Recommended by Mike Byham

LOL - "The quickest way to a man’s heart is through the fourth and fifth ribs." Clever, sweet and above all Funny, Morey Norkin's THE BIG SQUEEZE (OR MUCH ACHOO ABOUT NOTHING) hits all the right notes (and the funny bone). Classic rom-com formula with a theatrical twist, this one-act is certain to please audiences. A wonderful festival piece. Well done!

A very neat little script taking us back to the Cold War, Alice Joseph’s THE ASSETS makes us think about the “history of place” that can often be overlooked. Makes you wonder what we may be missing as we visit, stay and live in various buildings. A thought-provoking short. Well done!

THE INN by Elliott Kashner takes place in a what can best be described as a medieval funhouse. The inn is visited by interesting characters who may or may not last the night as a monster stalks the area. Lots of physicality on stage (and blood, lots of blood) would surely please audiences craving a good old-fashioned tale of horror. Well written and best of all - fun!

Tess Berger has written an interesting play in “the trail to dry creek” the delves into the psyche of a young woman experiencing a minor existential crisis - one which is extremely relatable. I love the way Tess crafts a counterpoint to Molly’s reality in the form of a well-meaning yet naive young man (Robbie) - and I love how Molly connects with Robbie. Interesting characters and natural dialogue complement the simple, yet impactful tale of a short holiday at a cabin. I’ll be thinking of this one for a while.

Loved this funny short! Abhisek crafts a charmer with colorful characters, fun dialogue and the ending is perfect! This one is sure to please actors and audiences alike. A great festival piece!

Aly Kantor has written a very imaginative, funny and in some ways - terrifying piece in "Come Right Back." Actors and audiences alike would love this!

As someone who actually enjoys reading the Greek classics (The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, etc.) every now and then, I really enjoyed reading Aly Kantor's "After Aulis!" Coupled with exploring concepts of immortality affecting both legacy and the actual meaning of life - there's quite a lot packed into this short play! Fun read! Would love to see this staged.

Aly Kantor wrote a particularly effective short in "Pandora's Box of Donuts." Anyone who has ever struggled or has cared for anyone who has will get it. I love the relationship between the characters and the space CAL provides EM while still supporting - exemplary. Very well done. I particularly like the line - "Hope is desperation wearing deodorant."

Beautiful and timely - or perhaps even timeless? - Scott Sickles creates a world frighteningly familiar and populates it with gorgeously drawn sympathetic characters that you root for from the opening line. A masterclass in poetic dystopian sci-fi. I’m going to read this one over and over and hopefully get to see it staged. Simply beautiful (apologies for overusing the word).

This is a fun two-hander that entertains during the most mundane of tasks - making a list of guests for a party. The juxtaposition of this rather ordinary task with the colorful composition of hosts and guests simply adds to the fun. Natural witty dialogue provides an air of normalcy in a fantastic setting. Very entertaining!