Recommended by Asher Wyndham

Wacky, freaking gross for most of the play, the thought of this man cheating on his wife... Before the last line of the play I was on the side of the woman, and then bam, the last page - the reason (justification?) for adultery. And that forces you re-think what you thought about the man, passing judgement... I like how just one line at the end makes you re-think an entire play. Smart playwriting.

An investigator/sexy murder suspect encounter like one straight from the pages of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, but with a vibe like sexy film noir - that served with a glass of tomato juice with a splash of grapefruit juice and Guyton's goofy sense of humor. The play would definitely be an audience favorite on college campuses, at fringe festivals and short play festivals across the country. Fat Dick is a great introduction to one of America's most produced playwrights of short comedies.

A play about an aging parent and a concerned child that's not slight, not simplistic, not sad. It's an unexpected play about seniors that's complex, nuanced, and hilarious. The mother's counterattacks, her brutal reubttals are like daggers. The play forces you to ask, Who's manipulating who? The daughter or the mother's lover (who's younger than her daughter)!? Is the mother using Brad because she's scared about growing old in an old age home? A smart choice for theatres invested in stories of characters 50+.

Grandpa Abe's confession and his desire to redeem himself is heartwarming. His monologuing, over-talking the young Rabbi, is at times disturbing and other times hilarious - and it's also endearing. This play proves that in a short amount of time - like an appointment between an elderly widower and his Rabbi - profound change can happen for both an individual and the community when our hearts are open, when we admit our mistakes. If you're producing a short festival on LGBTQIA themes, choose this play!

Most monologues distance the audience/reader from the speaker/character. Immediately with Sickles' monologue, Melanie's voice speaking through an anguished heart, soon after a suicide attempt, creates an intimacy between her and her friend (the reader/the audience). And we can identify with her, not necessarily the suicide attempt, but her experience of being rejected, her depression. We want to be there in the space with her even if it's uncomfortable. A perfect monologue for competition at the college level.

Spectacular. You'll never be disappointed by a short play by Jordan Elizabeth Henry. With an emotional intensity that's rare in many short plays, a pain deep down that you feel, the inevitable revelations that are still shocking because you feel so much for the character - these are a few of the strengths. The final moment in this play, like in many of her short plays, is unforgettable, enlarging your heart. It was amazing how the fantasy - what's in the girl's head - was externalized, played on the stage, while real life was acted out.

Parents of independent thinking children could relate to Jonathan's mother. Rather than take the destructive criticism - masquerading as "constructive criticism" - the mother defends her son's project (a fruit loop necklace); in doing so, she stands up for all children that think outside-the-box. Her coolness under pressure and her perfect counterattacks that expose the teacher's idiocy and small-mindedness create unrelenting tension from beginning to end. Another gem showcasing perfect structure from Hoke.

"Safe is better than fiction." Is that true? Is it better to get real and commit to someone 'safe' than imagine it's possible to find eternal bliss with a lover worthy of a crappy tween romance novel? That line makes you think deeply about your desires, your thoughts on love, commitment and relationships. An atypical ten-minute play, structured with moments that flow from one to the other with humor and tenderness, all of it revealing the vulnerability and fragility of its characters. Highly recommended.

Sobler's BED RUG is a ridiculous comedy on relationships that's a perfect selection for a comedy showcase on modern relationships and love, especially in February. Don't dismiss this as silly. It has something spot-on to say about relationships: they're as difficult, disturbing, and disgusting as living with a bed bug in your bed.

Startling violence at home, at the grocery store, and on a County Road. Vertigo in church. The voice of a famous astronaut speaking to her at the hair salon, Walmart, Mall of America. All of that - and the question, "Why is she behaving oddly?" - keeps you invested in this quirky housewife. Her refusal to open up to her husband and a doctor, her mind floating in the darkness of space - heartbreaking. The use of comedy to examine the fragile mind of a woman suffering from grief was surprisingly effective. A gift for a female actor over 50.