Recommended by Mike Byham

I thought I knew where SACRIFICE was heading and then I obviously didn't. Jacqui Floyd-Priskorn crafts a short horror story with humor that glides along until you're jerked into the uncanny alleyway of the macabre frequented by Lovecraft or Poe. Instant classic. So much fun.

I meant to read a little of Ken Love’s MOONLIGHT OVER L.A. before bed but I couldn’t stop reading until I was finished. It’s a compelling story using the full set of familiar and effective noir devices - narrative asides from our doomed yet charismatic protagonist, beautiful and dangerous women, guns and alcohol, all fueled by the sweet sounds of jazz. It’s a world of wondrous escapism that teeters somewhere in the imagination between gritty reality and black and white Humphrey Bogart films. Beautifully done. I would absolutely pay to see this performed.

I love this concept. So creative. Chris Plumridge tells not one but two different, interesting stories in two different time periods in a place where supposedly nothing happened. Brilliant. I see a full series of “nothing happening” tales in this same location. Perhaps the Bear will visit?

What a twisted, bizarre, messy story this is. I absolutely love it! So many great moments that will make you laugh out loud. Ian Donley exhibits a quirky imagination to wonderful effect in MRS. REYNOLDS. Would love to see this staged.

THE ART OF … DATING is a witty lesson in the trials and tribulations of modern dating viewed from a female perspective. I absolutely love the pace of the dialogue in this piece. The patter is nonstop fun only interrupted by a dinging of a bell. Anastasia Wild has crafted a funny satire that both skewers the modern dating landscape while still promoting hope for romance. This is sure to thrill audiences who will likely need a few minutes to catch up following the final bows. They will exit laughing. Very enjoyable.

Brent Alles brings the funny with the short SWEET SUMMER WINE. We all know "those people" - or if we don't then maybe we are them? Great premise. Who can't relate to poor Jenny as she suffers through the conflict of providing customer service and educating the willingly ignorant. A happy result is we get to laugh in amusement. Well done.

I really like this short. It's difficult to cram a full sense of loss into a 10-minute piece, but Darrin Friedman does just that in his story PARK BENCHES. The play provides suitable atmosphere for its topic and the dialogue is natural. Sad without being maudlin, the result still provides David (and us all) a glimmer of hope that all things are temporary - even the heart-wrenching grief of the passing a spouse. I'm sure we'll see this one in festival line-ups soon.

I’ve always believed the key to good science fiction is its humanity. Anastasia Wild highlights and reinforces this belief in her short PORTALS. The friendship between our two protagonists complicates decision-making, interfering with the pursuit of scientific discovery. Great atmospheric table-setting and providing high emotional stakes, this short is a winner!

I really enjoyed reading Tom Era’s A RAINY NIGHT IN HOLLYWOOD. Simple story-telling done right. A moment in time capturing humanity hidden by golden-age Hollywood glitz. This play contains a couple of audition-worthy monologues to boot. Well done!

OH MY LIFE! is a joyous romp. I absolutely love this slice of life family comedy! It’s funny in all the right places - sometimes hysterically so - yet it never descends into camp. Barley does a great job writing totally relatable characters. We recognize these people immediately and they each speak with their own distinct voice. The dialogue is suitably fast-paced and witty. This would be a great addition to any theatre’s summer line-up. One question though - what is “toad in the hole?” and where in Texas can I try it?