Recommended by Morey Norkin

I was laughing just reading the title, but then I also felt bad for Kimberly as she has had to endure the same tired jokes for decades. Kimchi is an acquired taste. I prefer it combined with other ingredients rather than as a standalone dish. But with Christopher Soucy in charge, this tasty morsel needs no extra flavoring. Perfect!

Not since Cheers has there been a more interesting bar filled with enjoyable characters. Given the unique circumstances that bring them together, I can’t help but want to know what new characters could arrive in the future and how long before the characters Brent Alles has shared with us move on to new adventures. A great premise, wonderful characters, and a lot of insight into life in Michigan. You can’t ask for more, except maybe seconds on the venison chili.

Outstanding. Beautifully written with an important lesson for our time. Not surprising it’s written by a teacher to be delivered by a teacher. This is Nora Louise Syran at her best.

The client may always be right, but wouldn’t it be fun to just once give them a piece of your mind? In this delightful monologue, Nora shows us just how much fun it can be. What a wonderful release of pent up frustration. Great for an audition or festival of shorts.

Luke and Jared meet under unusual circumstances, but as their conversation naturally progresses, a connection develops. Both men share sad memories, and yet Philip Middleton Williams keeps a light touch with gentle humor and a sprinkling of movie and TV references. And as usual, he makes it look easy. A gem.

You know the drill. An isolated cabin in the woods, horny teen occupants, and a menacing masked killer lurking about. What you might not know is that when John Busser gets ahold of this scenario the laughs come faster than a swinging machete. And Busser treats us to not one, but three short vignettes of the classic slasher genre. Halloween is coming. Get this on your program!

Who doesn’t love extras? Especially when we’re talking an extra helping of food, a free extra piece (or two) of fried chicken, or some other fun bonus. The people in our lives come with extras too. As Scott Sickles presents in this memorial monologue, sometimes those extras require a lot of patience. But they also leave a lasting impression, and in this case, a fitting tribute. Outstanding job of bringing time, place, and character to life in such a short piece.

Dawn Branch has created a moving story of two couples dealing with separation during a world war. Told primarily through letters, the story reveals the characters’ hopes and fears as the thought of war moves from the prospect of adventure to grim reality. The letters range from lighthearted to longing to despair. I honestly don’t know if they are the product of research, brilliant writing from Branch, or a combination of both. Branch also provides detailed and highly theatrical stage directions to ease the transition from the page to the stage. Here’s hoping someone will make that happen.

Deal? Or No Deal? The temptation is great. Even though this clever monologue appears to have been written for the previous presidential election, it is still right on point for 2024. James McLindon’s Satan is a fast-talking salesman with a great pitch. With or without the help from the Devil himself, the message for this election is clear: Vote! Vote like your soul depends on it, because it does!

Jack needs to be nimble, Jack needs to be quick if he wants to hold onto Jill. With their relationship at a crossroads, Jill asks the ultimate defining question: Do you love me? From there things take a most unexpected turn. Jason Grant provides an interesting look at a young couple, particularly Jill, a woman with options. This one will certainly leave audiences buzzing.