Recommended by Philip Middleton Williams

I have the advantage of having met Sam in person and spent time with him, listening to him, sharing a meal and seeing his work acted out, so this monologue brings a flash of recognition and understanding. But I can also hear it spoken by others -- by myself, even -- and the honesty, the vulnerability, and the strength that come through it go beyond his own voice. This is a powerful story that accomplishes so much because of its genial yet direct address from his heart and soul to yours. I know the audience will love it.

I read this piece waiting for the punch line, the button; the twist... something that would tell me that Mike Byham's forecast for first contact in the not-too-distant future was going to end differently. But he plays his satire well, making each character believable and without a nod, wink, or nudge to the audience that this is all some dystopian joke. He's framed the situation within the cone of plausibility so that the outrageous -- and the scary -- seem benignly real. Take it from someone who's been on a lot of first dates, he's not far off.

I don't know where I heard "the first pancake rule," but I've used it in my writing. However, I think Adam Richter takes the cake (pun intended) in this one-minute gem.

Peter Fenton tells us that this monologue is for a young man. But "young" is a flexible term, and as a reader (and writer) already one year into his eighth decade, I wonder if I'll ever grow up based on the measures he lays out for us. Some call it the Peter Pan syndrome; a refusal to grow up, but it means more than taking on responsibilities such as taxes and laundry-folding. I think, and as this monologue makes it clear, there's a difference between maturing and growing up, and this young man has matured beyond his years.

When the writers' strike ends, I want John Busser to go to Hollywood and write the real "Afterschool Specials" like "Taken to School." It would be a real lesson for all those who think that kids don't learn from their parents. Shades of Abbie Hoffman mixed in with a little John Dillinger. John's talent for dry humor and satire is well-established and this polishes his reputation even more.

In every relationship, the level of communication between the two people can be blurred or obscured even when they think they're connecting... but are they really? Are they talking to each other, talking past each other, or saying one thing and hearing something else? In this short but powerful piece, Hal and George see their recent breakup in vastly different terms all the while sure they're telling each other -- and themselves -- why their relationship came to an end. Sam Heyman does a masterful job of giving them every chance, and yet... Touching and truthful in every way.

Turning right-wing nutsery on its ear and into a lesson on history, faith and practice, as well as delightful humor makes this short play a fun and important tale to share. Jillian Blevins' laser-sharp dialogue, endearing characters, and comic touches never miss the target.

If a stranger who knew everything about you offered you a chance to not just change your life but get some long-sought revenge, would you take it? Or is it some kind of bargain with...? Darrin Friedman has crafted a tidy and fully-developed pairing with a very compelling premise. What would you do? Well, the first thing you should do is read this play and then share it or produce it.

There's an old saying that wisdom is not measured by degrees. I'm not sure where I heard that; P.F. Chang's or from the Shoebill Stork, but it doesn't matter; it's where we find it. Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn's tale of seeking wisdom from a big bird is full of humor, laugh-out-loud situations, and in doing so makes us wiser, smarter, and happier. Well, that's for you to decide, but you'd be an idiot if you didn't love it.

Who can resist a flatulent metaphor? Not I, and Jillian Blevins rips this one out onto the porch and into the light of day. But barking-spider jokes aside, this short piece is worthy of sharing, and I am still grinning from the lessons that Doxy teaches Wilkin and the rest of us.