Recommended by Kim E. Ruyle

Gray Harris, celebrated actor, collapses and dies on his kitchen floor at 3 a.m. – this event forms the centerpiece of this wonderful play, but there’s much more. Love, devotion, denial, comedy, and many amusing references to Hollywood legends (my favorite is to Charlie Chaplin ). Lyons and DeVita take us in and out of the situation unfolding on the night of Gray’s death, back to the making of a ground-breaking movie, and forward to consider that night through the eyes of central characters. Thoroughly engaging, this will definitely play in Peoria, and that’s not just a rumor! Bravo!

Super fun! Super creative! What characters! An in-your-face Chinese takeout container with a raging libido. An outrageous, uninhibited takeout delivery woman. A down-and-out couch potato. A demon-possessed laptop. And an incestually-inclined aunt. Reading Weaver’s play might make you hungry. It might even make you horny. It will surely make you laugh.

Much is gained and little is lost in this masterful retelling of Hamlet that elevates and gives meat to the portrayals of Gertrude and Ophelia. Whether commiserating, clashing, or conspiring, they breathe life in to the consequential roles they play and illustrate that indeed, “Men are more pliable when they aren’t aware they are being shaped.” Read anything and everything by Scott Sickles, but do make sure you read this. It’s brilliant!

Ryan Kaminski has written a thriller with some real twists and turns. Audrey is a mess, unwilling to admit she’s in an abusive relationship, clinging to her victimhood. When sisters, Mallory and Grace, unsuccessfully intervene through persuasion, they ratchet up their tactics to extreme levels. But things aren’t what they seem, and one secret after another is revealed as motives and treachery come to light.

Pleasure and Pain is intense, compelling, and insightful. The visual imagery and choreography alone will keep an audience on the edge of seats, but it’s the education and transformation of Sheila brought about by Clementine, the provocative and complex dominatrix, that is so very intriguing. Bravo!

Scott Mullen always delivers as in this 10-minute zoom play about two lonely, quarantined college freshmen who find each other, and in the process, may find themselves. The setting and setup are perfect, and the characters are thoroughly charming. Bravo!

Jack Levine has written an entertaining mystery. An arrogant computer geek claims to have “it” – smarts – over a wannabe actor. Responding to taunting, the wannabe actor issues a challenge, a bizarre bet. It doesn’t take long before we learn who really has “it.”

A light-hearted send-up of NYC magazines and theatre from another era. Amusing characters deliver some really funny one-liners. This will play well with many audiences. A fun read!

In a short play, Scott Sickles gives us a compelling story in a unique setting. A just-widowed woman mourns the loss of her husband, most of all maybe, mourns the loss of her notion of who her husband was. The train conductor and engineer can only offer meager comfort, but they are able to return her husband’s hat and suggest a resting place for the woman’s orchids. The sense of loss is magnified by the desert scenery and lighting. Bravo!

Stealing away for an anniversary vacation isn’t all it’s cracked up to be for Alex and Bailey. Takeout chicken, the minibar, cable TV, and body pillows don’t make for a romantic getaway, but the couple finds their way through while sparring with sharp, realistic dialogue. Ultimately, they arrive in a satisfying place. A great 10-minute play!