Recommended by Jennifer O'Grady

Kantor’s smart, charming, and very funny play is an adaptation of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata but set in an American whaling town, 1906 Port Jefferson, during rising suffragism and increased availability of the early vibrator, as a group of women realize that they can wield more power and effect greater change by withholding rather than giving (and giving and giving). Kantor explores her characters’ feminist and personal concerns with wit and compassion, and provides nine terrific roles any actors would love. The anachronistic humor is also delightful. I can easily see it having great appeal for audiences. So much fun!

Soltero-Brown's taut ten-minute two-hander has the wonderful tension and latent menace of a Pinter play, as we wonder what Kirk wants and why Toby clearly doesn't want him there. The dialogue is terrifically spare and full of suspenseful subtext--reading it, I was at the edge of my seat, and I think audiences will be too, once this play gets staged, as it should.

Weaver’s large-cast play wonderfully imagines the crowd that might have gathered to watch the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Since the actual event remains offstage, we “witness" it through the play's numerous and varied characters, which include Biblical persona associated with Jesus, as well as Roman soldiers, money-changers, fishermen, young lovers, teenage prostitutes, mysterious sisters who seem to have committed a murder, priests, pie-sellers, families seeking “entertainment,” animals and more--all of whom have their own stories. The play presents exciting challenges for a director and tells its many stories with so much heart and sly humor too. Wonderful!

This theatrical, extremely moving play centers Dr. Gisella Perl, a gynecologist imprisoned in a concentration camp. Forced by her guard to identify pregnant women, Gisella does so, believing they'll be sent somewhere better--until she discovers that the only way to save their lives is by performing abortions. Through wonderfully spare dialogue Blevins skillfully evokes the horrific camp conditions, but the play is also about survival and women helping women. Though it has a period setting the play feels deeply connected to today's frightening abortion bans and rising antisemitism, making it feel both timely and urgent. Highly recommend.

Taut and absolutely heartrending short play about child abuse and an older brother's Sisyphean struggle to keep his younger brother safe. Hageman has written two powerful roles for male actors and an important story reflecting the hidden realities of abusive homes and the sibling separation that often occurs when children try to leave those homes. Should be read and produced.

Lawing's monologue, spoken by a former "rent boy" of the notorious Lord Byron, is a fabulous mix of history, horror, and dark comedy, which unfolds skillfully and suspensefully as Robert tells us his surprising story. A fascinating view of Byron, as seen through the eyes of Lawing's fascinating character Robert.

Hilarious! And who among us will not read this play's title and immediately feel a sense of recognition and dread?? This wonderful spoof of the "hell" of the DMV would make a very fun addition to a ten-minute play festival.

Super-fun and very funny ten-minute play set in ancient Rome. Actors and audiences would have a blast with this!

Lovely and tender and very funny ten-minute play with two wonderful characters, a mother and adult son I would love to spend more time with. Looking forward to seeing its Sept. '23 live online production by PlayZoomers.

Gut-punch of a play, timely and urgent. Impossible not to be deeply moved by these characters whose pain feels so real . Hope it finds its way onto stages very soon.