Recommended by Bethany Dickens Assaf

Clever, lovely, and heartbreaking, “Pulse” is a remarkable short play: one that takes you through a historical journey without ever feeling over-explained or rushed. In fact, quite the opposite is true: Martin, Jocelyn, and Antony are lived-in, relatable characters even though they represent a remarkable moment in history. I was especially struck by the cleverness and natural warmth of the dialogue between the three. Recommended for any short play festival!

A deeply-felt work about the epidemic of school violence, “Joan’s Arc” manages to be beautifully personal and introspective, while also frank and uncompromising in its message. Hageman is incredibly skilled at crafting high school-aged characters that feel real and I was particularly impressed with how essential each one was to the themes and the story and the play’s central questions. A necessarily raw but hopeful piece on grief, memory, and the loss of innocence; one of the best I’ve read about the topic.

A deliciously clever play - I was immediately drawn in by the premise and the dry directness of the dialogue. The piece also plays lightly on themes of modern self-absorption and anti-institutionalism, remaining warm and upbeat while also giving us a great deal to think about. There are so many terrific beats here (including coinage, military takeovers, treaties) and the humor moves at a brisk pace. Would recommend to any short play festival, will be sure to get a lot of laughs!

Joyously witty: I cannot say enough about the loveliness and authenticity of this play’s central trio of characters (though I was most drawn personally to Julia and her charming cluelessness!). In addition to providing phenomenal comedic roles for the actors, I appreciated Mucci’s honesty in exploring modern dating from multiple perspectives, none of which have all the answers. The concept of the monitor was fun and well-utilized, making visible the pressure social media and dating apps bring to relationships. A real pleasure to read!

A completely engrossing one-woman show that blends an overlooked part of history with wit, verve, and emotional honesty: Sapio is certainly a gifted storyteller with an engaging style. The character of Masha comes through beautifully through this historical journey - she would be a treat for any actor to play. I was particularly struck by how much information she and the play conveyed without ever feeling dry or overly expositional. A high quality read from start to finish, and I hope to see it produced very soon.

A riveting portrayal of depression, “She’s Not There” is thoughtful and broadly meaningful, while also uncompromising in it’s exploration of one specific tragedy. We as the audience are left - along with the character of Rob, in a stunning ending - with an imprint of a life struggling to transcend circumstance (and potentially succeeding - the ending is beautifully complex and can lead to a variety of theories that will no doubt be discussed on the drive home). In addition, the play features some fine and lovely dialogue. A gripping, thought-provoking work.

Like one of its most striking visual images - a silent dance between two people the audience has never seen together before - “Beyond Sex” is graceful, poignant, and also one of the most emotionally intelligent plays I’ve read in some time. I was particularly taken with the device of keeping the four characters from meeting onstage until the final moments: this evoked questions of what makes a relationship (a la the plays title) and the gaps we leave in the world; in addition, it accentuates the play’s surprising and bittersweet losses. A naturalistic, aching meditation on love.

The opportunity to serve as a critic of anything (the word 'serve' here being ironic) tends to bring out the worst in people, and Steven G. Martin has expertly captured this in a delightful ten minute play. The character's sad motivations, emphasized by Mrs. Notting's line: "If we didn't have this competition, we would have nothing else," gives this play a twist of empathy, enriching the grandiose humor and hilarious visual images. I would love to see this staged and watch the audience's reactions to the increasingly out-of-control 'art critics!'

Gorgeously written without glossing over historical truths, Carnes' piece is a masterclass of symbolism in just 10 pages. The play also has a wonderful pace and cadence in the interweaving of the three voices. As a side-note, I was also really struck by the impressions Carnes gives us through her stage directions - 'beaten down with dust,' 'preening her daughter's clothes' - which really drew me in from the first few paragraphs. Highly recommend!

A terrific concept that soars thanks to beautifully-crafted characters, both in the midst of a difficult decision with extremely high and personal stakes. This rich and complex short play would be a wonderful opportunity for two actors: despite being science fiction, the question of who (if anyone) is really 'worthy' and 'ready' to have children is a gripping one. I really enjoyed the grace of the ending: McClain finds a satisfying resolution that resonates story-wise as well as thematically.