Recommended by Aly Kantor

When you endeavor to read a play about celebrities (or, in this case, their wives) you expect there to be a disconnect - their lives aren't like mine. How could I hope to relate? Somehow, Scott Sickles has brought out all the humanity of these two specific, well-drawn women without sacrificing a single drop of their eccentricity. These are two larger-than-life characters with (admittedly, somewhat heightened) problems that will make you nod your head in sympathy and understanding. This play will make you ask, "What is a marriage?" and you might come away with a new answer. Great short play!

This fun, irreverent romp reads like a lost Sarah Ruhl play, complete with ennui, black market organ sales, dream sequences, and sprawling, hilarious monologues. I knew I was going to like it when I saw multiple kidneys on the list of characters! It moves briskly, bringing audiences from a Florida Red Lobster to Paris, France (and back again!) without worrying much about the HOW, which demonstrates a tremendous trust and faith in artistic collaborators. It's absurdly theatrical, absurdly absurd, and so bizarrely funny! If you're looking for something delightfully unexpected, check out this quirky comedy!

For those who know anything about cults or cult psychology, this immersive horror play will raise your hackles from the jump. I can't imagine how heightened the experience would feel in performance, with all those bodies present for this horror show! There is so much happening between the lines, and I'm sure the music and choral humming could only add to the ominous atmosphere. Though you could theoretically predict the bloody climax, there is so much else to look at and take in that it still catches you by surprise! Eerie, specific, and so much fun!

Oh, this goofy, spooky, romantic comedy is a true delight! The characters are sweet, quirky, and loveable, and their specificity helps to flesh out the tightly constructed world of this play. I will admit I did not see the twist coming... but the moment it did, I found myself grinning from ear to ear! It's definitely a feel-good romance that would be right at home in a Halloween OR Valentine's Day play festival... my favorite combo! A very enjoyable read that I'd love to see performed live!

Wow! The twists and turns don't stop coming in this eerie piece! For such a spare script, it tells a highly effective story, full of compelling twists and turns, and somehow answers all the lingering questions an audience might have! I love a spooky play in which the monster isn't necessarily who you think it's going to be, and the reveal in this one is slow, creepy, and epically chilling. It would be incredibly simple to stage but would still provide ambitious sound designers with a fun creative challenge! Fantastic momentum and excellent storytelling!

This funny, unexpected riff on 'A Christmas Carol' (don't tell Frederick I called it that) is a hoot! As someone who has dabbled in a hobby or two in my time, I also found 'the ghost of pastimes past' to be eerily relatable! It's full of quick and funny quips, and the familiar structure ensures the clever deviations stand out. This piece is evergreen but would be a fun alternative to an old, tired Christmas Carol in a holiday-themed evening of shorts!

This zany trickster is quite the character, telling a horror story that isn't about the typical ghosts and ghouls but about the TRUE lifelong danger of Halloween... dental bills! Ha! The character is compelling and quirky and would be a blast for any actor to take on. It's sure to leave audiences smiling! I've seen this silly monologue performed twice now this spooky season, and it has made me grin (with all my teeth!) every time! A Halloween treat!

There is a gorgeous rhythm and lyricism to the dialogue that makes this play a pleasure to listen to. Likewise, the doubling in the piece was brilliant, leading to a startling but inevitable (and ghastly and delightful) reversal that will have audiences gasping! Writers will certainly relate to the addictive nature of a creative streak and the desperate absence that comes afterward. It is sexy and spooky in equal measure, perfect for a showcase of horror or mythological short plays.

This youth-friendly Halloween mystery had me at the clever conceit! I'm obsessed with this quirky, Clue-playing quorum of young literary detectives! The jokes come fast, the teen voices are authentic, and the twist had me cackling! You might even learn something about the history of the literary detective! The humor is the star, and the central mystery raises the stakes. It moves swiftly and gives every performer a moment to shine. Plus, costumers will have a blast putting the detective ensembles together. Nobody does spooky and/or irreverent like Daniel Prillaman!

This play is like "Who's Afraid of the Dark?" with some extra irreverent banter, embracing the inherent theatricality of storytelling without sacrificing bright, distinct character voices. The act of telling the story IS the action of the play, and it pays off beautifully at the climax. The "flashlight choreography" is a fun, atmospheric, and theatrical touch that is easily within most school budgets. I appreciated that all of the characters, though different, were dealing with anxiety, which (in addition to their supernatural experiences) linked them together. A spare but effective piece for young players!