Recommended by Steven G. Martin

McMorran has written a tart, tangy blackout sketch: it's funny, direct, and a little bit savage.

This ten-minute dramatic fantasy is a feel-good play.

"Broke/Fix" shows that people at horrible odds with one another still can come together when someone else is desperately in need of compassion. Joan and Jessi, Gina Femia's protagonists, can't communicate with one another while focusing on their own problems. But I love that they show their humanity in the presence of someone else in need. And by doing so, there is promise in their own re-connection.

"Broke/Fix"'s fantastic story, characters, and underlying emotions would appeal to audiences and theatre makers alike.

This collection of short, 1-minute plays is stunning in its variety, depth, and insight.

Emily McClain's "Triptych on Igniting" includes smaller plays about societal/cultural upheaval, being present for a person who has undergone immense pain, and mourning the smallest details of our lives that bring meaning.

Equally varied are McClain's methods to share these stories: highly visual storytelling that includes only a little dialogue; a robust, emotionally weighty monologue; and patter amongst a large group of five characters.

"Triptych on Igniting" is about differences, which make the similarities that much richer.

The other shoe will drop. It always does, and it always surprises.

Ruben Carbajal immediately tosses the audience into a tense situation without providing clues to the era or situation. Through costume and the precise dialogue, the audience receives hints. But then the details are shared, and everything that the audience has built in their minds may very well have exploded.

"All the Kingsmen" is an excellent historic play. It would be great to produce in a festival.

The comedy is all in the juxtaposition.

Samantha Marchant's 1-minute comedy "Steam" balances farce-like levels of silent, physical comedy with probably the least helpful self-help messaging ever heard on radio. Bonus points for including Ryan Reynolds in the conversation.

A female actor with strong physical comedy skills and a good director blessed with timing will greatly enjoy working on and producing "Steam" for audiences.

This one-minute drama feels like it's more about what isn't said.

I love that Samantha Marchant has put so much pressure on Paul in "Good Boy." He's doing a tremendous amount of physical work, there is a threat of rain, Erin is questioning him, and he's lost a faithful companion. Yet at the very end, Paul can barely summon more than a sigh.

"Good Boy" is a very nice character-driven play, one than an insightful actor could put a lot into during a performance.

This monologue feels like a eulogy of an entire type of person and way of life -- hardworking, earnest, direct rural farmers who eke out a living by caring for and cultivating the land.

Plummer's "Vermont Farmer" is rich with imagery and a bit of sadness created from the realization that things change.

I especially am grateful for this monologue as it showcases people in rural areas and their lives, something I can relate to.

This ten-minute play is a chaotic mashup of theatre that will delight, confound, and cheer audiences. (A talking cat serving as an academic advisor for graduate students? Brace yourselves.)

Dominica Plummer does a wonderful job of creating the historic setting then layering other elements including time travel/science fiction, academia, talking cats, and impossible love interests. They all work together well in this 10-minute play. Plus, we're given a really terrific protagonist to cheer for as Mistress Magdalen follows her heart.

This short play has a dreamy, almost meditative feeling as the audience sees two brothers growing up, relating to one another, and to their place in the world.

Austin Hendricks has created a structure that may feel random, but has fine-tuned details that further support the theme and feeling of personal growth. He also employs action well for the same effect.

A little somber, a little quiet, a little ponderous ... this is an example of a perfect play for 2:34 a.m.

This 10-minute Christmastime drama shows young, divorced parents at their breaking point, yet still trying to come together.

I love that DC Cathro shows so much empathy for all of his characters, including Robert and Polly in "Under Multicolored Lights." He never judges his characters, he just understands them so they can better understand one another. They may not be able to put their emotions into words, but they are trying and that's what needs to happen in order to grow.

"Under Multicolored Lights" would be a lot of fun for a lighting designer.