Recommended by Philip Middleton Williams

I got to see this short piece at the Miami One-Acts Winter Session 24 and was totally pulled into this haunting tale that harks to spooky legends of the Everglades. Ruben Diaz's moody setting and well-developed characters give even the spookiest moment a touch of reality and humor. Unlike some of the genre that depends on caricature, it's easy to relate to the fears and skepticism, not to mention the bonds of friendship.

Having lived a life with a prominent W in my world, this little gem of a Christmas horror story is fun and -- in the best possible way -- wonderfully stupid. The set-up and the execution hark back to the best of the cheesy dark mansion presentations, and the characters are right out of a Vincent Price classic tale, but in true Prillaman style, wonderfully wacky.

This short piece struck very close to home. It doesn't matter why, but suffice it to say that John Busser has an ear and a voice for the relationship between a brother and sister who are having differences over trivial moments -- some funny and achingly true -- to fend off the avalanche of grieving that comes with losing a parent. It's tender, touching, and honest to the point that even if it hasn't happened to you, you will still relate to the feelings if not the situation.

This is more than your typical story of two drunk bros getting in bed together and messing around, only to wake up in the morning as if nothing happened. There’s real character development here, and true sensitivity about the feelings of each other. It doesn’t take away from the fact that these young guys are figuring out the mechanics of gay sex, but it’s done with heart and sensitivity, and Kieran Khanna tells it with wit and imagination.

Weaving between Mel Brooks satire, SNL parody, and an Irwin Allen disaster flick, Jacquie Floyd-Priskorn takes us to Anchorage -- a lovely city, by the way -- and turns it into a laboratory for a crazed tech rich guy to show his latest acquisition. What could possibly go wrong, especially when it's shown live on the local morning show with your giddy anchors and field reporters? The message, delivered with rapier-like precision, is a punch delivered with a maniacal laugh.

You know it's really good satire when you can't really tell if it is satire or a transcript from a real press conference. Every nuance is there that takes you right up to the edge of sanity and outright outrageousness. Jennifer O'Grady's tale of the Christmas Yet to Be is acerbic and totally believable, which is what makes is both hilarious and frightening.

When you combine one of the greatest writers of science fiction with the magic of Santa Claus and wishing for a way out of a homework assignment, very strange things can happen. The vivid and irreverent imagination of Sam Heyman is on full holiday display in this funny and even a touch macabre short play that teaches Caleb his lesson in reading and a bit too much about magical thinking. And maybe Santa's had a bit too much dandelion wine... Perfect for your next holiday play festival.

If I say that I had the ending figured out before I got there, would that be a sign of human intelligence or am I really just showing my AI chops? Not to worry; no spoiler alert because John Busser had me going from the beginning to the end, and only by thinking -- aha! -- did I catch on to the true test. I think that -- there's that word again -- all systems are functioning within normal parameters, and this one exceeds specified expectations.

Having spent a good part of my life in places like Winnebago County, Wisconsin, this story of friends, family, and home remedies -- not to mention out-and-out fabulousness -- hits all the right chords with a great mix of farce and homespun insight and family love. Darrin Friedmas's talent for bringing characters to life is on full display here, and I would love to see this play as a port of any theatre season. And that's no croak. (11/19/24)

Douglas Gearhart's spare and lyrical writing is on full display in this poignant short play about grief, loss, and the ache of being left behind. What is very hard to put into words is done to great effect by letting the silence and the intense suppressed feelings speak what Big Jim, Rose, and Dean cannot express in words. It is not often that I am moved to an emotional reaction by such moments, but this is one story that did that for me, and I know it will do the same for an audience.