Recommended by Adam Richter

Few people write about the complexities of human relationships as deftly as Sam Heyman does. Now add "lion" relationships to that skill set. "Manes Before Dames" is a lovely, often humorous and always heartfelt look at two lovers/friends and what happens when a woman (excuse me: lioness) comes between them.

Bravo, Sam!

This play has everything you want in a 10-minute short: Puns, rapid-fire jokes, physical comedy, zombies and seemingly random props that are essential to the plot.

I cackled early and often reading this script, and I can imagine an audience will be similarly driven to paroxysms of laughter if they're lucky enough to see "Shakespeare Lives!" on stage.

Absolutely brilliant. Well done!

This is quite the roller-coaster for Flo. All she wants is for someone — ANYONE — to attend her college graduation. The humor and pathos build together, weaving around each other in "Art Therapy" in a lively and entertaining fashion. I want to more about Flo, and about her mother!

Warning: do not read this play while eating.
That's not to suggest there's anything viscerally upsetting in "Layers". But it DOES have many, many moments where even the reading of a line will cause an immediate spit-take and well, there goes whatever you were chewing.

Scott Sickles tells a lovely, nuanced (and did I mention funny? It's also really funny) tale about history and the ways that history is remembered. As the title suggests,both the story and the characters are layered, even as they wear many hats (literally and figuratively).

"Layers, or 'The Casserole Play'" is cooked to perfection.

A phenomenal two-hander that brings to light the unheralded story of Willem Arondeus, Lau Mazirel and Sjoerd Bakker, Dutch resistance fighters who more than earned their place in world history and LGBTQ history. John Mabey does their story justice with spare staging, tight storytelling and compelling dialogue.
I had the pleasure of hearing this play on the "Gather By the Ghost Light" podcast and highly recommend both.

If you don't know a Jordan in real life, you ARE Jordan.
"Poetica" is a semantic tennis match that is a delight to read and would be a joy to see on stage. Better yet, I could see this being performed in any public space, because the conversation would inevitably draw everyone into its orbit, whether or not they intended it.

A beautiful and insightful tale of neurodivergence and finding your tribe. I love the depth that Sam Heyman brings to his characters, and in this play, they not only come to life but they SING!
This is a wonderful play that makes the most of both the 10-minute format and the musical format. Bravo, Sam!

This delightful and laugh-out-loud play takes on the biblical tale of the prodigal son, giving us the fatted calf's perspective on the whole matter. Along the way, Mark Harvey Levine gives the audience some thoughtful insights into duty, destiny and the age-old debate: Who has it worse: people or cows?
"The Prodigal Cow" would be a great addition to any short play festival.

More than a title, "You Love Who You Love" is a credo. Ryan Vaughan shows us the urgency of that message with every relationship on display in this heartfelt and beautiful monologue. Bryce takes us on a journey that is equal parts tender, suspenseful and humorous before giving way to a joyful ending.

This is a remarkable monologue. I would. love to see it performed.

Debra A. Cole's brilliant play about artificial intelligence is unnerving because. the future that it envisions seems like it's right around the corner. How long before ChatGPT grows legs and inhabits a robotic body? I'd love to see this chilling and thought-provoking play in a festival of shorts.