Recommended by Robert J. LeBlanc

DELETE is a drama with the soul of a dark comedy. It's witty, musical in its timing, deft with the relatable analogy., and because of this, its punchline hits like a hard bullet to the emotional gut. DELETE is stark, haunting, and important. Such a great show.

I was lucky enough to see this live and it’s hilarious. Just when you think you know where it’s going it swerves in side-splitting ways. If you’re looking for a quick-witted unexpected short then look no further. This is brilliant.

Literature offers permission to put a voice to one's feelings. Permission is the key to Nora's beautiful monologue.

A teacher stands in front of a disciplinary board to address the issue of a student being inspired to embrace who they are. We see it happen more and more. Our society is, for the most part, giving permission for people to no longer live a lie or hide who they are. Nora's 'There Are No Closets in My Classroom' shows the power of literature in helping the young to put a voice to their feelings and embrace that permission. So good.

Joe has a gift for building and maintaining tension and this show is no different. From the start, the stakes are introduced and elevated. An enemy attacks and the truth comes out. This show will stay with you. There are some stand-out challenging roles, especially with Keller and Espinosa. I had the opportunity to hear this read, and I'm lucky that I did. It will stay with you.

What are the Odds is an adorable two-hander from a playwright known for his genuine touching humor. Randy Hunt brings you along on a romantic journey with Jim and Karen. You think you know where this is going until it zigs and zags. There are some sweet laugh-out-loud moments in this show. It would be a fun one to stage and a great one to see performed live.

Charon has a problem. Coins are in short supply as the concept of money evolves on Earth. Luckily Hecate has a solution that would help Charon sort the dead and get back to his old ways–a solution that would right a millennia-old wrong. Cryptoeconomics by Diana Mullins is a dark comedy with a message. Hecate is the real standout part as she works her magic on stage. I'd love to see this staged.

A playwright's work can only really exist when translated by another. Sometimes that translation is far away from the playwright's intention. STOP LAUGHING WITHOUT ME is a wonderful example of a translation gone wrong as much as it is a commentary about the power of comedy in drama. Like all good satires, this play is grounded in truth. As the play says, it will leave you laughing, and through that laughter, it'll make you remember the issue at the root of the comedy. I really enjoyed this play.

There is a lot to unpack in this collection. Ash, Sam, Haley, Justine, and Sylvie are all in a transitional place in their recovery. Through the lens of a tabletop roleplaying game (Dungeons & Dragons), each reflect on their own hero's journey through their own adventures in life. Each confessional monologue is bookended by audio snippets of the gameplay, of the adventure that their characters are on. Though this was written for a virtual performance, I can easily see this performed live. Whether you play or not, this show is for everyone.

Joe Swenson's RIGHT AS RAIN lands on many levels: the realism in Buster and Hank's friendship, the richness of the history between the two. This play is almost like a jazz tribute to a life well-lived–funny, touching, devastating, real, and as much about the notes that aren't played as it is about the ones that are. It's beautiful.

Randy Hunt's THE EBENEZER EFFECT is a beautiful holiday short. The show tells the story of the boy that Ebenezer Scrooge stopped the morning after his revelation. It is sweet with a trio of characters that would be a gift to play. Like all of Hunt's work, the play has touching humanity and wonderful dialogue. This show would make a fantastic addition to an evening of holiday shorts.