Recommended by Neil Radtke

I really love the concept behind this piece! Using the stages of grief to frame humanity’s last messy chapter is just inspired. The writing moves confidently from satire to sincerity without losing momentum. A theatrical trip through denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance that feels both recognizable and unsettlingly close to home. Well done!

I love this concept, and the execution (pun very much intended) is spot-on. The shift from Santa’s cozy holiday vibe to a full-blown kid-horror confession is fast, funny, and wickedly effective. It’s a tight, twisted little play that delivers exactly the kind of dark holiday punch I enjoy.

Super fun and upbeat! Craft supplies, rap, and a mime somehow make the perfect vibe together. The concept is genuinely inspired, taking three unlikely art forms and blending them into something fresh, creative, and effortlessly entertaining.

The End Is Nigh (And Yet, So Far) by Greg Mandryk takes the end of the world and shoves it into the kitchen of a catering hall, and somehow that makes everything way funnier. Mandryk nails the mix of huge apocalyptic stakes and “we still have a job to do” workplace chaos, and it never feels forced. The pacing is fast, the jokes stack up, and the ridiculousness stays just controlled enough to feel intentional. Excellent!

Twisted Dagger Retreat by Kim E. Ruyle is a sharp, funny, and increasingly tense thriller that traps seven mystery writers in a lighthouse and lets insecurity, ego, and genre stereotypes explode in the absolute best theatrical way. A dream ensemble piece with juicy roles and big twists! Keeps you guessing until the end!

This monologue absolutely nails the chaotic confidence of middle-school boys who think they’re dating experts after holding hands once. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, but there’s real heart underneath it. You can feel that Mick is trying so hard to seem grown-up, which makes it even better for young actors. As a middle school teacher myself, this portrayal seems about right...well done!

Cocktails by Debra A. Cole runs with the brilliant premise of the Big Bad Wolf hosting a proper cocktail party for Cinderella, Little Red, and the Wicked Witch, and the dark comedy lands fast. These fairy-tale icons hilariously unpack adulthood, loneliness, and “happily-ever-after regret” before everything spirals. The reveal (I won't spoil it!)is the perfect mix of absurd and unsettling. So funny!

Arianna Rose’s The Dating Pool is a charming and inventive memory-dream that lets a woman confront her younger selves with humor, heart, and just the right amount of bite. The piece consistently entertained me and gave me a lot to think about regarding regret, resilience, and second chances.

I had the pleasure of seeing a reading of this, and it was a hit. Super clever premise, and I love watching an audience slowly realize what is going on. Kyle Brown really wrote a winner here!

Daniel Prillaman takes a simple “rough morning” setup and slowly turns it into a full-on existential nightmare, and it absolutely works. Mandy’s voice is hilarious, messy, and painfully real, which makes the twist hit even harder. A tight, creepy, wildly stageable horror piece. Well done! Love the creative title too!