Recommended by Enid Cokinos

Santa’s workshop may not survive the newly hired replacement help (it seems the elves are on strike) but these characters are fabulous! Mr. Binkley in his crazy Christmas suit and his can-do attitude, Spoiled-Girl Breanna, along with Sparky and Mrs. Limburger bring Connie Dinkler’s holiday comedy to life. An engaging play for the whole family and a fun read on this cold December morning!

Bertha, Alice and Caroline: three “spirited” ladies who share a rather unenviable bond, thanks to Guy, a quirky scientist on a mission, but they aren’t about to let their predicament keep them down (I just love their spunk and determination)! Maryellen DeVivo has crafted a delightful piece of theatre with strong roles for female actors and witty dialogue making BITS AND PIECES a hit in any festival!

Stuck in purgatory, Andrew meets Sam who gives the newbie a chance to get into heaven, but only if he returns to earth and breaks someone’s heart. A bit contrary, no? It seems so until Sam explains: “You see, by breaking their hearts we teach them valuable lessons and help them grow into better, stronger, wiser people.” Hm, interesting perspective. I love the feisty Sam character—definitely not who you’d expect to be handing out heavenly assignments. A delightful comedic play by Connie Dinkler.

Great teamwork by Hank and Barbara Kimmel in crafting this short play. I love how unkempt, disheveled Jackie speaks her “internal dialogue” as she stands next to the perfectly-put-together mom Genevieve at their daughters’ soccer game. Jackie voices many of the insecurities women often feel when crossing paths with the “Genevieves” of the world. But does that mean these two opposites can’t be friends? Perhaps the one thing—the most important thing—they have in common can overcome any and all obstacles.

ROMAN HOLIDAY: uplifting, sweet, and from the heart. I appreciate that the playwright leaves it up to the audience to decide whether this is a “happily ever after” story or just “happy for now.” A wonderful monologue by Elizabeth Robbins that will leave the audience with those contented, dreamy feelings that only a well-told love story can bring about.

The old Menorah and Christmas Tree come alive for the audience as they share memories of past holidays and worries for the future now that folks have retired to warm, sunny climes. Hopefully, Hanukah and Christmas will always shine bright in this house. A delightful holiday play by Judith Glass Collins.

Herbert is determined to share the fun of Halloween with his granddaughter--the old-fashioned way with spooky costumes and *real* trick-or-treating. The mere mention of Trunk-or-Treating nearly sends Grandpa over the edge. “She’ll have no sense of satisfaction of having earned her candy by canvassing the neighborhood!” Connie Dinkler has crafted an entertaining piece of theatre for the whole family with SAVING HALLOWEEN.

Jim’s magic act is in jeopardy if he doesn’t meet Mr. W’s demands—all quite reasonable considering he is a key part of the act—but Jim needs some convincing. A fun reveal on page three, witty dialogue, and a touching ending will keep audiences of all ages fully engaged. TA-DA OR TOODLE-OO is a delightful short play by Emily Hageman.

It’s not easy having the Christmas spirit some years, and it’s even more difficult *being* Christmas Spirit. But this character isn’t willing to throw in the towel just yet and Monique presents the perfect challenge to get Spirit’s mojo flowing. This short play by Ron Burch will be a hit in any holiday themed festival!

As elves Snit, Rip, and Dangle play a hand of poker the conversation turns to their jobs, working conditions, and why they always play for gumdrops and candy canes instead of money. They start comparing notes: who are they actually making toys for and who is in charge (has anyone seen Santa lately?!). Rip plans to take his concerns to the other elves, but Snit has other ideas. THREE ELVES SITTING AROUND PLAYING POKER gives us a new perspective on how things really work at the North Pole.