Recommended by Jack Levine

RAND HIGBEE has written a witty play of an ‘actor’ at first worried about potential stage fright, then wondering if the role may be a bit too much, and then realizing it’s not the number of lines an actor gets to say, but what the actor needs to do to perform. Ouch! Oh, that wasn’t in the script. This is a laugh out loud play with a great title, “Oh, No! I Few Too Close To The Sun!

PHILIP MIDDLETON WILLIAMS’s short play, “Any Second Now”, is a look at the challenges of actors. The fun of the play is the absurdity of their expectations, beliefs, and desires of wanting a better role for themselves without truly understanding the process: playwrights create characters for the story they are telling and not to satisfy a particular actor. The ending is perfect. When the opportunity to be cast presents itself, well, let’s just use the expression “timing is everything”. It’s a fun play to read. I hope to watch it performed.

BRIAN JAMES POLAK’s play is about a brother and sister, who have hatred towards their dying father. They need to decide if they will talk to him, and if so, what they or their dad might say. In his dramatic short play, “What We Need At The End Of The Day”, we can feel the emotions of the brother and sister as they consider what they will do.

EMMA WOOD uses her talents to create a heartwarming holiday play. A group of actors are challenged to do something different than the Charles Dickens classic. A new Director has a vision ‘out-of-the-box’ while the theater’s President believes the classic play is what their audience wants. A white man’s prejudice towards gays and females is tested. “A Hit And Miss Christmas” is a wonderful play and a must-see for all of us who value the real meaning of Christmas.

ELISABETH GIFFIN SPECKMAN takes the hectic pace of the holiday season and ratchets up tenfold. It begins with a Christmas card with a picture of mom, daughter and...whoops. An unplanned pregnancy, a misguided engagement, a somewhat unusual name, a revealing card to the baby’s mother’s ex-almost in-laws, and... So, what could go wrong? Buckle your seatbelt, be ready to laugh out loud, and then read this delightful play.

LINDSAY PARTAIN’s “All the Way Down” is a gem of a short play. We, as humans, want to explore, discover and learn. We often overlook, or at least downplay, the possible harmful outcomes. But, in many cases, we succeed and find out something fantastic. We need to move-forward, or ‘go up’, to try to find that ‘thing’ we never knew, but we might end up ‘falling’ or failing. It’s something we do - and our civilization has benefited more times than not.

EMILY MCCLAIN hits the nail on the head when it comes to understanding why an offer of help is appreciated if it addresses the needs and wants of the person receiving the advice and not the person giving the advice. “The Un-Help Desk” takes place in a library. But, unfortunately, many people give unsolicited advice which totally misses the mark of what is truly needed. This is a good ‘word-to-the-wise’ lesson to be learned. It would be a fun play to watch. I loved reading it.

JOHN BUSSER has written a witty and wonderful monologue. I can imagine hearing the tour guide’s instructions and general information as a person about to enter this museum. I would want to proceed to experience the wonders in the museum while at the same time running as fast as possible out the exit door screaming for help. “And Try Not To Enjoy Your Stay” is a laugh out loud speech. To add to the fun, there are two silent helpers, who have the freedom to improvise. This a truly a fun monologue.

TRACEY JANE has written a sexually suggestive play without any vulgar language. A witty and wonderful short story of two women determined to change their lives by taking leave of men ‘with only one thing on their mind”. “Welcome To Intercourse” will get you to laugh pot loud at the double-meaning dialogue. A fun play to read and one I would love to see performed.

EMMA WOOD’s play, “Water Child”, explores the powerful feelings of wanting children, the pain of losing an unborn child, the regrets from choices made that have less than desirable outcomes, and the joys and problems from having children. One sister ‘has it all’ with three children, one sister has tried three times to have a baby without success, one friend is gay and thinks of having a child, and a mother who had two children at a young age and has to be a single parent. Such a well-written play, which will touch you on so many levels. BRAVO!