Recommended by Mike Byham

I was lucky enough to see a staged reading of Lori Coughlin's EL DORADO. This was a draft and I understand the work is still in progress, but you could've fooled me. What a promising premise! Real, relatable characters given some great dialogue, and the execution of the time travel elements create a memorable piece. I look forward to seeing the complete version staged! It definitely deserves it. Well done!

You better bee-lieve that Kevin B's THE QUEEN AND HER HIVE is great fun! On top of laying eggs all her life, the poor queen has to put up with winged equivalents of Moe, Larry and Curly. What a buzz-kill! I'm looking forward to seeing this staged!

Ryan Kaminski produces a devilish delight in ten minutes with THE DEAL. The quaint little story of a southern gentleman calling on a recently widowed woman in Louisiana is a scene straight out of old movie. It insidiously turns into something else (something much more fun)! Why do I hear the Charlie Daniels Band playing in my head? Well done!

Life on the tracks is perhaps the only thing worse than life on the wrong side of the tracks. John Patrick Bray doesn't provide the audience a happy ending in the gritty and beautifully written TRACKS. He also wisely doesn't delete the good little moments in life from his tale of struggles of young adults(?) coping with circumstances that provide little wiggle room imagining a brighter future ahead. It's simultaneously real and surreal and makes for good theatre - it packs an emotional punch. There are so many moments of opportunity for theatrical magic. Excellent work.

ODD SONGS FOR ODD BIRDS is simply a beautiful tale spun with love and care by Aly Kantor. The familiar and cozy setting, the three richly drawn characters and the magical story of self-discovery and unexpected love are unforgettable. This is a wonderful piece that deserves attention. I can still hear the music reverberating in my mind - somewhere, beyond the sea. Lovely.

Ricardo Soltero-Brown has a knack for use of staccato patterns, and he puts it to effective use in THE DETECTIVE. The story presents itself initially as a typical couples-crisis drama, but then comes the twist in the form of an admission by Otto. Things really pick up though upon the entrance of Sam, providing the first reveal of several. Interesting premise, plausible characters with wonderful dialogue and a great ending create an enjoyable play. Would love to see this staged. Well done.

I would love to see BUZZ staged! Actors and audiences alike would really enjoy this comic little gem. Actually - I can see some actors having trouble not breaking on stage. The opportunities for physical humor to compliment the sharp writing are multitude. Chris Plumridge is getting a little naughty in all the best ways! Absolutely, freaking hilarious. Thanks for the laugh and PLEASE invite me to the next dinner party!

James Perry’s 11:11 is a clever and entertaining take on time travel. Whether you’re a fan of sci-if or not, you’re sure to find something to like in this well-crafted one act. The relationship between the characters is exemplified by the lengths one will go to avoid his friend’s demise. This is a sweet touch to a fun but ultimately dystopian piece. And thanks to James, I now have a healthy new respect for potatoes. Well done!

Who doesn’t like a good murder mystery? And Brenton Kneiss presents a wonderfully deceptive one in THERESE - A MURDER MYSTERY. Brenton leads you down a path of enlightenment dropping clue after clue until you’re sure you know who did what - until you don’t. Some interesting staging elements provide a wholly producible delight sure to please audiences. Well done.

Touching and engaging, Jacquie Floyd-Priskorn's BARN WOOD AND BLUE ROSES is storytelling at its finest. The beautiful relationships between the main characters are made more precious knowing the limits that life has placed on one of them. The seamless transitions between memory and now, and real life and fantasy worlds make for wonderful opportunities for creative staging. The unexpected ending packs an emotional punch - suitably poignant for the topics being addressed. An outstanding play.