Recommended by John Bavoso

This is the perfect play for right now, as more and more individuals and companies are paying lip service to diversity and inclusion, but infrequently backing that up with real action or change. Beardsley has a deft hand in portraying microaggressions without turning his characters into easily written-off cliches, and he lets the silences and actions carry as much, if not more, weight as the dialogue. This should be added to every holiday short play festival this season!

This is such a fun short play about getting into a marital spat at the worst possible time. Mabey’s dialogue is both realistic and absurd, taking the idea of the “little white lies” we tell when we’re first dating someone and taking them to the extreme. Easy to produce online or in a socially distanced setting, this is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Garrett David Kim has created such a vulnerable, theatrical, and funny portrait of the milieu of lust, shame, self-consciousness, and ridiculousness that is gay sex and dating in this internet age. By choosing such a stereotypically “perfect” gay-for-pay porn star as the embodiment of desire and othering, Kim is able to look at race, sexuality, and gender from a highly theatrical and contemporary perspective. This play is a great read and one that I imagine would be a blast to see produced — on stage or, perhaps more appropriately, in a digital format!

I was lucky enough to be in the room as Shannon was just getting started on this powerful play, and have gotten to read several drafts since—each better than the last. The script is suffused with striking imagery and ritual, deftly tying together Christianity, transness, and sacrifice. Body and Blood is a vitally original meditation on faith and identity that everyone should be reading—and producing!

A short, sexy spin on a classic story that draws a modern connection between vampirism, NSA hookups, and consent. Perfect for a Halloween and/or queer short play festival, this horror-infused tale will leave audience with lots to think about!

This is a gem of a dark comedy—deftly skewering work, monotony, drudgery, and the banality of mortality, all encased in a recognizable white-collar workplace drama. Prillaman’s writing is snappy and the structure perfectly complements the themes. I imagine this would be a blast to design, act in, and watch!

This play is such a shining example of how much emotion and storytelling can be packed into a 10-minute play without it ever feeling overstuffed. A gorgeous, dreamy, and intelligent study of grief and growing up—and how complicated things can become when those two processes are intertwined. I hope to see it in performance one day, but it's also a great example for those just starting out with writing short plays or those who want an example of a really good one!

In this play, Michael Proft tackles big themes of homophobia (internalized and otherwise), paternalism, respectability, and more—but his characters and their imperfect humanity is always at the heart of the story. The excellent skewering of well-meaning white liberals is anchored by a genuine-feeling love story and the authentic desire to connect across chasms that are often of our own making. A deeply human drama with delightful moments of humor; highly recommended.

I love the story of the Bell Witch, and Carnes has crafted a truly menacing version in this short but haunting play. One of the most brilliant aspects of this particular piece is the extra layer of chills that come from the offstage, but still very present, children. I can also imagine this would be an absolute blast for two spooky actors. I really want to see this play live... preferably outdoors, at night, in October, by campfire or lantern light!

This piece is fabulously theatrical, wildly funny, and heartbreakingly sad all at once. Using the timeless elements of drag to tell a story that’s timely, urgent, and still tragically relevant, Guest has created a call to action that’s also a wickedly entertaining and emotionally enthralling bit of theatre (as evidenced by the strikingly simple yet effective epilogue). I desperately hope I get to see this performed live one day!