Recommended by Doug DeVita

Lovely, lyrical, and quite pointed in its depiction of the issues of climate change. Using Peter Rabbit and Beatrix Potter to make these points is a stroke of genius on Miller's part, as it makes the urgency, and poignancy, that much more apparent – and imperative. A magical work.

Intensely and inventively theatrical, this sequel-of-sorts to Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" is a wonderful work of art all its own. Thal's knowledge, and love of, these characters as well as his complete mastery of the world they inhabit, is on display like a jewel in a perfect setting, and I would love to see this staged in all it's commedia dell'arte glory.

In the current climate where higher education has become more interested in the bottom line, the sharing of knowledge has lost its currency. Eppich-Harris delineates this distressing turn of events with heartbreaking precision and clarity in her terrific play "The Profession." Smartly written, with compelling – and complex – characters, this is a work that has a lot to say, and says it exceptionally well.

Claire is a pill. She's not wrong, per se, but she is a buzz killer. And that, perversely, is the joy in this hilariously dark and bitter brew concocted by Harmon with obvious glee. With three wonderful roles for gifted actors, this short play is a thought provoking gift. Maybe not one we asked for, but one we didn't know we needed.

The wealth of feeling in this beautiful play is, at times, overwhelming – like life, like family, like delving deep into one's pain to find the truth often is. And even though Garcia's story and characters are quite specific, they are nonetheless universal, which adds to the inherent humanity and beauty in this script. I'd love to see this staged.

Greg Lam's play about film legends Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton is a truly magical experience in the writing, the characterizations, the risks he takes with time and place and movement, and the depth of feeling one is left with for both of these men, genius's in their own right, yet so different in their approach to comedy. Beautifully done.

Wow.

Just...

Wow.

Harmon's short play, using lushly detailed stage directions and an economical use of words (beautifully, I might add), is a stunner. To say anything else would be to give too much away, so I will say only this: Read it. And produce it.

This nearly wordless exploration of the beginnings of capitalism and the class system is a brilliantly theatrical work that packs quite a punch, and in performance I imagine would be visually stunning.

Oh, boy, this is hilariously brutal, and probably as much fun to perform as it is to read and/or watch.

Gut-wrenching and almost impossible to read without tearing up from anger, heartbreak, and the memories we all share in the collective unconscious, this is a necessary work; "The Shame Play" should be a staple on every short play festival's roster, especially in high school and colleges.