Recommended by Jennifer O'Grady

I love this child-centered play full of subtext, and the lesson the child teaches their mother as they wait for the school doors to open is so lovely and poignant. Playwrights who write child characters as convincingly as Syran has are, I believe, rare (speaking as both a parent and playwright) but you don't need to be a parent to appreciate or enjoy this play or its message. So well done!

This is such a lovely and beautifully written play. I love the compelling interaction between child and parent, and the way the conflict between them resolves is so wonderful. I also love that the play gives us so much to think about by showing a crucial environmental issue not just as it relates to our world but to our very survival. Powerful and moving!

I just love how Williams gives ageism a big kick in the butt in this charming and witty play about a teacher on the brink of retirement and his younger less experienced colleague. Williams makes these characters feel so real that I felt like I was in the room with them as Fred enjoyed surprising Johnny with some info Johnny certainly did not expect. So much fun!

One of Weaver’s awe-inspiring skills as a playwright is demonstrated by this funny and adorable play containing no dialogue (unless you count “bearspeak” as dialogue!) and utilizing movement and gesture to tell a story full of heart and humanity (even when characters aren't human!). The stage directions that comprise this script are an absolute delight to read. Weaver offers so much to collaborators; I can easily see any performer having a blast with this. Perfect for audiences of all ages too.

Haha! Heyman's clever one-minute play demonstrates that customers are NOT actually always right. I love the surprise ending!

Norkin's witty short play about an origami folding contest is a hilarious sendup of (extreme and prolonged) persistence. Perfect for audiences and performers of all ages!

I so feel Kate's urgent desire to do something, anything, in support of women's issues, though as Kate's friend Holly sees, the issue Kate has selected isn't quite the most pressing or well thought-out. Dellagiarino Feriend's wonderfully warmhearted 2-women comedy about friendship, women and activism is so funny and so much fun, but also sends a potent message about how much regarding women's lives still need societal change for the better.

A very sweet play that skillfully mingles joy and grief, loss and hope, past and future, homeland and new land, the families we're born into and the ones we create, all in just five minutes, and left me smiling.

Hilarious! Busser sends an extremely clever and highly relatable message about AI's imperfections in this fantastic short comedy that's just a delight to read and would be even more fun to watch. If you're in need of a laugh (and who isn't right now?) you should definitely read this play.

Floyd-Priskorn has written a beautiful play about grief and the necessity of opening ourselves up to others. An important topic is explored in this short play with great tenderness and humanity and provides a moving and uplifting ending to boot. Just lovely.