Recommended by John Busser

01.02.25 - Technology getting nosy is nothing new. Ask anyone who speaks out loud around their phones how many tailored ads start pouring in at the slightest mention. But here we are presented with an app that lets people directly ask others questions, ostensibly to create connections. But therein lies the rub. Are we closing gaps, or widening them? Interesting food for thought from Jeffrey James Keys.

01.02.25 - What started out as existential, turned delightfully on it's ear when the true identities of the characters are known. This short by Matthew Weaver was playful and, we find out, full of calcium, iron, Vitamin E and zinc. Can't ask for a more nutritious play than that.

01.02.25 - In one minute, Daniel Prillaman pares down a survival story into it's most elemental essence. We don't need backstory, we don't need dialogue, we only need a turn of fortune for the protagonist, and we have everything we need for a satisfying conclusion. Hope comes in a drop of rain.

01.02.25 - Coming from a family of 7 children, my own mother would certainly nod in weary recognition. I know nothing of Vivian Lermond's familial status, but she certainly seems to have her finger on the pulse of any mother dealing with keeping all of life's balls in the air. Her finale, is inspired. While "Do It Yourself" should be a fitting rallying cry, I believe the other 3 word phrase used here is much more impactful - "To Be More". Quite an act.

12.26.24 - Interesting food for thought. Philip Middleton Williams has given us a character discussion that poses more questions than it answers. Or at least, that it answers in a way that makes us feel the "system" works. I love the complexity of this piece, showing the flaws of our legal system even as the two men await their chance to put it into action. Chuck's convoluted, but ironic determination of his earlier fate provides quite a bit for both Barry, and the audience to ponder. Thumbs up.

12.21.24 - Miranda Jonte throws us quite a curveball with this dark satire mixing game show culture with our overwhelming desire to rubberneck the train wrecks that we are subjected to. Reeling us in with a gallows humor styled MC, we are laughing through the tragedy. We feel for these people so much that when the truth of the matter manifests, we are so invested in that we want the tragedy averted. Wonderful writing.

12.21.24 - What starts out as an innocuous meeting on a park bench turns into a nightmare for a man who made the other person's entire life a nightmare years earlier. Lee Lawing pulled the rug out from under me as surely as Betsy did to Andrew. And, in a fitting bit of karma, Andrew is the one who had this coming (after telling the police that she had wanted it back then). Revenge as sharp as a knitting needle.

12.21.24 - I wonder if Evan Baufghman's eggnog has too much NyQuil in it. Something has to account for the absolute bonkers plot of this dark, hilarious-as-f*ck look at family tradition, baking and holiday secrets! I'm always assured when I read a play by Evan, that it will be both funny and disturbing (but in the best way). This would be a great addition to a night of holiday shorts, if only to watch the audience reaction when things get cooking. Although I'm sure peppermint sales will plummet.

12.21.24 - I've no idea if Donald Baker intended this or not, but I took heart in the feeling that Lorna, as portrayed in this heart-warming short, had possibly already made up her mind to attend Todd's wedding. After all, we see the depths of delusion most intolerant people have about things they don't agree with. The cardinal's reaction(?) to the invite could easily have been interpreted as the exact opposite of Lorna's preferred viewpoint. That gave me hope. A wonderful message from Mom(?)!

12.21.24 - Wonderfully witty political satire, and it's done with almost no dialogue. Now THAT'S talent. Emily McClain gives us a less-than-10-minute lesson in our political spectrum and how limited it truly is, all while double-dosing us with a look at consumer shopping trends and psychological color tropes. It's brilliant. This will be not only a hoot for the actors, and the set designers, but a director orchestrating all this should have be puffing up their chest too.