Recommended by Ken Love

Like the humor of Jules Feiffer, "Unaccompanied Minor" pokes fun at a realistic situation and, at the same time, is unafraid to stare into the abyss. Ably handled, through and through with dialogue that - as is usually the case with Debra A. Cole's work - stings.

As an actor, I've done "Othello" twice! I've also done the King of France in "Henry V", Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice", the friar in "Much Ado About Nothing", Antipholus of Syracuse in "Comedy of Errors", Brutus in "Julius Caesar", et al. Yet the closest I ever got to 'the Dane' was playing Claudius in a disastrous production of - yes, "Hamlet". It goes without saying that I felt every ounce of this characters pain and regret. And - to add insult to injury - I read the damned play TWICE! Mr. Smith struck a vital nerve. Kudos!

A crime story, a comment on the temptation of celebrity, and broad strokes of social commentary. And let's not forget drama and - above all - strong characterization which, ultimately, drives this piece. Coming from a Pentecostal background, there was so much in "To Tread Among Serpents" that I readily (and painfully) recognized. This play engaged me from beginning to end. Nicely done, Kelly!

I sense a subtle - or not so subtle - thread of anger bubbling between the exchanges of this on-edge couple. And that's what makes this piece work so well. I can envision two actors getting immersed and crazed in the staccato dialogue. Well done!

With a nod to Sam Shepard's "True West" and Athol Fugard's "Blood Knot", Christian St. Croix shows, with "We Are The Forgotten Beasts", that he is an immense theater talent who must be reckoned with. Each of the four characters - especially the brothers - live and speak from a place of dark, nearly debilitating pain, and their phantasmagorical reveries are cathartic in their impact. This is a highly engaging work. And I look forward to reading more of this young man's plays.

This marvelous play has been around for awhile. So I know that I'm more than a little late to the party. But for what it's worth, let me say that it is truly rare to experience a work so honest and so utterly raw in its emotional expression. It grips you relentlessly, even moments after the reading is finished. I can only imagine the effect of a live performance. Well done!

A satire written for our time. And this young lady nails it. What makes Dawn Branch's "LMK" work is the fact that the humor - in verse, by the way - stings, not so much because it's funny, but due to the fact that its based so squarely in reality. And is so effortlessly told. Nice work, Dawn!

What do we have here? "The Big Chill" meets John Cassavetes "Husbands"? Perhaps. Either way, "Three Blind Mice" stands on its own as a dramatic, humorous and heartfelt parable on the dilemma of being male and American in the 21st Century. African American, Hispanic American, Jewish American. These men are fully drawn, human and compelling. Engaging, and never obtuse. A fulfilling reading experience that I would love to see performed.

Comedy is fun (or "hard"?). Satire is even better. Especially when it's done skillfully. And with brevity. Which is its soul. Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn's "Adam's Angels" is satisfying in every way. And the fact that she was able to pull it off speaks volumes to her talent. A great read which I'm sure will be served better in performance.

Well, now it's my turn to recommend "Park Benches". As a playwright who has on more than a few occasions attempted this type of "end of life" theme, I know the difficulty of the execution - if you will - as well as the difficulty in watching such a work. Regardless, the piece needs to be seen!