Recommended by John Bavoso

I saw a reading of this play at the Midwest Dramatists Conference and was immediately sucked into the bleak dystopia of it all. Still, even amid big questions of freedom of speech and what artifacts of the past are worth holding onto, Dave has crafted uniquely defined and relatable characters. (It’s oddly reassuring that, even after the apocalypse, we’ll still be dealing with f*ckboys who won’t text us back.) I can’t wait see where Dave takes this pieces and these characters in the future!

I love a twist ending, and this short play has a great one! Each character has a point of view that feels authentic, even when it comes into conflict with another character’s. Richard has put an original spin on the “hospital bed play” genre, and it’s one that will stick with me for a long while.

Generally, my tear ducts are purely decorative, but after seeing a reading of this play at the Midwest Dramatists Conference, I was on the verge of blubbering. Webb has crafted a slice-of-end-of-life piece that’s heartbreakingly realistic. The sibling banter feels authentic, but it’s the deeper question of what happens to you when the person your identity has been built around your whole life is gone gives it a real resonance and heft. Beautifully done!

A perfect encapsulation of a little girl who knows who she is and what she wants, no matter how unconventional! This would be a really fun piece for a child actor and a welcome, family-friendly addition to any Halloween-themed night of shorts.

I love this play—the characters, language, theatricality, structure, even the font. There’s so much danger just beneath the surface—and the supernatural is just the tip of the iceberg. Walker has a way of dramatizing the pushing of sexual boundaries and toying with emotions that feels both true to teenage life and campily heightened at the same time. This whole fuckin’ play is a big mood—sexy, scary, sinister, silly, and smart. Read and produce this play right now, please! (P.S.: “A single Pomeranian barking” is the best stage direction ever.)

An eerie piece that builds in mystery and dread, Route 84 is a masterclass in distillation and economy of language. Salsbury wastes no time getting us into the story, and she trusts her audience to get on board or be left behind. Easy to produce and perfect for this time of year, this play would be a chilling addition to any horror play festival!

Carter packs so much story, creativity, and humor into 10 minutes in this fantastic short play! With ridiculously fun roles for three actors and a heartfelt message amid the satire, this piece is sure to be a huge hit with audiences of all ages.

I got to see a reading of this at the 2019 Midwest Dramatists Conference and was enthralled by the original premise and delighted by the wittiness of the writing. Dickens uses theatricality to shine a light on the kind of calculus many of us over-thinkers engage in before taking even the most mundane action. Highly recommended!

I saw a reading of this at the 2019 Midwest Dramatists Conference and it was absolutely hysterical (I do not chide). Adams uses an original-yet-familiar format to comment on gender roles in the here and now. I'd love to see a full production of this one day!

A delightful comedy about the horrors of the job searching process and the necessity of code-switching. Filled with fun theatrical flourishes, this was a joy to watch a reading of and I imagine it would a blast to perform in. Highly recommended!