Recommended by Morey Norkin

Got me! Paul Smith’s writing is always clever, and 12, ANGRY, MEAN is a perfect example! A worrisome counseling session takes a most unexpected turn in this short but oh so effective play! This should be a welcome addition to any short play festival!

Jacquie Floyd-Priskorn has created a comic gem that accurately portrays the compromises that make cohabitation a treat and challenge. And in cramped living quarters, you can be certain the bathroom is going to present a particular challenge, as it does here to great comic effect. Written as a screenplay, 2BDRM 1BATH would be a joy to see on the screen or stage!

I have to echo what others have said about OCCUPIED… Wow! Brilliant! Aly Kantor has set this story of BFFs in various bathrooms, a concept that maybe sounds strange, is certainly unique, and completely perfect. A refuge from the chaos outside where confidences can be shared. I think one day people will study this play as essential to understanding early 21st century America. But don’t wait! Read it now! Produce it now!

Whoa! This one really caught me off guard! Dan Maurer does a masterful job of drawing us into Henry’s world with familiar pre-show (in this case TED Talk) chaos and Henry’s unease with public speaking. But as Henry finds his voice when speaking with his wife, we learn the truth of the world he currently inhabits. A beautifully told story of love, loss, and regret. Would love to see this staged!

Extremely personal, tragic, comedic, theatrical, and deserving of the recognition it has received! Emma Goldman-Sherman holds nothing back as she uses three versions of herself to tell her harrowing story of sexual abuse. No doubt this would be a challenge for many to read or see, but truths like this must be shared so others can find their own path to survival. Outstanding, honest, moving work!

Everyone’s favorite Vampire Teddy Bear is back! With plenty of Shakespearean references, text that tantalizes trippingly on the tongue, and that certain Bear about town savoir faire, the Bear makes quite a night of it at the theatre! And, hopefully, at theaters near all of us!

A summer love story with interesting power dynamics at play. Philip Middleton Williams makes the art of playwriting seem so simple because he structures his stories so well. A joy to read and no doubt a pleasure for audiences to see.

John Busser presents a difficult conversation between a father and son in this compelling character study. The dialogue is biting and emotional. And the ending will completely alter your perspective. Simple to stage, leaving the focus squarely on the characters where it belongs. There should be more productions in its future!

Move over Clarence, I now have a new favorite angel… ANDELA! Starting off with a description of the initial scene filled with humor and wonder, Jacquie Floyd-Priskorn continues to layer on the laughs and the wonder with some of the most memorable characters I have ever encountered. And it’s the transformation that these characters go through that is at the heart of this wonderful play, with Andela’s taking on human feelings being the catalyst for Jordan, Alex, and Scott to grow emotionally. And there are hand puppets! I want to see this!

Neighbors, colleagues, and even friends sometimes reveal themselves in unexpected and unwanted ways. And when they reveal themselves to be bigots, and you belong to the group they target, how do you respond? That’s the question at the heart of Karen Fix Curry’s thought-provoking comedy. If we’re lucky, maybe a well-timed (divine?) intervention will occur. A terrific short play for two female actors. This needs to be read, staged, and taken to heart.