Recommended by John Busser

The more things change, the more they stay the same. As we listen to the impactful account of an elected official doing his best to ensure the safety of a prisoner from a mob, guilty only of having a different skin color, we can't help but feel anger at realizing we haven't learned a damn thing. These are powerful words, adapted from a real life event, and we can take comfort in knowing that there are still good people in this world, ready to uphold justice. A monologue that will stay with you. I know it will stay with me.

What a fun time could be had by all the heroes of myth if they'd stop looking at things face value. Or in this case, looking at things from a different perspective (without turning to stone, that is). There's a lot of truth to Adam Richter's script about not jumping to conclusions and also, more importantly, not fearing the "other" just because somebody else told you to. Medusa has got more going on in her head than just a place for snakes, and she shows it. Witty and wonderful.

A rapper by any other name would sell so sweet. That's what the agent in this funny look at identity politics is trying to say to his unfortunately named client. DC Cathro has written a sharp, hilarious look at the thing we cherish most in life, our identity. And he does it with flair. I laughed out loud many times while reading this. I'd love to see it staged.

There are two sides to every relationship, even those that don't work out. Matthew Weaver shows us what it's like to be on both sides of a losing one. And it ain't pretty.

And yet...

it's beautiful in its scope, showing us perhaps what we'd like to say to that rejection, baring our souls in an elegant way. Most of us might be too terrified to really say what we want to say, scared of another rejection. But not these characters. And we are better off for it. I'd love to see this AND participate in this.

Great plays are ones that connect with you on a personal level in a way that neither the author nor the audience member was expecting. Ryan Bultrowicz's monologue on a first-time run in with one of the more potent rite-of-passage moments in a young person's life is dead on perfection. It showcases the exaggerated fear, the paranoia of being caught (for what, really?), the excitement of an experience you've built up into something more than it ultimately turns out to be, it's all here. This is a wonderful monologue about growing up and I heartily endorse it.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! That made me laugh out loud! What a perfect way to start, or end, an evening of plays.

I'm a sap for film noir detectives, classy dames, brutish husbands, sexy secretaries, and last page twists. Rex McGregor (and c'mon, is that a great name for a writer of detectives, or what?) gives us all of that in spades. (Did you see what I did there?) This would be great to see staged.

An absolute gut punch. I was stunned after reading this beautiful piece by Jacquie Floyd. All the frustration, terror and the realization of inevitable loss that some go through is explored with grace and dignity. The effect it has on Miriam's daughter is palpable and I truly appreciated the use of two actresses to portray Miriam. It drove home the dichotomy of her existence in an elegant way. This is heartbreaking in the best way. This should be staged immediately.

You only live once... or twice depending on whether you will zombie out, so you might as well enjoy life while you can. This is what I learned reading Jacquie Floyd's funny monologue about privilege, remaining thin and leaving a good looking corpse to go out and eat brains. This young women sounds like she had her just desserts. Two of them, in fact. Really fun stuff.

Jacquie Floyd writes a fun little monologue for this dad, who swerves between wanting to kill his zombie son and embracing him. Parenthood is a double edged sword (or shotgun in this case). Jacquie shows us the comedic side of being at (or possibly a part of) a family dinner. Short, sweet and hilarious.