Recommended by John Mabey

EMERGENCY CONTACT by Nick Malakhow is such a beautifully layered play about queer relationships, both romantic and otherwise. The three characters are multidimensional and complex as they wrestle with intersectional issues of mental health, sexuality, race, and intimacy. I was fortunate to watch a virtual reading of this play and was struck by how well the performers connected on screen with big credit to the high quality of writing and direction. I'd love to watch this play come alive on stage with even greater opportunities for the physicality to enhance the story.

THE JOYS OF CHRISTMAS: A MONOLOGUE is such an exciting piece with layers of depth for a performer to investigate and uncover meaning. Sabrina Rose Bivens writes so skillfully with both empathy and urgency. And as Gladys constructs meaning from the chaos of things outside their control, we understand how the journey of crafting our own stories becomes the true test of health.

There is so much to celebrate in this poignant monologue which is not only about death and dying but also about living. In BE A MAN, Lee R. Lawing shares both gay history and hope in the character's final minutes of life. Such powerful work for any actor to explore about gender, identity and sexuality.

Emily McClain has crafted such an intimate and beautiful world in TRIPTYCH ON DIVINING as all three, 1-minute plays feed and compliment each other. There is a tremendous amount of empathy and poignant exploration in all three, making a wonderful addition to festivals as a trio or standalone pieces.

Evan Baughfman definitely understands how writers develop their process. And in THE WRITING BUG he has a ton of fun skewering everything about it with great comedic effect.

WOLF & PIG is a love story you never knew you needed but absolutely want. Matthew Weaver creates a beautiful twist all in one minute of fairytale drama.

Scott Sickles has wrapped so much emotion and depth into 1 page. In IF THERE'S ANYTHING, it's not the details of the backstory that matters but instead the connection between these 2 people and their shared grief. Touching, poignant, and so very special.

There are many confessions we need to make, and some are simply...unforgivable. And in this play, it's all delightfully funny and so very topical, too! Philip Middleton Williams has such a unique way of drawing you immediately into a story and then turning the narrative on its head, all within one-minute.

CIRCUMNAVIGATION is a such a thoughtful and well-written monologue with plenty of hidden depth beneath the surface of the water. Well done!

Last words and devastating secrets make for exciting plays, and in ADAGIO Sabrina Rose Bivens has given us both with plenty of surprises to spare. In this dark comedy, two people wrestle with a complexity of emotions as they discover more about themselves and their relationships than they ever expected. A well-written and thrilling short play for actors and directors to explore.