Recommended by Asher Wyndham

Pinter, Churchill, and Kane would admire this little play. A play for now and the future. A play for any modern country, any modern culture. Read it.

Spot-on in its examination of what 'friendship' means for 20-30 somethings. This play showcases something so sad in modern society: friendship is almost always situational. It's like some transaction. Modern friendship is nothing like what was expressed by Emerson. What does a true friendship mean? Why is true friendship rare these days? This play would speak to many college students. Produce it.

This monologue play will definitely get a standing ovation for Racio, Puerto Rico, for all survivors and dreamers. A play for those that don't give up after any tragedy, natural or otherwise. This is not an eulogy-monologue, it's a survivor's epiphany. Bold, beautiful, powerful and physical, one of the most memorable monologues I've read on the page. Our (in)ability of transcending trauma and responding to tragedy, how to move beyond anger after losing so much, (re)claiming identity and humanity, these are some universal themes at work by Diaz-Marcano.

How do we respond collectively and individually to trauma and tragedy, especially when words are not enough? That is a question for everyone, but it's also a question, the play seems to ask, for Puerto Ricans, a people for a long time that have wrestled with the idea of freedom without the United States. Post-Hurricane Maria, the play persuades islanders to consider now is the time for 'reckoning' - but what is the appropriate response when there's so much anger? Paper towels are not enough to clean up the mess, the tears and blood. Read this now.

The story concept is one-of-a-kind. I would love to see Lisa and her father in a longer work. It makes me think about when people are not playing Dungeons & Dragons, when they're offline -- that their life could be kind like a game. People play roles, they have avatars, they 'adapt' and follow the rules.

Finally a play about the greatest sandwich on earth -- the egg salad sandwich! Not every marriage can have sunny-side-up eggs; marriage is not always that easy. An unexpected play about newlyweds, about commitment and learning another person's routines, and being prepared for the surprises. You can never go wrong with a short play by Matthew Weaver, especially one of his on relationships. Each play of his is a joy just like one by Mark Harvey Levine. I hope one day a theatre produces a festival of his short plays.

A play that will tug at your heart strings. The son is stuck in a rut with school debt and no job prospects, while the father is hopeful that both his son and daughter will succeed. A play that captures perfectly Generation X and Y's despondency and their rejection of the American Dream as unattainable. Is your answer to this question Yes? -- Is celebrating America, whether it be on the Fourth of July or any other day, an 'exercise in futility'? A smart choice for a political-themed festival.

One of my favorite job interview plays I've read. Plenty of surprises make for a hilarious read. Never a dull moment! Sam's determination to get the job at the toy company and tackling the worst of challenges, firing someone, will keep you invested from beginning to end. Ron's mini monologues will steal your heart and also make you bust a gut. Consider choosing this play for your Christmas showcase. Are you a Lieutenant Liberty or a Party Pony? Read this play and find out.

This man who wants to participate in a hotel orgy in Guidroz's short monologue never disgusted me. The playwright is not interested in disgust. This man seems desperate for connection with as many people from work as possible through group sex. But it's more than about group sex. It makes you wonder about his life and what brought him to this hotel room, the reason why he's not on a date. And it makes you wonder about the other souls from work who are just like him. I've never encountered a character like this before.

If your love one hits rock bottom, when are you not responsible for that person? At what point are you at fault for not intervening, for not lifting them out of their depression? At what point does someone you're in a relationship with, someone that you're supporting financially, become a 'parasite'? What do you owe that person, especially if that person paid your way through college? These questions were asked while I was reading this play that takes a serious look at breaking up. Check this play out.