Recommended by Morey Norkin

Through the dusty haze of an unusual event in Olympic history, Lee R. Lawing finds a sure path to comedy gold. The visual of marathon runners stumbling into one another and unable to figure out which direction to run is sure to be fun for directors, actors, and audiences. On your mark, get set, produce!

A lifetime is exquisitely expressed in, what, a minute?! Paul Donnelly manages to do just that in this humorous and moving monologue about multiple marriages. A great piece for either an audition or performance. Either way a great opportunity for a mature female actor.

This is such a clever comedy. A queen’s routine task of handing out last names comically intensifies as she must struggle between the call of nature and the unusual request from an earnest young man. Funny dialogue and the opportunity for physical humor will no doubt make this an audience favorite. Clinton Festa manages to save one of the best laughs for last. Well done!

An actor prepares… in the craziest way imaginable. His poor wife, with encouragement from her sister, considers leaving before she quacks up. But love will find a way, bringing us one of the funniest and most adorable duets ever! The final line is brilliant and needs no translation!

Communication is challenging under normal circumstances, but when someone is dealing with grief it can be difficult for others to find the words, or to know if any words are appropriate. In TRYHARD, Emily Elyse Everett presents a socially awkward situation where the three main characters struggle to communicate. Everett’s natural dialogue is breathtaking. She manages to convey so much humor and character insight simply through brief utterances, half-spoken thoughts, and pauses. Completely engrossing right through to the very moving climax.

A horrific tale of abuse by a caregiver. Sadly, this story was inspired by a true event, meaning it is unlikely to be a one-of-a-kind incident. Short, but by no means an easy read. This play will certainly cause a great deal of discomfort among audiences, but if it helps make people aware and can help ensure that caregivers for the disabled are properly vetted, so much the better.

This play from James McLindon has so much that speaks to me: brilliant parody of Victorian romances, puns (intended and not), double entendres galore, and penguins! The jokes and physical humor are nonstop. And underneath it all is a sweet story of a complicated family dynamic. You will laugh till your sides ache, and be left with a satisfying smile.

Halloween will be here before you know it, and Dan Taube is ready to take festivals by storm with this clever take on Frankenstein, or rather the Creature. Anger management and daddy issues are enough to cause any monster to seek help. The comic banter, physical presence of the Creature, and brilliant ending guarantee plenty of laughs from this two hander, even if we don’t know where two of the hands came from!

The thought that one of my plays may be enjoying great success in some faraway place without my knowledge is both thrilling and disturbing. But what a great premise for a play! Drat! Bruce Karp thought of it first! And he did a terrific job with it! This is so clever with such a sly ending. If it hasn’t happened yet, it needs to be produced! With Bruce Karp’s permission, of course.

Oh gee! Dick has a problem with G’s. And that’s a problem for Anne. After a failed search under the sheets, Dick needs to resurface to catch his breath. Audiences will want to catch their breath too after this laugh-filled 5-minute romp!