Recommended by John Bavoso

I saw a production of this play a couple years ago and still think about it often. Great setup, great characters, great dialog, great specificity. A wonderful addition to any short play festival where a little humor and romance would be welcome!

A darkly comic play, THE WISH offers a brutal update to the “be careful what you wish for” genre. Adaway invites the audience to the worst birthday party ever, complete with cake, booze, and biting one-liners. With a brisk pace and recognizable characters, this is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

I was lucky enough to see a production of this play this weekend and absolutely loved the script! Hilarious and relatable, with a deceptively poignant core, PRESENT TENSE would make a great addition to any 10-minute play festival.

An absolutely gorgeous piece, full of longing and regret and mystery. Idaszak’s writing flows (pun mostly unintended) beautifully and effortlessly. I can imagine sitting in a theatre (or out on the beach) and hearing a pin drop as everyone is totally wrapped up in the story. Three great roles for actors and exciting opportunities for designers here. This one’s gonna stick with me for a while — highly recommended!

Laugh-out-loud funny and also makes me want to cry a little? Playwrights will find a lot to empathize with in this short, but it’s universal enough in its realistic absurdity that non-theatre folk will be dazzled as well. Also, a great opportunity for two actors to have an absolute blast. Well done!

A beautifully understated meditation on the people and events we carry with us through time. Also makes you question whether the idea that people we’ve lost being with us at all times in spirit is always comforting. Would make a thoughtful addition to a college festival — recommended!

I heard about The Flea’s production of good friday on a podcast this morning and was bummed I wouldn’t get to see it — but was thrilled to see the script on NPX. Colon’s writing is taut yet poetic and the play is chock full of shocking twists. Reading the script has only made me want to see a production more, and devour more from this bold, exciting playwright!

A truly unexpected holiday play perfect for those people for Die Hard is their favorite Christmas movie! Lots of twists and turns for a short play, and I could see two game actors having a lot of fun with this one.

A funny and sad story about the beginning of a nation and the dissolution of a family. With its historical twist and genuine emotion, this would make a welcome and unique addition to any holiday short play festival!

I was so upset that I couldn’t get up to Annapolis to see THE ACCIDENT BEAR performed in the laundromat in which it was written, and reading it now only intensifies that feeling. Bartlett has put such a compelling spin (pun definitely intended) on the rom-com genre, wrapped up in a poetic exploration of memory, fate, and falling (sometimes literally) for the wrong, but oh-so-right, person. I’m so glad Bob has plans to tour this piece—which can be site-specific or not—and hope to catch a production of it someday soon!