Recommended by Arianna Rose

I have had the great pleasure of reading every single one of The Bench Plays and listening to them being workshopped in our writers group. Playwright Marj O'Neill-Butler has crafted a surprising, enjoyable evening in the theatre, and turned the oft-used 'bench play' upside down and inside out. With fantastic roles for mature actors, the plays range from heartbreaking to hilarious and every emotion inbetween. This compendium is sure to be a hit and staple of every community theatre and senior center. Read and produce and then go find your bench!

Another gem of a play by playwright Robert Wiebezahl. It was selected for a 2024 reading by Veteran's Repertory Theatre and it's certainly no surprise why. October Surprise has everything you want in a political thriller - twists, turns, betrayals, and revenge. Weibezahl deftly creates characters who intrigue, dismay, and surprise us at every turn. Not a word is wasted, not a moment is discarded in this page turner. Read it and produce!

Short Play Festivals all over the country are discovering what we Weibezahl fans already knew: the man can write a short play and bat it out of the park. Next Stop is a gorgeous, wistful, funny piece about how the most disparate humans can connect. I had the great good fortune of hearing this play workshopped in our writers group and it's a gem. Make Next Stop your next stop in discovering the oeuvre of playwright Robert Weibezahl and the varied and wonderful characters he brings to life.

A beautiful play about the generational ties that bind - and spellbind- us. Playwright Robert Weibezahl has crafted compelling characters that generate great compassion in us. A fan of this play, this playwright, and pistachio ice cream, for that matter. Read and produce!

Drama. Suspense. A big twist at the end. Playwright Marj O'Neill-Butler expertly delves into the mystery genre with this utterly original and gripping play. I love plays that end with a big question at the end, and SURPRISE ON A BENCH will surprise you, wherever you are seated. Read and produce!

"I can live with maybe". A gorgeous line of dialogue, and a profound one- is that what we are all doing, on a minute-to-minute basis? There is so much truth, beauty, hope and despair in Pandora's Box of Donuts. You'll be rooting for both characters long after the last page. Playwright Aly Kantor writes with unflinching honesty about depression and suicide ideation, with a great deal of humor and compassion sprinkled in. The craft in this piece is of the highest level. I wish every student could see this play.

SURPRISE had me at the line "I've lost my lesbians"! Mark Harvey Levine has written a banger of a comedy - not only does every single joke land, its lands on both the verbal and visual levels. As someone who has long studied metaphysics, I found the subject matter particularly compelling. To say any more would be to give too much away, other than to say Mark Harvey Levine is a master at the craft of short-play writing, and one should always choose the waffles. Part slapstick, part spiritual, and all a joy. Can't wait to see the next production.

A thoroughly original take on baguettes and discrimination by dramatist Ren Bloom. I can see this working so beautifully as a radio play, screenplay, or immersive site-specific play, as the world of Pierre and Romesh is filled with an abundance of sound, aroma, and minute little details. I love plays that seem to be about one thing but are really about something much bigger, and Ren Bloom accomplishes that in 10 short pages. Plus you'll really want some Parisian bread after reading this!

What a beautiful Love Story - about marriage, mistakes, and stones. In nine pages we go on a journey with TJ and Kendra that moves, delights, saddens, and enraptures us. I'm rooting for them, and you will be too by the end of Backyard Stonehenge, a sentiment that may not be shared by Mrs. Ferria. Playwright Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn writes with great craft and empathy for her characters. Read, produce, and don't drink and drive.

"Walls are diaries and rooms have desires". Playwright John Mabey had me at the synopsis. Getting to read any Mabey play is a treat, and "Remembered" rightfully deserves all the accolades and publishing it's received. Doris and Peter, and this house of memories will stay with you a long time after reading. An expertly crafted piece of the moments between us that make us human - and humane. A poetic, dreamy, image-laden play that has as many layers as the mud room.