Recommended by Mike Byham

LOL - IYKYK. Busser has written a gut-busting lover letter to Playwright's Thriving. So much fun. Anyone know where I can find a copy of Scott Sickle's “No-Longer-Green-Acres” cycle?

Describing the end of a relationship - even a caring one that's run its course - can be daunting. But Hilary Bluestein-Lyons proves up to the task mixing the bliss with the bitter in just the right amount. I couldn't help but hope for a different ending, yet the story unfolds in the most natural way that the ending seems inevitable. Beautifully told story I would love to see staged.

Williams hits an interesting sweet spot with his "Erstwhile." A combination history lesson, ghost story and parable pondering the mores of a certain current royal celebrity. Very well-written dialogue. I love the feel of this piece - bridging the then with the now in a believable way. Very well done.

Lovely. This beautifully rendered presentation of a gift to self is crafted with much care and respect for its audience. I really enjoy and appreciate the subtle delivery that somehow packs a more emotional wallop than a more overt expositional approach would. Very well done.

Lisa Feriend just forever ruined Hallmark movies for me. None will ever be this creatively evil or fun to watch. Perfect parody. This is an excellent Christmas treat!

A humorous story that starts with an interesting and almost maudlin monologue. The tale gets turned on its head when Tommy Chong (yes - THAT Tommy Chong) arrives. The funniness increases with a lit joint where we enter the stoner zone that includes a few unexpected twists (she's got a gun!) and the breaking of the third wall. A lot of fun stuff in ten minutes.

Wonderful, warm relationships are on full display in Jack Levine's "The Forgetful Storyteller." Tackling a sensitive topic like dementia can be challenging, but Levine uses an emotionally accessible approach with likeable characters (except for one villain), providing his protagonist a gently decline. It's a heartfelt and compassionate telling of one man's struggles with the disease highlighting the importance of loving family and good friends. Excellent story-telling.

A fun follow-up to the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Aly Kantor writes with lucid whimsy that gives us believable characters in an uncanny setting. Just a joy to read and I'm certain actors and audiences will enjoy this just as much on the stage - complete with laugh-out-loud moments every time "the mauling" is referenced. Great stuff.

I love Jack Levine's short TWO COOKIES PLEASE. Howie and Rosie are so relatable - I'd love to know them IRL. Poor Jack is left bewildered but somehow, I'll think he'll return for more cookies and hot chocolate! The dialogue is crisp and the humor hits. I'd really like to see this staged - it will certainly please audiences.

Being an artist is HARD. Doubly hard when you're in a new band preparing for your first big gig, trying to write a killer love song. Kieran Khanna introduces us to The Abyss, a new group of mermaid musicians who show us just how hard it can be - especially when the lead singer/songwriter lacks the necessary experience to create the song. Good thing she has her friends. It all makes for an enjoyable time underwater.