Recommended by John Bavoso

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!

I love the nuance and realism of this play and how it’s still masterfully threaded through with striking, theatrical images. It’s a small play that has a lot to say about big themes without ever becoming didactic. Benne has such a clear voice, and I genuinely hope to be able to see a production of this play one day!

If there’s anything I miss about church, it’s a well-conceived and delivered sermon. O,Neill takes us on an unpredictable, imaginative ride via Father Dominic and Fitzpatrick. In doing so, he presents an earnest and far-reaching examination of quantum mechanics, faith, longing, and irony. A worthy challenge for a game actor, this would be a truly unique addition to any short play festival!

Like the gay(er) version of Not Getting Married Today, this delightful short play shows how crazy love can make us (and how important breath control is!). Eddie would obviously be a very fun role to play, but the actor who inhabits Richard has the chance to really shine in a more subtle way as well. Easy to produce and sure to be a crowd-pleaser, this is a no-brainer for any short play festival!

“No one can touch you Matthew Shepard. You are the symbol.” Phillip’s writing is so uniquely layered. This play is at turns deeply disturbing, hauntingly magical, and surprisingly funny. He has found a way to bridge 1998 and today, the result of which is a profound and shocking meditation on revenge, hate, and, ultimately, love. This would be a thrilling challenge to produce for an LGBTQ+ theatre company or festival.

A fun, campy romp that would be a blast to perform for in and watch! Simpatico gives Tina some great one-liners. Would make a great addition to any comedy festival!

This is a clever and quick-moving short play that efficiently explores big themes like what happens when you fall outside of the stereotypical gay image and how our own insecurities can warp our perspectives. That’s not to say it’s preachy or self-serious—on the contrary, it’s packed with great one-liners and an adorable ending. Highly recommended!