Recommended by Morey Norkin

The story of my life! Paul Smith wastes no time bringing the laughter as the Visitor immediately displays their physical discomfort while desperately in need of a restroom. Unfortunately, the Guide is just a little too helpful. The over—the-top directions combined with the ever-increasing desperation will certainly produce more laughs than I would have thought possible from just two pages. Hilarious!

The internet is rife with scams. And perhaps those that target the lonely are the cruelest of all. D. Lee Miller does a terrific job of showing how far one can be led astray and the challenge of helping them see the light. Easy to believe these two characters are lifelong friends, and we are left hoping this conversation will only strengthen their bond. A well-done cautionary tale that deserves to be seen.

This play really speaks to me. A move from NYC to Bandera, TX, is certainly every bit as challenging as moving to a foreign country. And Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend does a marvelous job of humorously capturing the culture shock and the misgivings that can accompany a such a huge compromise in a relationship. But this play is much more than a fish-out-of-water story. With the inclusion of the two grandmothers, Feriend highlights challenges placed on women for generations. Expertly written with engaging characters, BANDERA, TEXAS is an excellent addition to any theater’s season.

Sweet, romantic, and simply charming. Paris, moonlight, champagne, and a chance meeting between a pair of writers. Who knows how things will turn out, but for this moment we can all enjoy a beautiful love story.

It’s all fun and games until SIMON SAYS! What starts out as an interview for a documentary on the origin of children’s games and chants and how they became widely known (an interesting topic, for sure), becomes weirder, creepier, and downright frightening! Erin Moughon does a brilliant job of lulling us into a false sense of security as the two-person crew goes about setting up for the interview. A great script waiting to scare the daylights out of audiences everywhere.

The atmosphere is thick and the writing sublime in this noirish, sultry story of an adult son trying to find his own way while dealing with his father’s past and legacy. As the booze flows freely, we can never be quite sure what is real or what is imagined, only that our desire to know more is inescapable. A highly theatrical and spellbinding piece from Ken Love that needs to find its way to the stage.

It’s almost certain that AI domestic companions like Daisy are headed our way. If that must be the case, let’s hope they all provide as many laughs as Daisy as she learns from interactions with humans but is confounded by her owner’s dog. John Busser fills this short with so many laugh lines and sight gags that four pages could easily translate to more than 10 minutes. This one is ready to take festivals by storm!

Joe Swenson has crafted the perfect Hallmark movie parody with this hilarious behind-the-scenes look at filming a typical final scene. A frustrated director and a cast of mid-alphabet-list actors provide plenty of laughs as they struggle to wrap this one up. Great dialogue! My favorite line being “Does anyone here speak Devin?” This can be a holiday treat or just read/produce it whenever you want guaranteed laughs.

For some reason this play had me thinking about Certs breath mints (no, it’s a candy mint). Many of us are a bundle of contradictions. Could it be we are just the temporary embodiment of two soulmates together for eternity? Are there really soulmates who find themselves over multiple lifetimes? And if so, how do they deal with each other’s annoying habits? Jacquie Floyd-Priskorn explores these questions in the comic yet also relatable character of Liberty, the quintessential Gemini. Fast-paced fun guaranteed to be a hit with audiences.

What a brilliant idea! When you read, you’re going to try it. When you see it, you’re going to try it. Laughter is guaranteed, and audiences will be trying to develop this talent for days afterward. Kudos to any actor who can pull this off!