Recommended by Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend

My sister has written many short plays, but whenever I'm asked to recommend one, this is always the one I pick. You should definitely take 10 minutes and read it.

When a play begins with someone digging a hole in the middle of the night and the first line is, "I'm not burying a body," you know you're in for a good time. This short play deals with big issues - depression, isolation, disillusionment - in a very funny way. This would be a stand out play in any short play festival.

This dark comedy is fantastic. Brenda's next door neighbors abused their children for years, and her female friends all begin showing up at her house to comfort her. The play unfolds with some of the smartest, funniest dialogue you'll find as they debate things like How could Brenda possibly have not known? and What even IS feminism? This play reached the point where I truly didn't know what to expect next, and I loved every minute of it.

Wow, what a great play. "The Rock & The Hard Place" follows a daughter trying anything and everything she can to get her wrongfully convicted father's sentence overturned before his execution date. In addition to being a compelling story with pages that practically turn themselves, it is a powerful reminder of how flawed the American justice system is. This is the kind of work that is a call to arms. I loved it.

I love this fairy tale twist in which Prince Charming's kisses can break maidens' spells, but he'd rather be kissing boys. With humor (that both kids AND grown ups will enjoy), puppets, and the normalization of queer relationships, this is a play I would love to take my kids to - and one they would thoroughly enjoy.

This play is terrific. Max Gill creates a world in which Muslim nations colonized and subjugated the world rather than Christian nations. Christians are the ones seen as terrorists, and the play follows a Muslim college student who brings her Christian boyfriend home to meet her parents for the first time. Deftly switching from humorous to serious and back again on a dime, this play is a quick read which deserves all the productions. What a great example of how art can be used to change minds.

This monologue is a lot of fun. I'm a sucker for a character chattering away in an upbeat voice about all the horrible things that have happened to them. A very entertaining piece with a great button at the end!

There was a moment in my life, after becoming a mother, when I realized that no matter how I tried to warn my kids of what's to come, or advise them on what my lived experience has taught me that they should (or shouldn't) do, they will never listen to me, just as I didn't listen to my parents, because we all insist on figuring it out and learning lessons for ourselves. This one-minute play is the dramatization of that fact. Simple but profound.

Wow, this play is great. A supervisor who committed suicide is discovered on Monday, and the play follows his office mates as they try to slog through the week, processing the grief they feel from his suicide and from the work that they do. Although it deals with heavy topics, "Bereavement Leave" is a quick read with engaging dialogue and many truly funny moments. I especially loved how each character was so distinctly their own person, even though their names are just numbers. What a different, wonderful play!

This short play is incredibly clever and funny, and then subtly turns and becomes very sweet and touching. I'm sure this would be a big hit in any festival of short plays. I loved every minute!