Recommended by Morey Norkin

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Everything from the mysterious voice countdown to the audience reprimand. Although I feel certain that during a live performance any number of brave audience members will shout out, “Don’t go there!” And that’s when you know you’ve crafted the perfect horror story. Well done, Neil Radtke!

Playwrights Versus Zombies! It’s hard to know who to root for. But it’s not hard to find plenty to laugh about as two playwrights on opposite coasts attempt to hold off the zombie apocalypse with clever stage directions. Physical humor abounds in this fun comic thriller. It’s Halloween season, producers; here you go.

One question that will always haunt the living is what happens to us after. Religions have tried to answer, and so have playwrights. Izolda Trakhtenberg offers a clever take on this age old question and will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew. Two great roles for mature actors and plenty of food for thought for audiences lucky enough to experience this.

As the title suggests, this short piece is hyper meta. In addition it is enjoyably self aware and hysterically funny. Dan West offers not only a delight for all audiences but a special nod to playwrights who marvel at how characters seem to dictate their own stories. This needs to be produced often.

The tension starts high and ratchets up in under a minute as two dancing queens engage in a dangerous face off. Why? Who will “win”? These and other questions will linger long after the lights go out. Just what you want in a one-minute play.

SLOP is laugh out loud funny. A young couple seeking to finalize their mortgage plan encounter a human-looking (except for the thumbs) AI language learning model that seems equipped to discuss anything except the issue at hand. During this brief encounter, this couple experiences what is likely to be the path forward for AI: Initial confusion and frustration giving way to a growing and troubling dependence. Lots of laughs nicely balanced with food for thought.

Since it has only been a matter of weeks since I sat with my mother-in-law as she passed away, this play hit hard. But even without being in a state of mourning, I have no doubt the impact would still be profound. The compassion for a patient unable to understand her critical condition, the fear of witnessing a loved one’s final moments, or being too far away to be of help are all addressed beautifully by John Busser and are experiences that will be felt deeply by many readers and audiences. Perhaps one of John’s finest works.

In just a couple of pages, Jacquie Priskorn captures so many of the emotions surrounding Alzheimer’s disease. The brevity of the script also leaves it open to a multitude of interpretations, particularly for The One Who Stands. Is this person from the present or past? Are they real or imagined? This short work will leave a much longer impression in your mind and heart.

I was instantly hooked by the Cole Porter inspired playlet titles, and then Scott Sickles delivered the goods as only a seasoned serial writer could. A wedding in chilly Iceland is the perfect setting for the warmth emanating from these connected tales. Each one stands on its own, but as a whole it’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s de-lovely!

Rather than not talking about the elephant in the room, Neil Radtke’s two characters Ignore the Random Bear and avoid the healing they so desperately need. The expressions of loss, grief, and helplessness are profound. Two endings are proposed, each shocking in its own way. And each will leave audiences animatedly discussing the possibilities.