Recommended by Steven G. Martin

  • Steven G. Martin: A Dream Of Japanese Horror

    This is an adventurous, action-filled, fun short play about storytelling, horror tropes, and the power of dreams.

    Rob Matsushita has done triple duty here, not only creating a story and characters of a never-before-told Japanese horror movie, but also commentary about it and -- by extension -- Japanese moviemaking. And the dream logic throughout is terrific: "Well, since it was a dream, and I don’t speak Japanese, I
    guess I just understood that they were speaking Japanese."

    "A Dream of Japanese Horror" will be so much fun for your director, your fight choreographer, actors, designers, and...

    This is an adventurous, action-filled, fun short play about storytelling, horror tropes, and the power of dreams.

    Rob Matsushita has done triple duty here, not only creating a story and characters of a never-before-told Japanese horror movie, but also commentary about it and -- by extension -- Japanese moviemaking. And the dream logic throughout is terrific: "Well, since it was a dream, and I don’t speak Japanese, I
    guess I just understood that they were speaking Japanese."

    "A Dream of Japanese Horror" will be so much fun for your director, your fight choreographer, actors, designers, and audiences.

  • Steven G. Martin: Assassinating Zeus

    Really beautifully written horror/suspense. Tension builds and builds in one area, and then the audience discovers they've been worried for the wrong reasons the entire time.

    Daniel Prillaman's dark imaginative plays chill to the bone, and "Assassinating Zeus" is no exception. This 10-minute play starts with a warning to pay attention to our surroundings (HONK), to notice details around us (HONK) and it concludes with a single, very intimate dose of horror.

    Chilling in its action, dialogue, and visuals. Honk.

    Really beautifully written horror/suspense. Tension builds and builds in one area, and then the audience discovers they've been worried for the wrong reasons the entire time.

    Daniel Prillaman's dark imaginative plays chill to the bone, and "Assassinating Zeus" is no exception. This 10-minute play starts with a warning to pay attention to our surroundings (HONK), to notice details around us (HONK) and it concludes with a single, very intimate dose of horror.

    Chilling in its action, dialogue, and visuals. Honk.

  • Steven G. Martin: The Man in 119

    "The Man in 119" will not be an easy play to produce. Scott Sickles employs multiple timelines, multiple settings -- including one that is outdoors -- lots of sound cues, lots of physical action and zero dialogue to tell this story.

    But the richness of emotion and desire, the tenderness and sadness these characters feel will tug on the audience like an ocean current.

    "The Man in 119" is the play that you assign to your best director and designers to bring to life in collaboration with strong, expressive actors. It won't be easy. It will be worth it.

    "The Man in 119" will not be an easy play to produce. Scott Sickles employs multiple timelines, multiple settings -- including one that is outdoors -- lots of sound cues, lots of physical action and zero dialogue to tell this story.

    But the richness of emotion and desire, the tenderness and sadness these characters feel will tug on the audience like an ocean current.

    "The Man in 119" is the play that you assign to your best director and designers to bring to life in collaboration with strong, expressive actors. It won't be easy. It will be worth it.

  • Steven G. Martin: Icebox Placenta (a monologue for women)

    Melissa Bell has researched how placentas are treated throughout the world, and that shows in this short comedic monologue.

    Re-reading it, it seems clear that cultures from long ago and far away had options for women who kept the placenta. So I found it ironic that there seem to be no options available to Patti in contemporary America.

    Melissa Bell has researched how placentas are treated throughout the world, and that shows in this short comedic monologue.

    Re-reading it, it seems clear that cultures from long ago and far away had options for women who kept the placenta. So I found it ironic that there seem to be no options available to Patti in contemporary America.

  • Steven G. Martin: The Border Troll

    This one-act play questions, frustrates, and latches on painfully tight with pincers and teeth so it can't be ignored.

    Steven San Luis has framed this political satire as a fairy tale/folk tale, which I found smart. But complexity rains upon complexity, frustrations grow almost exponentially, and that slight veneer of fairy tale with slightly charming qualities is rubbed out.

    "The Border Troll" is not easy. It pushes an audience's threshhold for frustration. But the last echoing lines, which I'm guessing reflect San Luis's opinions, are wise and haunting. This is strong political satire....

    This one-act play questions, frustrates, and latches on painfully tight with pincers and teeth so it can't be ignored.

    Steven San Luis has framed this political satire as a fairy tale/folk tale, which I found smart. But complexity rains upon complexity, frustrations grow almost exponentially, and that slight veneer of fairy tale with slightly charming qualities is rubbed out.

    "The Border Troll" is not easy. It pushes an audience's threshhold for frustration. But the last echoing lines, which I'm guessing reflect San Luis's opinions, are wise and haunting. This is strong political satire.

  • Steven G. Martin: A Clue in the Library

    A delightful skewering of pop culture, namely the board game "Clue."

    But give Steven Hayet more credit than just writing a funny parody. As with "Everlasting Chocolate Therapy," Hayet adds interesting layers to themes and stories. "A Clue in the Library" takes on men who patronize women just because it's easier that way and how information can be stored, deduced, and shared in the most ridiculous of ways.

    "A Clue in the Library" is also fun, and actors willing to go over the top in characterization will thrive.

    A delightful skewering of pop culture, namely the board game "Clue."

    But give Steven Hayet more credit than just writing a funny parody. As with "Everlasting Chocolate Therapy," Hayet adds interesting layers to themes and stories. "A Clue in the Library" takes on men who patronize women just because it's easier that way and how information can be stored, deduced, and shared in the most ridiculous of ways.

    "A Clue in the Library" is also fun, and actors willing to go over the top in characterization will thrive.

  • Steven G. Martin: A TROUBLING STATE OF AFFAIRS

    This ten-minute dark mystery has enough twists and turns to satisfy even the staunchest fan of the genre.

    Jack Levine sets Eric, the defendant in a criminal case, against wave upon wave of evidence. Always protesting his innocence and coming up with even-more-near-impossible reasons to show how the evidence could be faked, Eric is in for the fight of his life.

    And then the other shoe drops.

    A glorious, jaw-dropping, triple-take-inducing monologue explains it all. And yet explains nothing, which leads to another shoe drop. "A Troubling State of Affairs" is utter, stylish fun.

    This ten-minute dark mystery has enough twists and turns to satisfy even the staunchest fan of the genre.

    Jack Levine sets Eric, the defendant in a criminal case, against wave upon wave of evidence. Always protesting his innocence and coming up with even-more-near-impossible reasons to show how the evidence could be faked, Eric is in for the fight of his life.

    And then the other shoe drops.

    A glorious, jaw-dropping, triple-take-inducing monologue explains it all. And yet explains nothing, which leads to another shoe drop. "A Troubling State of Affairs" is utter, stylish fun.

  • Steven G. Martin: Another Park, Another Sunday

    Audiences will be drawn in by the charm of the friendship shown in this short dramatic comedy/comedic drama, and they'll be pleased by the depth of discussion throughout.

    Philip Middleton Williams refers to one of the greatest American plays in "Another Park, Another Sunday" while also creating an offshoot of it, adding insights to the themes of death and dying, but more importantly life and living.

    Enjoy the deeply considered story and themes of "Another Park, Another Sunday." Enjoy the portrait of friendship and camaraderie, too.

    Audiences will be drawn in by the charm of the friendship shown in this short dramatic comedy/comedic drama, and they'll be pleased by the depth of discussion throughout.

    Philip Middleton Williams refers to one of the greatest American plays in "Another Park, Another Sunday" while also creating an offshoot of it, adding insights to the themes of death and dying, but more importantly life and living.

    Enjoy the deeply considered story and themes of "Another Park, Another Sunday." Enjoy the portrait of friendship and camaraderie, too.

  • Steven G. Martin: Damaged

    This short play ranges from the most frivolous and shallowest of conversations to the densest and most in-depth monologue of self-awareness.

    DC Cathro's dialogue (some characters say truly rotten things, others say truly heroic things) and structure in "Damaged" provide a strong foundation in the exploration of desire, attraction, jealousy, cruelty, and love.

    I love that there is such a strong chemistry between the three characters; sometimes it's antagonistic, but it's there nonetheless. I love that the central monologue absolutely destroys some of the ridiculous things spoken earlier in...

    This short play ranges from the most frivolous and shallowest of conversations to the densest and most in-depth monologue of self-awareness.

    DC Cathro's dialogue (some characters say truly rotten things, others say truly heroic things) and structure in "Damaged" provide a strong foundation in the exploration of desire, attraction, jealousy, cruelty, and love.

    I love that there is such a strong chemistry between the three characters; sometimes it's antagonistic, but it's there nonetheless. I love that the central monologue absolutely destroys some of the ridiculous things spoken earlier in the play.

    I love this play.

  • Steven G. Martin: THE BEAUTY OF A ROSE

    This is satisfying short science fiction.

    Jack Levine may include a twist in this 10-minute drama, but that isn't what the story is about. Instead, the twist serves to tell part of the story, to reflect upon the theme of "The Beauty of a Rose."

    Nicely written.

    This is satisfying short science fiction.

    Jack Levine may include a twist in this 10-minute drama, but that isn't what the story is about. Instead, the twist serves to tell part of the story, to reflect upon the theme of "The Beauty of a Rose."

    Nicely written.