Recommended by Morey Norkin

I’m reminded of Cheers, a bar where everybody knows your name. Curtains Down is the hangout for theatre has beens, almost made its, and never wases. A place to share memories, cry over regrets, and drown sorrows. And Rachel Feeny-Williams has provided a colorful, compelling collection of characters to share a toast with. A pixie, a stripper, and a… tree! But as varied as the clientele is, there is a sense of community and support that lets this charming story end on an optimistic note. That’s show biz!

Maybe the funniest job interview ever! Jacquie Floyd-Priskorn packs a lot of laughs into two minutes and saves perhaps the best for last! And if you’d like to see just how funny this can be in performance, check out Jacquie’s star turn in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EZKRhfwqrM&t=2s

Circus sideshows, or “freak” shows are, hopefully, a thing of the past. Deb Cole takes the story of a real 19th century performer and offers us a character with confidence and strength despite her severe deformities. Perhaps the lesson we can take from this is not to judge others until we have traveled 25 miles in their shoes carrying a 900 pound load. Well done!

Good to see the American spirit never dies, even when it takes the form of a zombie! And in this clever one-minute monologue, an all-American dad, gun in hand, proclaims himself protector from the apocalypse. A familiar face in the crowd, maybe with bits falling off, brings about a moment of reflection. A brilliant audition piece or a perfect fit for any short play festival.

Such creepy good fun! A group of friends take an amusement park ghost tour that turns out to be kind of a dud… until it isn’t! Lou Jones lets the suspense build nicely. Throw in some special effects to highlight the final image and there will be more than a few shrieks from the audience! Halloween can’t come soon enough!

Vivian Lermond has the hard boiled detective lingo down to a T. And as the dialogue crackles, you can just imagine this play being broadcast on an old time radio show. The clues are plentiful in this well-paced mystery, but you’ll be hard pressed to beat detectives Tully and Monroe to the punch. Great fun!

D. Lee Miller breathes life into the ghost of Rembrandt who is conjured by an art historian to help authenticate a portrait. Both artist and historian are familiar with career struggles. Sometimes you just have to trust your instincts and… breathe. Beautifully done!

Elder care is no picnic. And when the senior in question is as strong-willed as Rose Fowler, the challenge is magnified. Rich Rubin provides a realistic portrayal of the frustrations that families face, but he manages to infuse the proceedings with a great deal of humor that arises naturally from the characters, particularly Rose. Great roles that span three generations. But make no mistake, this is Rose’s turn. More productions and awards should be forthcoming!

There’s plenty of good humor to be found in this story of the ice cream truck business. The central question is, will Stacey give up the family ice cream truck to marry David? The answer will surprise you! And you might think twice before you buy that next pint of Ben and Jerry’s!

What a joy! At first, the juxtaposition of the physical presence and the unrefined verbal expression with the lyrical inner thoughts of these two characters is humorous. But the more they share, the more we understand the depth of their love. This play will just melt your heart.