Recommended by Christopher Soucy

A ladder helps us reach places we cannot reach on our own. They can be scary. They present risk. Bethany Assaf has crafted a wonderful short play that examines why we take risks.

So much is uncovered in so little time. It sinks in once it is over. And you realize this wealth of character, plot, and tragedy. Well played, Lou Jones, well played!

Well, this is just silly. In the best possible way! A great fairy tale to tell the kids… or actually, no. Don’t tell the kids. Just enjoy the fun. Scott Sickles has an ingenious knack for creating deep connections between characters. In this short play we get a fully formed tale, both familiar and wildly original.

The things that haunt us are more often than not the things we loved so much that we cannot let go of. This sweet, heartfelt piece is a gentle reminder that we are never truly alone. I would love to see this short performed on stage, perhaps in a line up of shorts dealing with grief.

The things that haunt us are more often than not the things we loved so much that we cannot let go of. This sweet, heartfelt piece is a gentle reminder that we are never truly alone. I would love to see this sort performed on stage, perhaps in a line up of sorts dealing with grief.

It takes small acts of courage to save a name from obscurity. To tell a story that needs to be heard. To restore the lost heroes to their rightful places. John Mabey has given sound to long silent voices and lets a light of truth flicker in a dark corridor history.

What a tense scene! The embodiment of diplomacy as the art of carrying a big stick. I feel like I could watch these characters go back and forth all day. I love stories that leave you wanting more. Unanswered questions can be so wonderfully intoxicating.

There is a difficult relationship between the body and the mind. Many were the times I’ve hated my body and just wanted to go under the knife to find some relief from my feelings of dysmorphia. Acceptance is not an easy path. And the physical sensations only complicate matters. Scott Sickles has given voice to someone struggling with body issues. An honest voice. A frank and direct voice. There is comfort in the open discussion of discomfort. There is release of pressure when someone else carries the burden.

I had the absolute pleasure of reading this script for a playwriting podcast. It is a scathing satire that gets right to the root of current hypocrisies at work in the country today. Debra has brought into sharp focus the double standard of morality practiced by well intentioned, misinformed, closed minded citizens.

I have been enjoying this anthology of short plays for a while now. Alaska gets a hearty laugh from me. And maybe a sudden urge to gaze longingly at moose... Claudia Haas has given us a state-by-state theatrical quilt and this piece is essential to the beauty of it all.