Recommended by Jackie Martin

I was lucky enough to watch a production of "Buckle" at The Warner Theatre's 8th Annual International Playwright Festival. It's a great one act for two young actresses - one I would have been thrilled to sink my teeth into when I was in high school or college. John Patrick Bray tells the story of two very different (or are they...?) teens with engrossing dialogue, humor, and understanding.

The characters in "The Night Witches" jump right off the page. The writing is clear and strong, the story intense and engaging, the dialogue both realistic and poetic. As it's an ensemble piece for 9 women, I would (and recently did!) especially recommend it to any high school or college theater director who finds themselves with a group of strong young women ready to take on an exciting new script. "Tonight you will fly" might just be my new affirmation.

I absolutely love this play. Rory and Bernard leap from the page with such clarity and strength of voice, and the friendship that unfolds is both hilarious and touching. I would love to see this beauty produced.

A lovely play that captures the complicated, messy emotions of co-parenting after divorce, especially when confronted with the nostalgia that so often accompanies the holiday season.

Haunting and lyrical, "Here (not here)" hits all the right notes in a short space of time.

I was fortunate enough to see this play at SlamBoston, where we shared billing and where "172 Push-Ups" won for Best Play. There were several really wonderful short plays performed in those two nights, but this play really sticks out in my memory as being funny, touching, and so, so real. An engaging story from beginning to end.

A fast-paced play about our culture's obsession with reboots, remakes, and come-back stories, "Composition Delta Zero" is funny, deft, and surprisingly touching in the end. This would be a great addition to any short play festival.

"The Maltese Walter" is a blast to read and would be a true delight to see performed - it's no wonder it's been produced so often. This play is both familiar and original, funny and surprising.

I had the pleasure of seeing "Interventions" performed as part of the Open Theatre Project's SLAMBoston in 2018, and I still find myself occasionally thinking of it and laughing out loud. A clever, fast-paced play, "Interventions" also gives its audience quite a bit to think about - like, what are the unintended consequences of each choice we make? With smart, funny dialogue and a storyline that feels fresh even as it plays with repetition, "Interventions" is a delight to both read and watch.

The journey of "Screen Play" is masterfully crafted, with each moment building momentum right up to the end. The scenario is real and relatable, and I imagine audience members - male and female alike - asking themselves many of the same questions they encounter through what begins as a simple conversation between HE and SHE. This play will stay with me for a long time.