Recommended by Steven G. Martin

Dwayne Yancey bookends "The Ferryman's Apprentice" with Greek mythology, but I was emotionally moved by its core: a story of grief, guilt, and the impossibilities that death brings. This 10-minute play also is about perspective and acceptance, the kind that people will never have while alive. And, oh, it's bitter to realize that.

Jeff Bouthiette's "Book Club" is a fun, light comedy on the surface, but it's not all one-liners. What's great is that both mother and daughter are taking initiative to manage the newfound change in their lives, which adds depth to the characters. This is a funny and touching 10-minute play.

Different people respond differently to the same art. The characters experience this, and I think audiences will take away different things from Rose's terrific, complex play itself. Here's what I took away.

I grew frustrated with one character's P.O.V. about the attendees at her gallery opening, because I felt she pigeonholed them as much as she thought they pigeonholed her art. And I cheered the other character who appreciated the nuance in her friend's art and, maybe, people too. Both were genuinely emotional responses.

"Art House" asks question instead of offering glib answers.

J.Stephen Brantley looks at men's relationships with other men, self-esteem, sexuality, and identity in this one-act comedy-drama. "Brojob" is sexy and sad, raw and exposed, and full of negotiations and power plays. Such straightforward sexuality on stage would make it a controversial choice for production, but also a powerful one.

A docudrama that also is theatrical. An angry, political play that uses action and symbolism very well in just a few minutes. Whidden makes a statement that leads to more questions than answers. This play is unsettling and images would linger in audience members' minds a while.

"Awesome" and "heroic" aren't the same thing, and Tyler JC Whidden clearly contrasts the two in this short play. These are strong roles for male and female actors, and the central monologue packs a punch with its emotion.

Whidden provides the audience with two, side-by-side, views of destruction. One, sudden and immediate; the other, a slow unraveling. Both are affecting.

The issue itself is a turning, twisting road filled with faulty logic and gaslighting, and Whidden does it justice with a play that is just as twisting and turning. This play is going to make everyone angry. Well done.

A beautiful inter-generational story in a single page. Cato's skill at character and dialogue shines, and the subjects of life, death, and family gracefully interweave. This is a feel-good script that I would love to watch performed.

I watched a performance of "Chase" on the NU Theatre YouTube channel. It's a wonderful mystery that allows an audience to infer a lot of the details. It would be a wonderful challenge for a female actor, too.