Recommended by Steven G. Martin

This comic, fantasy, one-act play is a glorious concoction of the mundane and the fabulous.

"Of Garden Gnomes and Other Tragedies" is proof positive that Scott Sickles loves the fantasy genre. I love his skill at building worlds and personal histories, his ability to create dialogue that shares all that exposition in a hugely comic manner, and now he can boil down conflict to the most basic of human needs: a good dusting.

I listened to a reading of "Of Garden Gnomes and Other Tragedies," and everyone involved was jovially laughing at Sickles' wonderful play. Read it for yourself.

Jessica Huang creates an inspired story in this comic script.

"A Unicorn on 7th and Nicollet" is a modern fantasy, social commentary about self-centered men, and homage to The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Different audience members will enjoy this 10-minute play for different reasons. Produce it!

It's wonderful when a playwright trusts an audience's intelligence and she can avoid using blocky exposition to build the world, define character, or suggest action.

Julia Pascal has written a monologue that is so frightening, so filled with tension because everything has to be inferred in the dialogue.

Through language, through dialogue (all of it in-the-moment-filled-with-terror directness) an audience understands who Irena is, when and where she is, and the threats she faces. "Irena Walks" is very good writing.

During desperate times comes a wish for normalcy.

The world has gone to hell, but Phanesia Pharel creates two characters in Jules and Mason who are still filled with long-term humanity: desire, humor, caregiving, and clarity. This conflict is one of the many strengths in this 10-minute romance, which also makes use of humor, poetic asides, and action to showcase character and story.

"Say Their Names" is an uplifting, powerful reminder to LGBQTIA+ people that we will persevere. The queer breath and the queer kiss, as Monica Palacios notes, are everlasting.

Palacios creates such specificity in "Say Their Names," book-ending a passionate coming out story with a prayer, almost a passionate plea/anthem, made from the names of the people who were killed at Pulse in Orlando.

Historic, political, personal, passionate. "Say Their Names" is terrific.

When a person realizes she isn't young anymore, it's a life-changing moment. Mona Washington captures the moment wonderfully in the one-minute comedy "Synecdoche."

A wonderful part of this comedy is the suggestion that there is no realization so painful that it can't be made worse with a parent's commentary. Hello wound, meet salt.

Seanan Palmero Waugh has written a sharp jab of a satirical play that hits its target smack-dab in the middle.

It isn't just that I can relate to this play or that its very premise is true. The great thing is the unanswered question at the end, and the implications that the non-answer suggests. Whose life holds value?

Frolicking and sexy at first, affirming and empowering at the end. "The Dawning of the Age of Ganymede" quickens the pulse.

When the most powerful beings want to shop, it's fun to hear them coo and swoon over the best-looking mortal of all time. It's fun to change up tradition, like they say. But Wang strongly aligns with the seriousness of such decisions (Zeus comes out!) and what their effects may be -- all while keeping things brisk and banter-filled.

A nice tightrope act, comedically written. Brava, Lucy Wang!

A feel-good, warm-hearted, gently comic short play about Chinese fathers and sons communicating (and sometimes not communicating) about their lives.

From the setting to the characters and dialogue, Lucy Wang skillfully leads the audience and characters into a play about understanding and appreciating tradition, yet not shying away from new opportunities. The role of Charlie would be a gift to an older comic actor, and the bantering dialogue would please any audience. "Tao of Fruit" would make for a delightful production.

"Until Sunrise, or, When Blue Hours Turn Golden" is more in-depth than a mantra, more intelligent than a pep talk or rally cry, more sincere and open and soothing than most monologues.

These are the words that your loved one writes on a hidden note placed secretly in your pocket. These are the words that the wisest in your community expresses to the whole. Intimate & broad. Franky Gonzalez's words soothe and secure, especially amidst difficult times.

May this short play have a rich, varied production history so the words, the emotions reach many, many people.