Recommended by Philip Middleton Williams

Suspenseful and told in such a cold and chilling way that you keep going, holding your breath, wanting to know but afraid as well. A wonderful piece for an audition... or telling spooky stories around the campfire.

Several geological ages ago I took a grad school seminar in Scandinavian Drama at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis taught by Prof. Stockenstrom. We studied the hell out of "Miss Julie," so I approached Heather Meyer's play with piqued curiosity. Oh, how I wish we could have had this play alongside the work it is based on during those frigid dark days of class because it would have done two things: enlightened me to what that tortured soul Strindberg was writing about more than any seminar, and it would have been great to hear Prof. Stockenstrom laugh for once.

A fascinating little moment that has the perfect twist at the end. Then again, I expect no less from Matthew Weaver.

Sometimes a story can be told in such a way that the reader thinks they know how it will end. Not so with this powerful and incisive drama about a father and son with seemingly irreconcilable differences. TJ Young gives us a full portrait of the relationship in a concise way that shows insight to both points of view yet doesn't give in to sentiment. The characters are full and relatable, the dialogue genuine and ringing with honesty of feeling, and it leaves us with wanting to know them as much as they do each other.

The battle Michael takes on within himself is a haunting and poetic moment.

A lot of us could write this story, me included, but I don't think anyone could have told it with as much feeling and visceral impact as Larry Rinkel. We know what the playwright is going through, but the power and brutal honesty he brings out in these short pages is exactly right. Thank you, Larry.

There are moments in this play that bring smiles of recognition to me, told in such a way that it's not just about a boy's crush but on any person's unrequited yet unquenchable fixation -- in a good way -- on someone who has no idea that there's someone watching and wondering... or do they? DC Cathro's deft and lyrical writing never goes beyond the innocent curiosity and longing, and leaves the reader with a sense of understanding and caring.

An allegorical tale that works its way through by using the horror genre to great effect.

Given any situation and given enough time and the right imagination, it all comes down to sex. You want to buy some windows? Sure; you want double-hung? (Snicker.) How big is the rough opening? (Gigglesnort.) And when it comes to talkin' sports, it's almost too easy. But in the skillful hands (heh) of Lee R. Lawing, an on-line chat between two baseball fans quickly gets some uninvited guests who are looking for a little play-by-play (Oooh...) And the best part is that it's done with the right touch (oh yeah) and humor without scaring the horses (Yikes!).

I would love to see this joyous and audacious farce performed, but I would also insist on hearing the stage directions read along with it because Toby Malone's talent lies not just in writing a great play with lots of smart and funny dialogue, his asides are essential to the telling of this tale. But that doesn't mean it can't be a fast-paced and beautifully-timed comedy of manners, of slapstick -- pun intended! -- and non-stop energy.