Recommended by Doug DeVita

"Desperation" is another wonderful example of Marj O'Neill-Butler’s expert ability to write very funny comedies that deal with the issues faced by contemporary women over fifty, in the process creating smart, multi-layered characters into which older actresses can sink their teeth. I laughed out loud on several occasions, and fell in love with everyone in this play.

In "Battle Ground State," Tony Tambasco expertly paints an America in the not so distant future, when the Republicans and Democrats have devolved from being warring political parties to becoming warring nations, and he does it by using the problems of one small family trying to avoid playing on the larger stage of the politics they're forced to confront in order to survive. Chilling, topical, and ultimately terrifying.

This charming, gentle short play captures the whimsy of childhood fantasies, along with the bonds – and rivalry – of young siblings beautifully. What gives it added depth is the knowledge that fate of these children (Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV's son and daughter) is bound to a larger world of which they have very little understanding, and it looms over the entire play like a thundercloud that never lets loose, allowing the children, and us by extension, to enjoy the moment, like a lovely summer's day.

What fun! A surreal, dreamlike experience for both the protagonist, tour guide Sean, and the audience itself. In a way reminiscent of Lewis Carroll, author Stephen Cole captures the dream-like state perfectly, but with the sharper edges of contemporary New York: underneath the grit and insanity, there is that beating heart that gives the city its pulse, exemplified by the two main characters: the nearly jaded Sean, and the feisty octogenarian Miriam (a gold mine for an older actress.)

Terrific. Whip smart satire, deliciously funny, and the dialogue snaps, crackles, and pops with wit of the highest order. Bravo, Mr. Triplett. Bravo!

Weird and wonderful examination of the humiliation that comes from loss, especially the loss of one's dignity, and the possible curative power in the search for peace via suicide. Surprisingly tender, surprisingly funny, and intriguing from start to finish.

What fun, and what a great role for a teen-aged actor to, uhm, sink their teeth into. Perfect for a Halloween -themed evening, but also for any kind of festival showcasing younger actors.

Sharply drawn characters, tight interweaving of monologues, direct address, and confrontational scenes, whip smart and funny dialogue... USELESS INFORMATION perfectly captures that "odd man out" feeling that comes from being just a little different from everyone else in the room, as well as being the smartest. And it does so in a very entertaining, if triumphantly heartbreaking, way.

What a smart, touching, and intelligent little gem, particularly for what Aronovitch says so delicately, but clearly, between the lines. Wonderfully endearing characters, too, and a perfect sense of time and place, help make this a terrific 10-minute play.

New Years Eve is one of the most loaded evenings of the year, especially for 20-somethings. Throw in an attempt for a first-time sexual encounter, nosy friends, and a lack of condoms, and you have a delightful, if brief, romantic comedy that hits all the right notes as it counts down to the inevitable, but earned, conclusion. Sweet, funny, and touching.