Recommended by John Medlin

Growing up and growing old sometimes feels like navigating a minefield. It's a shame that so many of the perils on the road to self-discovery are placed by society. Of others telling us who we should and shouldn't be. The protagonist in this piece looks back on their journey. Their reflections are relatable. It is wonderful that we live in a world where artists can be vulnerable enough to share deeply personal feelings like this monologue, but it's a shame the pain this piece is rooted in is from that same world. This is a great piece for queer artists.

Honestly, I would be weirded out in "Malcom's in Here" 's situation as well. A great bit is set up here that would be a joy to perform.

I have a feeling Edmund is going to turn out fine. Barbarian is an eerie tale that I would love to see on stage. The pacing is precise. The characters are nuanced and threatening. I love this take on the vampire myth. Daniel Prillaman has shown their expertise in building tension in this short play. I highly recommend it for any one act festival.

Hart Island is a fun supernatural piece with quite a few twists and turns in its short run time. The setting of Hart Island is unsettling. The two spirits without faces haunt the shadows of the stage in a way that capitalizes on the nature of theatre. There's the opportunity for stage combat for those looking to flex their stage-fighting muscles. All in all, it's a great short piece great for spooky season.

Toda (If Not Now) is an excellent short piece about unexpected meetings. Jacob does a great job establishing the lore of this world quickly. I enjoy a piece that can do clever things with myths, and Toda does that wonderfully with the vampire. Its a great read and a solid selection for a one-act festival.

Sometimes the same fight just seems to happen again and again. You keep hoping the outcome will change, but every time the three of swords comes out and it's back to the trenches. You can sense the lingering tension between the two characters in this play. The longing they have to make things better, but the inability to combat the past and the future. This is a solid short piece fit for any one act festival.

'Y & Z' is dripping with tension. You can feel the dread in the dialogue between Y and Z as Y tries to evade some unknown assailant. The ambiguity allows for the imagination to run wild with what is hiding in the darkness. Just when you think you're in the clear, Plumridge delivers a twist that is surprising and satisfying.

"Blood Pact" is a bite-sized horror great for any play festival in spooky season. It's a chilling reminder that sometimes people don't change, despite what they may say. The contract, or pact, of this relationship, is a fascinating one that I'm sure performers would enjoy bringing to life. The simple set makes it manageable for any budget.

Horror comedies are one of my favorite genres. "Playwrights Verses Zombies!" is an excellent example of why they can be so fun. The frantic tempo drives the audience into an apocalyptic world where the living dead roam hangrily about searching for brains... or wine. The comic bits are well set up. I'm sure it would be a joy to act in this one.

There comes a point in working on a story where the characters in the story start to take a life of their own. This moment is both terrifying and exhilarating. Heyman has managed to capture those extremes brilliantly in his play "Second Book Syndrome". Robert's struggle is deeply relatable as he wrestles with characters who quite literally have formed a life of their own. This piece is funny, relatable, and is paced wonderfully. Yet another great piece from Sam Heyman.