Recommended by Bethany Dickens Assaf

Lovely, subtle, and yet unflinchingly grounded in the world of familiar sorrows, Rough Waters is a thoughtful piece that accomplishes so much in ten short minutes. The audience is bestowed a rare opportunity to see a true-to-life relationship begin and develop in that time, with all its specifics and awkward moments. Silence plays a key role in the piece, providing plenty of opportunities for audiences to sink into O'Neill-Butler's gorgeous dialogue.

Delicate, sweet, and deeply meaningful, Williams is a master at drawing realistic dialogue that actually tells and reveals so much more than the words themselves. The relationship between the two men is both familiar and specific and slowly opens up to reach the audience in a profound way. It certainly got dusty in the room when I heard the piece at the Midwest Dramatists Convention.

Visceral and unflinching, this monologue is capable of reaching insane heights of drama and passion. Wyndham has clearly researched every bit of the world of cosplay and its all on display here: lovers of anime and superheroes will be further drawn in, while the rest of us will feel the emotional bombardment of this culture, either of which plays a role in elevating the narrative. It's a physical experience and one that the audience will be talking about long after the blackout.

A fascinating theatrical concept - which opens up wonderful possibilities for staging - balanced with real warmth and compassion. Esposito's dialogue is smart and grounded but allows itself to grow into key moments of lyrical beauty. Sure to be a conversation-starter about the presence of the past.

Imaginative, theatrical, and very, very fun, Vansant utilizes a strong concept to describe the a search for a job (and, perhaps, oneself). While this woeful tale is particularly relevant to the millennial generation, the belief that a job should define who we are is an inter-generational paradigm that deserves more attention. A lovely and worthy addition to any short play festival.

Marvelously theatrical and witty, Cohen has tapped directly into the confusion and existential agonies of millennial feminism. References to 90s- and early 2000s-culture abound, but there are enough questions about lived experiences to reach - and amuse - any audience; particularly: what does it mean to be 'strong?' What has modernity lost in redefining concepts of adventure and womanhood? And what do we owe to the world, anyway?

Writing two gender-neutral characters is tricky, and Weibezahl does it well in this bittersweet piece. In addition to the gender of the characters, the piece provides is a lot of lovely room for a director to bring in their interpretation, while also maintaining the specifics that define a relationship. The smartly-drawn, ethereal setting further adds layers to the deep bitterness between the two characters.

Interesting and exciting: I was on the edge of my seat, pleased that I had no idea where this piece would go next. As a white woman, I appreciated that this piece directly indicted me without pulling any punches. An excellent and polished piece of theatre.

A sweet and melancholy love story that gives the audience a window into two fascinating souls. This play is anything but a simple meet-cute. Smith sets up a meaningful conversation with some interesting specifics and allows his characters room to be themselves. Amazing that the relationship between two strangers could feel so full and rich after only ten minutes!

An absolutely wonderful concept that unfurls in unexpected ways. Both characters have striking individual voices and the dialogue is tack-sharp. This is a play to excite audiences, leave them wanting more, and get them talking about the aspirational stories we tell about ourselves.