Recommended by Morey Norkin

Don Baker has an uncanny knack for transporting readers/audiences to a particular time and place. Here he takes us to 1950 America and, not unusual for the era, a father-son chat about cars, beer, and girls. But as the topic of conversation shifts to the son’s best friend, father and son connect on a deeper level of understanding, perhaps in a way that would not have come easily in that era or even today for that matter. Heartwarming and hopeful, and some of Baker’s best, most beautiful writing. That’s saying something! Please read!

As it says in the title, this play is a “gentle” conversation. And a lovely one at that. Aging is no picnic, but when you have a longtime friend you can talk with it can help to give voice to your concerns. The dialogue here is so real I can’t help but wonder if Marj O’Neill Butler was privy to such a conversation. I mean that as a compliment to her ear for dialogue. I would love to see two skilled actors perform this.

The ultimate existential crisis. Two souls waiting for the end. And how did they end up where they are? Adam Richter has something to say that bears listening. Read this. Better yet, stage it!

John Busser is a master at mixing the gruesome with the hilarious. And STIFF COMPETITION is a perfect example! And what a great title! Kids, start planning your science fair projects now. Parents, watch out!

I have to echo Jacquie Floyd-Priskorn’s comment about Bob Newhart. If you’re familiar with Newhart’s telephone comedy monologues, then imagine him as Jesus making a dinner (make that “supper”) reservation! Hilarious! And requesting a table where all 13 can sit on one side… priceless!

Bullying occurs too frequently and in too many venues. And too often there’s a system in place that either protects the bully or blames the victim. Dan Taube does an excellent job of shining a spotlight on these issues in a high school setting, where the bullying is not just student-to-student, but teacher-to-teacher. In STICKS AND STONES, two targets of bullying are determined not to become victims. The story will at times have your blood boiling and at other times have you cheering. A great read that deserves an audience.

An absolutely adorable fish-out-of-water love story! Throw in some laugh out loud lines and a cute twist that costumers will have a ball with and you have a perfect little gem of a play!

Paul Donnelly’s DIVIDED REQUIEM is a heartbreaking story of a couple trying to cope with the loss of their son. Their different approaches to grieving unearth guilt, recriminations, and other conflicts. The dialogue is masterful, with so much emotion being conveyed not just in the spoken word but also in the silences. This absolutely should be produced!

Genius at work! Three acts in a single page! The shift in tone of the dialogue is hilarious. John Mabey and his vampire characters show us that immortality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Great fun for actors and audiences alike!

Scenes of a marriage rush by with the unpacking and packing of a set of fine china marking important events. Like the china, a marriage is also fragile and therefore something worth preserving and protecting. If performed with only a cast of two, Marj O’Neill-Butler’s superb script provides a challenge for the actors to instantly change age and show how this couple grows over the years. This would make a great addition to any festival!