Recommended by Marcia Eppich-Harris

Such a witty, hilarious play that hits a ton of all-too-human notes! Who doesn't love a talking Christmas tree? Mark Harvey Levine's talking tree brings together people from all religious walks of life and reminds us that we really should try to be more accommodating and generous of spirit. Fun and sweet, this would be a great piece to include in a holiday play fest!

The emotional impact of "All This Togetherness" is striking. The children of a sperm donor gather to meet their father, and in their hopes is magnified the desires of all children to be seen, understood, loved, and known by their parents. It's at once recognizable, heartbreaking, strange, and familiar. I would love to see this on stage.

Knowing Shakespeare's version of what happens to the little princes and the mysteries surrounding them in history gives you some insider knowledge to this short piece, but even without that, you'd get what you need to here. Two princes squabble about succession and certainty, but the dramatic irony is that neither of them gets out of the Tower alive. It just goes to show that it doesn't matter what you want-- or what's right --if you're being controlled by something or someone more sinister than you dare imagine.

With the Roman gods trying to overthrow the Greek gods, there's bound to be a slacker among them. Enter Bacchus, god of wine, who would rather party than do his duty. This short play says a lot about loyalty to one's group and loyalty to oneself. Short, sweet, and funny. I'd love to see this with Love Life and other companionable pieces about Romans vs. Greeks.

I loved reading this short play about two strangers in an elevator. Their different ideas about marriage and love spark some interesting ideas, especially about long-term relationships, ups and downs, and disappointment. I like that they both have a stake in the woman's relationship, and that as a result of this meeting, she is seeing things with new eyes. Nothing Says Monday Like a Rainy Day is well-written and thought provoking. I'd love to see it staged!

This monologue made me cry. I saw it at Fat Turtle Theatre Company's monologue festival, and it spoke to me so strongly about the experience of becoming an adult, having children, watching them grow, and seeing them experience things that you did as a child. The emotions in this brief piece remind me of milestones in my family's life, and I think about my baby who is now taller than me, and I wonder what will happen to him as he becomes an adult. Levine strikes such a chord here -- a beautiful, life-affirming chord. I loved it!

Getting older takes its toll -- forgetting why you've walked into a room, for instance -- but Levine's monologue puts a new spin on an old problem and makes erasure a positive. Losing memories is a part of life, but it doesn't have to be the worst part, the monologue argues. But as with much of Levine's work, the nostalgia he creates exposes the dark underbelly of the argument. This is a beautiful piece that shows strong range in an actor. I saw it at Fat Turtle's monologue festival, and it was among my favorites!

I saw Are You Ready to Order at the Fat Turtle Theatre Company's Monologue festival, and it was INCREDIBLE in performance. I absolutely loved the twist at the end, and it provided a lovely range for an actor -- both dramatic and comic. The emotions expressed in the piece are so raw and real. It pulls at your heart for sure. Great piece!!

I saw Suburban Buffalo Sighting at the Fat Turtle Theatre Company's Monologue Festival, and it is a sheer delight in performance. In fact, it won best monologue of the evening! Speckman captures an adrenaline-filled moment with humor and surprises. It's a great piece!

Continued on Page 12 is a snapshot of a moment in history -- the death notifications from covid-19 in the New York Times on May 24, 2020 -- which preceded the death of George Floyd by police violence by one day. The idea of passing a graveyard and holding one's breath can be applied not just to one day of our tragic recent history, but is emblematic of America's failure to act when action was necessary, to the detriment of our entire civilization. We may hold our breaths for a long, long time. This is so powerful.