. Petal and Man are rich in their many layered emotions in "Deep Breath."

Dizzyingly, diabolically funny.

Only John Busser can satirize exactly-at-this-moment politics through a 1950s monster movie parody lens, getting laughs at the situation and characterizations as well as political allusions and references. And there are a lot of references; I'm sure I missed half of them during my initial read, and I am still laughing and gasping aloud.

"It Came From Beneath the Far Right" is brilliant. I will return to it often during this next cycle of political poppycock and balderdash. Thank you, John!

This is a love letter to those who create art, especially theatre.

K. Alexa Mavromatis and MJ Halberstadt have created a very funny character in Rostislav. There is such an over-the-top, near-ridiculous artistic temperament that it feels like a winking parody of a theatrical director.

But.

There's a shift in dialogue, in tone, in character that stops the action cold, that will sober an audience quickly. I love the comedy in "Right-Justified," but that moment, that shift is my favorite part of all. I hope this short play is produced again and again.

An audience will be tensed up from the first beat of this very dark drama to the final beat, exhausted when it's over.

Kerry Kazmierowicztrimm has filled this script with a grim atmosphere, tone and images; horrible, emotionally painful character backstories; and an unrelenting manipulation to reach the darkest conclusion.

I hope "Your Choice" will receive a robust list of productions.

Stunning premise. Brilliant execution. Intense story. Erin Moughon has written an unforgettable short drama that will leave audiences speechless.

I love how Colette Murphy adjusts the tone of this one-minute play from playful comedy to tender romance. Joan's and Henry's voices are clear especially when they change course and perspective: hers is slightly more strident, his is slightly more conciliatory. They balance well.

"On the Roof at Midnight" would be a delight to watch.