Recommended by Philip Middleton Williams

I've been a fan of John Adams' work for years with his wry look at life and always through the lens of intelligent humor and very relatable and often hilarious stories. In this short piece presented at the Midwest Dramatists Conference 2024, he introduces us to Gideon and Jax; Gideon the uptight protector of certain secrets, and Jax, a young man with charm and sex appeal that gives Gideon more to think about than just finding what he's looking for. A gem on all counts. (10/5/24)

The personality clashes in this short piece are cringe-worthy for all the right reasons because we see that Natalie is using her outdoor voice and behavior to cover for her near-panic, and Katherine, who uses her attention and responses to Natalie to calm her own trepidation. It is a mismatch that works on all levels, and watching these two people find their way is deeply meaningful. (10/5/24)

While the setting and the set-up may be familiar -- I've written more than one myself -- the two women in the clinic waiting room share their lives in ways that go beyond the usual and get you to listen and care so much for them that you want to be with them and care about them beyond the end. Very touching and powerful. (10/5/24)

The stars have always been a mystery to us. Legends tell us that they guide our fate, grant us wishes, predict the future, and even if the nearest one is light-years away, they are as close to us as the touch of a hand or the arms of a loved one. In this exchange between two people as shown at the Midwest Dramatists Conference, we are with them in their journey. A lovely and haunting play. (10/5/24)

Oh, if only we could find out what life will be like in the future and assure our past selves. Haz Cady presented a smart and tender tale about just that at the Midwest Dramatists Conference, and it didn't hold back on both the good and the bad. This is not a story of wishful thinking or fear but of hope tinged with the reality that no matter what life brings us, we can learn and grow and become. (10/5/24)

This short journey into the shared memories of a family goes into the territory of science fiction without all of the special effects. The subtle suggestion that being able to recall ancestral memories is an interpretation for real-life diversities makes this a compelling allegory for reality. Listening to this reading at Midwest Dramatists Conference put me of a mind of the works of Ray Bradbury: lyrical and deceptively impactful. (10/03/24)

It isn't often that a short play strikes at the heart of a memory, but in the case of this play by Bridget Grace Sheaff, I was reminded of the last days of my marriage and the little things that marked its end. But instead of being sad or angry, I was grateful to see how honest and even funny those moments can be, all wrapped up in a coffee cup, deciding who gets what. This moment captures both the heart and the soul of these two, and you want to wish them both well from now on. (10/03/24)

Greg Lam's insight into the plight of Juliet -- not to mention a lot of other unfortunate souls -- is both clever and delightful, but more importantly, it lends credence to the fact that this Shakespeare fella had issues with how to end a story. There's enough references to the works of the Bard and his outcomes to keep any grad school drama seminar going for a whole semester, but more than that, it will keep those who have never seen one of his plays on stage watching and loving it. (9/30/24)

What would possess this unlikely and so-not-outdoorsy couple to venture into the wilderness with a pre-owned tent that has a haunted past? Leave it to the skills of Tom Moran to bring out the humor and chills as they discover there's more to a night in the woods than watching out for bears. Even in a reading, you know they're really in for spooky time. (9/28/24)

What happens when legends become real and fall into the event horizon of social media influencers? A collision of epic proportions between historical validation and the crush of publicity, not to mention the merch to go along with it. Kyle Walker's skills at satire laced with real concern for how we treat the world are on full display and it's a combination of great laughs tinged with the reminder of what's really at stake. (9/28/24)