Recommended by Steven G. Martin

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. 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.

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.

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!