Recommended by Adam Richter

The snappy dialogue and genuine warmth among the couple and their child make Marcus Gorman's play about genetic modification, the quest for immortality and how far we go for love an absolute delight. This is a funny, funny play that would be great to see on a stage. The actors would have a blast. Bravo!

When your mind wanders during meditation, it probably goes to a place like "Envision." This funny and ultimately uplifting play is a clever examination of the "happy place" we try to create for ourselves in our heads, and what can happen when other people wander in. The staging is simple yet absolutely brilliant, and the dialogue is pitch-perfect.

An editor I used to work with often said, the only kids who should play sports are orphans. Asher Wyndham's monologue of a beleaguered youth referee reminded me of that saying. If the monologue were just about the awfulness of hockey parents, that would be enough; but Wyndham smartly moves past the obvious to explore WHY parents are so awful at youth sporting events. It's not just about wins and losses; something is broken in society, and Wyndham nails this sense of hopelessness and rage. This is a brilliant piece.

When you start with a soaking-wet business suit, it's easy to assume that nothing that follows is predictable. Even so, I was not prepared for the sweet and inevitable surprise ending. "Birthday Beer" is a funny, laugh-out-loud play that takes the audience on a delightful and unexpected journey. I would love to see this on a stage.

One of my joys of reading an Alice Josephs play is in learning about small slices of British history — in this case British film history — that would have gone unnoticed by these American eyes. "The Continuity Girl" is a wonderfully theatrical play that tells the tale of British cinema (and of the 20th century) in an engaging way. The details, particularly in Tilly's opening monologue, are so vivid they jump off the page. I would love to see this on a stage somewhere. Bravo!

Forget the songs about Santa knowing if you've been bad or good. "The Yule Lads" by LEE R. LAWING is THE definitive object lesson in staying on the jolly old elf's good side. This was a delight to read, with loads of dark humor and an antagonist whose larger-than-life presence would be a joy to see on stage. "The Yule Lads" would be an excellent addition to a night of holiday shorts.

I don't want to give anything away in this recommendation of Daniel Prillaman's exceptional short play "The Comfort Zone" except to say that I laughed uncontrollably through most of it. Prillaman, as he often does, takes a conventional character setup and turns it on his head, skewering our expectations and taking the action to insane and entertaining extremes.

"The Comfort Zone" will wrench you out of yours but you'll enjoy the trip.

When you climb the corporate ladder, like it or not, you drag your significant other along for the ride. Emily McClain's incisive and thoughtful short play examines the cost of playing office politics, and the effect it can have on personal relationships. Is it worth becoming partner if it means you give up who you are? The stakes are high and the characters are both sympathetic as they search for the right bottle to solve their problems.
Bravo!

'Boxing Day, 1835" is an excellent period drama that re-creates the world of industrial Britain with incredible detail. I loved how Monica Cross presented the class struggles of the 19th century — factory work and domestic work both exact long hours with no time off — through the lens of the two sisters, and how that strained their relationship over the years. This is a lovely piece.

Not every news story is the next Watergate, but sometimes — just sometimes — it is. Scott Sickles' satire lampoons small-town scandal without diminishing its importance. I really liked how Scott presented both the contest women and the reporter covering the story with both humor and heart. Great job!