Recommended by Doug DeVita

WOW. An exceptional courtroom drama, Ross Tedford Kendall's "Still Born" sizzles. While the compelling story, sharply realized dialogue, and breathtakingly rapid pacing give the script an edge most procedurals of this kind don't have, it is the thorny, complicated, and multi-layered central character, young attorney Karen Colby, who anchors the play with someone to root for throughout.

With its provocative title and delightfully absurd premise, Stephen Kaplan's "Helen Keller Visits Martha Graham's Dance Studio" is a marvelous, seriously funny little jewel. Skewering the pretensions of self-important artistes and preconceived notions with lethal charm, this piece makes one think while laughing out loud from the wit, the pretensions, and the intelligent style apparent in every single line. Absolutely wonderful.

With disarming precision, Lainie Vansant puts a ton of hot-button issues in her sites and fires a bullseye at each and every one of them. This short piece works on so many levels it's dizzying, and a complete delight. Creative, sharp, funny, and so full of (sometimes painful) truth.

Powerful, gut-wrenching look at homophobia and bullying, and what has, and more importantly, has not changed in 30 years. What makes it even more touching is how it’s told through the memories of one person, and how she reacts to what she did, and didn’t, do at two key stages in her life. Compelling dialogue, seamless time shifts, and recognizably human characters make “Safe” a worthy addition to the LGBTQ canon.

What fun! What dark, twisted fun! A terrific satire on multi-level marketing, true crime, and capitalism (among other things), John Bavoso's MLM is for Murder (Or, Your Side Hustle is Killing Us) kills. Literally and figuratively. I nearly died laughing, myself.

Is it better to live an unrecognized life, completely off the grid and shut out from all society, or is it better to live your life in a "normal" society, which gets worse and worse every minute? Which life affords more peace of mind, and which life can be a better agent to affect change? These are the questions asked in this funny, heartfelt, and thought-provoking little gem by Ethan Warren. Great characters and premise, and should be a staple in Ten-minute Play Festivals.

In “Thrasher,” Nick Malakhow captures the dynamic between two teenage misfits with the precision of an acid flashback. Heartfelt, truthful, funny, and sad.

The sheer matter-factness with which Isaac Otterman’s characters accept the horrifying changes being wrought to their world makes “The Volcano Play” both darkly funny, and, well... horrifying. A terrific 10 minutes.

Powerful and terrifying, J. Lois Diamond’s “Slicing An Onion” is nonetheless a paean to forgiveness, no matter the personal cost. Gut-wrenching, but beautifully written, it stays with you. As it should.

Deliciously arch dialogue, full of zingers and red herrings, and great character roles for older actors give Justin Guidroz's "The Murder Mystery Club's Final Case" a sly sense of fun, like Nick and Nora Charles ran into the Golden Girls and they all had a field day.