Recommended by Aly Kantor

You've heard of a "cozy mystery." I think Chris has invented a new genre: the cozy... slasher horror?! I don't normally seek out the horror genre for warm, fuzzy feelings, but there is a warm air of found family in this short, spooky, and surprisingly funny piece. Keen audience members will notice things aren't what they seem pretty quickly, and it's that uncanny feeling that will keep their eyes and ears glued to the stage. It's packed with colorful characters, interesting history, and a central mystery that's lots of fun!

Lisa is one of the few playwrights who consistently has me laughing on page one! In this pseudo-immersive, direct-address short, the least-prepared thieves on earth are bested by their own morals as they attempt to steal a high-profile, notably cursed artifact. Still, the funniest character may be the off-stage docent, who plays the straight man to the two well-drawn clowns on stage! Somehow, by the end of this progressively goofy piece, you'll be rooting for the bad guys! This is a tight, engaging comedy for two energetic performers that would kill at any festival!

I consider storytelling to be inherently theatrical - only a good story can make an audience lean forward in their chairs without the spectacle of light, sound, and costume. The specificity of these dueling monologues is so compelling, with a spine-tingling liveness that could keep listeners engaged (and utterly creeped out!) even in a fully-lit room. Even so, this is a pure performance text, with so many possibilities for creative designers. It's funny, profoundly weird, thoroughly freaky, and will give audiences something to talk about - everything good theatre should do!

This play had me at the clever character names! As a former school teacher and dedicated pescatarian, I found this hilarious situation comedy more than a little bit relatable! The staff room can often be the most negative, discouraging place in a school. In this uplifting short, a group of disenchanted educators reflects on why they do what they do in the middle of a rough day. The final button of a reversal was a laugh-out-loud conclusion to a charming character piece.

Categories can help us make sense of the world, but true wisdom is knowing when to embrace them and when to cast them aside. In this witty, engaging, and efficient short, we head back to an Alternate Universe Garden of Eden and experience a story similar to The Judgement of Paris, in which a piece of fruit becomes the impetus for a lot of chaos and self-discovery. The tongue-in-cheek, self-aware humor and physical comedy are spot-on, and we're left with the message that sometimes breaking barriers helps everyone! This is an innovative play with big impact!

This super silly, incredibly heartfelt play did not go where I expected it to go - which is just one element that made it such a fun ride! I was drawn in by the goofy, clever humor (which would play beautifully on stage), but just when I thought I'd reached the reversal and understood the twist, it just kept on going! Is it a ghost story? A comedy? A tender love story? Why not all three?! There's something for everyone in this carefully constructed short.

Time travel stories are some of the hardest to write because devising clear rules is a near-impossible challenge. In this silly, revolving-door piece, Soucy solved the problem by creating a timeless setting where notable time travelers from across media can co-exist. I could see this piece being performed in a real bar, allowing the patrons/audience members to mingle with the large, revolving-door cast of familiar characters. I enjoyed the funny quips, familiar references, unusual pairings, and witty banter - though there's deeper emotion lurking, too! Ultimately, I had a blast reading this clever, pop-culture-filled play with music!

This is a charming, faithful adaptation of a beloved classic, perfect for a large ensemble of actor-singers. The performance text is full of carefully curated music suggestive of the wit and humor of both Austen and the theatrical world she's created. The piece moves swiftly with incredible efficiency - it would make a wonderful school or community production, as I imagine the whole thing could be performed with a simple, minimalist set. Ultimately, this piece is a tight adaptation full of great roles for young women, and it's absolutely in the spirit of the novel!

This play is highly theatrical in its simplicity. It leaves the audience to do most of the work in their imaginations, making it inherently engaging and participatory. I'm sure the audience will be so eager to figure out what's really going on that they'll be perched precariously on the edges of their seats (like I was just reading it). Luckily, the answer to that question is as satisfying and original as it is painfully relatable. I didn't realize a play could feel like ripping off a band-aid. This lovely short piece is what theatre is for!

There is a perfectly-timed joke in this script that made me shriek-laugh so loud that someone upstairs called down, "NOTHING'S THAT FUNNY!" Clearly, they haven't read this frustratingly hilarious holiday play! You'll be rooting for poor Ashely as her oblivious family dismisses nearly everything about her holiday guest. Unfortunately, the scenario is as absurd as it is painfully relatable. By the end, I found my shoulders dropping with relief. What a delightfully goofy short for the festive season!