Recommended by Neil Radtke

“37 Origami Bees” by John Busser brilliantly captures the frustration of dealing with smart technology, turning a simple song request into a hilarious spiral of chaos. With razor-sharp dialogue and a perfectly absurd escalation, this play is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

One Last Thing by Kyle Brown is a beautiful, emotional play that quietly builds to a powerful and unforgettable ending. The characters feel real and honest, and the story captures grief and love in a way that’s both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

Steven G. Martin’s Alone, Alone, Alone, Alone, Alone is a masterclass in emotional economy. Just one minute long, yet it left me with a lump in my throat and a deeper understanding of quiet despair. The script’s aching simplicity and final embrace are hauntingly human, offering a raw but comforting glimpse into the power of presence.

"Casting" is a sharp, funny, and fast-moving play that lands its punches with style. It’s the kind of piece that says a lot in just a few pages without ever feeling heavy-handed. The roles are a gift for actors, and the satire feels both current and timeless.

Spring Break (Forever) is a wildly fun and eerie short play that caught me completely off guard—in the best way. It starts like a carefree comedy and gradually pulls you into something much stranger and darker. The tone walks a perfect line between nostalgia, humor, and creeping dread.

This playful twist on a classic tale is packed with witty dialogue, unexpected cameos, and just the right amount of chaos to keep young audiences laughing. The characters are larger-than-life in the best way, making it a perfect choice for schools or children's theatres. It’s clever, fast-paced, and genuinely delightful.

“Tontine” is a creative and exciting idea that turns a golf game into a live murder mystery. The audience gets to follow the story by watching scenes at each hole and even take part in solving the mystery. It’s a fun and fresh way to experience theater, mixing acting, games, and real interaction. Garrett W. Martin has come up with a smart and original way to bring stories to life outside a normal stage.

I was thoroughly impressed by No Judgement — a sharply observed, darkly comic snapshot of generational misunderstanding and quiet assumptions. Arthur M. Jolly masterfully builds tension and discomfort from a mundane hotel breakfast line, revealing deeper truths beneath the surface. The dialogue is fast, funny, and biting, with moments of unexpected empathy that sneak up on you. I would love to see this performed.

I was immediately drawn into Eden 2 by its clever blend of science fiction, humor, and theological reflection. The play takes the familiar Adam and Eve story and reboots it on Mars with a fresh, witty, and unexpectedly poignant voice. The banter between the characters is sharp and charming, and the divine interruption is both funny and thought-provoking. It’s a tight, smart ten-minute piece that leaves you laughing—and thinking.

I absolutely loved Bonus Point—in just one minute, Steven G. Martin delivers a clever, haunting commentary on education, memory, and what we lose over time. I found the premise both funny and chilling: students so far removed from Earth they no longer know it existed. It's the kind of compact, smart sci-fi that sticks with you long after the lights go down.