Recommended by Jack Levine

“Empty Spaces” is a play about the lack of needed help for those veterans who have not been able to return to a ‘normal’ life. Unfortunately, the system is unable to properly care for these vets. Despair, hopelessness, addiction, oftentimes leads to homelessness. WILLIAM L. WALKER MONTGOMERIE’s play is powerful, relevant, and needed to be performed to as many audiences as possible. Without the absolutely essential help needed, many veterans find themselves homeless. A play of survival, or not.

DONALD LOFTUS has written a wonderful mystery/thriller with three characters. In “The Archway”, we find a hotshot lawyer, a bedeviled brother, and a beautiful young woman, each with an overriding desire to have their most important dream come true. In this fast paced drama, truths and deceptions are told, and the audience is kept wondering what is true and what will happen. The characters are interesting; the dialogue is well written, and the pace is fast. I thoroughly enjoyed this play!

As a parent of three daughters, this one-minute play ‘hit home’. GEORGIA XANTHOPOULOU speaks volumes in only one page: We want our children to learn, to achieve, to grow in their knowledge, wisdom, and experiences. Homework is a necessity to pass a course. But Art can be enlightening, invigorating, and most importantly, a window into imagination, creativity. We need to encourage it. We, as parents learn, ‘kids have a mind of their own’. I think this one-page is well worth reading.

I love to read history, especially about the American Revolution. I am very impressed with RUTH BAKER’s full-length play, “Liberty Calls! (Musical For Sesquicentennial - 250 Years!”. It is a well-written musical, which brings alive part of the beginnings of the creation of a new Nation. I believe audiences will thoroughly enjoy it, especially while we celebrate 250 years of independence. I hope this play is produced many times!

We want to find meaning in our life. We strive to understand it all, yet the ‘darkness’ of hidden thoughts, unseen things, constantly taunt our strong desire and passion to perceive, understand, and embrace. GEORGIA XANTHOPOULOU’s short play, “The Void Space (Or What The Dark Makes Visible)”, is a wonderful allegory of our ever probing mind, constantly seeking answers, forever asking questions, and never sure of what we think we’ve discovered about ourselves. This play will makes you think.

ROBERT J. LEBLANC has written a wonderful ghost story with murder, mayhem, and mystery. “Ghosted” is performed while the audience eats their dinner, dessert, or just sits and watches. I found this play to be interesting, exciting, and frustrating - in a good way. The ‘confession’ part isn’t provided in the available script on NPX, as it is available upon purchase of the rights. Without a doubt, this would be a super hit to any dinner theater audience. Bravo!

MARSHALL LOGAN GIBBS dives into the sad and horrible loss of a child, and a parent’s desire to honor the child’s memory. In a ten-minute play, “A Steamboat Willie Gravestone”, an unusual idea is formally rejected by the owner of the character. Yet, with a little help from an understanding employee of the company, a solution is found. There is pathos, wit, and humanity displayed.

I was truly mesmerized by this wonderful full-length play. In life, we may be haunted by our own actions, but we may also have to endure the ‘inheritance’ of the actions of our ancestors. Are there curses to be overcome, or are these more an unforgivable fate we must endure? ADAM RICHTER brilliantly conjures a tale (or, is it a fable?) of what must be true, no matter what we think, say, or do. “Banshee” is truly a play that needs to be performed. BRAVO!

PHILIP MIDDLETON WILLIAMS takes a mixture of mayhem, mixups, madness, all with a lot of humor, some where you laugh out loud and some with you chuckling at the absurdity, and thrills with his joyful ten-minute play, “Snowbirds”. I enjoyed it!

RYAN KAMINSKY puts us in a courtroom for a murder mystery. “Prosecution Rests - 10 Minute Play” is a fun play to read. There is a bit of drama, some dark comedy and a twist at the end. This play can work on Zoom or radio.