Recommended by Chris Gacinski

Morton’s Gun Play would make Sam Shepard and Sarah Kane very proud. A very interesting tension litters these pages, with two characters who find apathy and indifference in death, protection, and each other. Along with having a very inventive use of props, Gun Play would definitely satiate any cravings one may have for the absurd, darkness or humor. Highly recommended!

Very much honored to be able to have seen this play at the Chain Theatre Summer One Act Festival, as it has everything you could ever want and more! Two dynamic characters that are constantly learning more about themselves, their own flaws, and how incredibly well these lessons translate to the audience. A relatable and familiar situation that leaves you guessing, and on top of this, the humor in this script will have you rolling on the floor! Definitely recommend!!

If Eugene Ionesco was born in the 90s, he would think this is the greatest 10-minute play ever written. Utterly absurd in the best way possible, Proctor has created a universe where there is no real reliability or credibility, but in turn, Proctor has created a play that is full of creativity. With this being an absurd play, it holds a mirror up to the reader, which still has me thinking about how people like this exist. Either way, this play is the bees knees! Hope to see it in a NYC short play festival in the future!

A joke centered around pee jokes sounds like a dream come true! I’m sure a few people have resulted to Hank’s desperation, but I, for one, also feel for him at the same time. Urrutia’s Piss Cup Payments is an interesting script, where not only do you laugh at the absurdity, you empathize with the human elements both characters have. I hope to see this script in a NYC short play festival sooner rather than later!!

Wow this play is so emotionally charged! Piper makes you feel for these characters; we’re revealed deeply personal details about them, which leads us to empathize with them, even if they’re not fully relatable, it’s to Piper’s credit and amazing character work that will keep you rooted in this one of a kind story, told by a one of a kind writer. If you’re in NYC, come see this play!

Paul Donnelly channels his inner Larry David with Splitting the Check. A slice of life masterclass, Donnelly presents two characters that cannot see eye to eye, or in this case, wallet to wallet, which leads to awkward tension very reminiscent of Curb Your Enthusiasm. What I would give to have the table next to them! Any short play festival would find Splitting the Check a winner. Highly recommended!

Wow this play was a gut punch. I had the opportunity to watch a production of this piece and it was absolutely moving from beginning to end! Two characters confront a difficult moment in their relationship with gentle grace, comforting and reassuring each other everything in the end will be okay. This play will bring a tear to your eye. Highly recommended.

This play made me sweat, in the best way possible! Steven G. Martin has crafted one of the most interesting characters I've read in a play. Abe is someone we fear as much as we empathize with, which created a dynamic I've never encountered in a play, and if I have, it has not been executed with this degree of precision. It's a total shame that this play hasn't been produced in over 10 years, if I was a theatre company looking for a unique and compelling play for their short play festival, A Humble Path would be the one!

For any fans of Hamlet, Levine's reinvention stays relevant to the original work while adding his own artistic flair. For those who don't know of Hamlet, I feel it would still be equally as entertaining, as this script is full of comedic gold. Any play festival could use A Nice Danish Boy in its lineup!

Another play that exemplifies Hemingway-esque brevity, Mabey's concise writing style allows for you to feel for these characters in such a short time. The ambiguity of the characters allows for lenient casting, which leaves lots of room for actors and directors to explore this dynamic. I highly recommend "A 3-Act, Centuries-Long Love Affair" for any short play festival looking for an imaginative piece of writing!