Recommended by Steven G. Martin

Gatton's short comedy/drama "She's Blown Away" showcases the playwright's skill in understanding and empathizing with all characters. There is rich backstory for all three characters in this short play, and those stories strongly impact the central conflict. And Mika may be one of the best-written characters for a young female actor.

"She's Blown Away" is one of Gatton's anthology plays with ties to a tragic central event, whose effects ripple for years. Wonderful breadth of writing.

Gatton shows so much in such a short amount of stage time with "Status Update."

This mother/son drama understands no one truly knows what they'll become later in life, that the term "old" is entirely subjective, and that living in the past isn't good but short, intermittent visits can raise one's spirits.

"Status Update" is one of Gatton's anthology plays with ties to a tragic central event, whose effects ripple for years. Wonderful breadth of writing.

Strayer shows how others feel our sense of loss, and even understand what we need to cope. But Strayer doesn't sugarcoat the loss or the uncertainty of what the future holds. This is one minute play may bring a tear.

An audience will want to strongly deny the dramatic irony that is central to Gatton's short play, hoping, hoping, hoping it isn't true but knowing, deep down, it is.

"Things Are Looking Up" also has a slight "Monkey's Paw" feel to it, as the wishes for home, for work come true in unexpected ways. Strong character, dialogue, and structure work by Gatton.

"Things Are Looking Up" is one of Gatton's anthology plays with ties to a tragic central event, whose effects ripple for years. Wonderful breadth of writing.

Melody DeRogatis nicely taps into the angst of 25-year-old people in this short comedy. The protagonist Aris is so lost in trying to find out who she is, she's taking lessons from anything and everything available to her -- including astrology.

An audience will want so much for Aris to more fully commit to Benny, and they'll feel such agitation while watching this play. And it's got a perfect ending.

A snob meets her comeuppance. Andrea Aptecker quickly sets a tone for this 10-minute dark comedy, but it quickly melts away in a flood of haughty arrogance and snide behavior, all in the name of faux expertise.

An immensely satisfying play.

A tidy play with tidy characters whose tidy lives may soon shatter, as hinted at by the chaos instilled in Prillaman's fine end stage direction. Something's going to happen ...

Ridiculously funny premise and execution. These gleefully malicious fruits get their say.

Writing a story that moves from light to dark is impressive, but so is moving through varying degrees of darkness. I really enjoyed how Jackie Martin takes "Cookies for Bethany" from a dark comedy of errors to a brief, objective portrait of a sociopathic character.

When DC Cathro prepared to write "Massage Envy," he surely conducted research into the Seven Deadly Sins. And upon reading all he could about the subject, he threw it away and said, "I can go further."