Recommended by Morey Norkin

With or without tattoos, this is every father’s calling. A terrific monologue to demonstrate Pride all year round. As always, Deb Cole doesn’t mince words as she presents a strong character delivering a powerful message .

A beautifully crafted journey dealing with terminal illness. There is, of course, a sense of inevitability, but the richness of the characters and complexity of their relationships make this journey so worthwhile. You will be drawn in by the crisp dialogue and mesmerized by the stunning monologues. Have tissues close by.

No one conjures up time, place, and mood quite like Christopher Plumridge. Especially mood. A hotel lounge where patrons retain their anonymity. A lady in red. Smiles and drinks shared. Temptation! Where will it lead? You may be surprised! Pleasantly, I think. Would love to see this staged!

A reunion of two sorority sisters quickly escalates from a simple tea to a gripping political thriller! Lauren is a career politician who has probably taken advantage of more than one relationship as her fortunes rise. Jessica is one such friend. But now Jessica has a request. The story is timely and tension filled. A great vehicle for two female actors and for any festival!

I should have known better, but no! I let Christopher Plumridge lead me down the garden path, much like Charles does to his wife, Mary, in this very clever, dark monologue. Structured as three letters from Charles to Mary, the narrative becomes increasingly resentful, menacing, and humorous all at the same time! I don’t even know how that’s possible! And then there’s the payoff! Brilliant!

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!