Recommended by Maximillian Gill

Truly the most interesting take on the classic Dracula vs. Van Helsing type rivalry I've ever encountered. Weeks reworks the classic vampire mythology in a piece that defies categorization. Not quite comedy, not quite drama, not quite love story but something uniquely its own and always infused with a sparkling and subtle wit. Murky in particular is a striking creation, lovable even when she's trying to be her most wicked. At its heart it's a fable about understanding the other and realizing that most of us are not actually that evil after all. A wonderful play!

So much is contained in this compact full-length piece. The unique "cow-eye" perspective immediately grabbed me, and we find that the cow Caroline is not just an eloquent narrator and observer but also serves as the moral center and beating heart of the play as we see the human characters fall prey to their own ambitions. It is hilarious throughout, yet it has the proportions of a classic tragedy as human frailty yet again is unable to resist hubris and loses what it most values. Fascinating, poetic, and grim all at the right moments, a true tour-de-force!

The natural wit in the dialogue is immediately engaging in this short piece. Just as compelling is the human connection the two characters make by the close, one that is effortlessly accomplished through subtle changes in emotional registers, organic to the situation, and ultimately deeply affecting. A fine piece by Preuss filled with assured writing and meaningful moments of pain and compassion that provides a perfect showcase for two committed actors.

Panganiban has created an indelible character in River and has ably accomplished it in a short piece. The characters verve and spunk are immediately gripping, and then, suddenly, this piece takes a fascinating turn into a sci-fi area that was cleverly prepared for from the beginning. The close is contemplative and affecting, an examination of grief and the process of loss.

A fascinating examination of the regrets we carry with us and the difficulties we have with simply forgiving ourselves for a host of bad choices. It's existential, clever, and very, very human. I experienced this script for the first time in a Zoom presentation and did not know where it was going, which felt like the best way to go into it. I was surprised and pleased when I realized the central conceit.

A lively and brisk play with an unusual setting. I watched an online production that demonstrated just how much engaging and physical theatricality Mullen has written in here. Despite the twists and turns and ups and downs (sorry, roller coaster humor), it ends on just the right, sweet note.

A fascinating premise grows into a profound existential exploration of what constitutes happiness and fulfillment in life. The solution is both unexpected and perfect, a wonderful close to a short piece that offers much food for thought.

The play we need right now. At its heart it is about the vital connections that are so possible and necessary even between people from varied backgrounds. The two characters approach each other from different emotional places, but they find mutual understanding through the simplest of gestures: the sharing of food, which in its essence is the sharing of love. The dialogue is heart-breaking and sensitively written to represent an unimaginable trauma. Gripping work.

I really admire a piece that is able to blend farcical comedy and poignancy in a short span of time. What begins as a hilarious dysfunctional family farce effortlessly and organically transforms into a play about learning how to more deeply understand ourselves and our loved ones. The ending is heart-breaking, and I love how a seemingly inconsequential character says exactly what needs to be said. A surprise and a delight!

This intensely involving short piece speaks eloquently of the primacy of human grief. At first, the two central losses at the core of the protagonist’s grief seem unconnected, yet through Jane’s process we understand exactly what these disparate moments mean to her and why both are relevant on the continuum of loss that she is trying to understand. Her monologue near the end is raw and simply heart-breaking. A potent short play.