Recommended by Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos

Wow, what a perfectly compact play. Its lean, beautiful language belies how profound it proves to be. It's funny, it's stark, it socks you in the gut. A lesson on how great a 10 minute play can be.

I don't want to give away the premise of this brilliant short play, but suffice it to say, I so want it to be true. The play is so well written and believable, I happily went along for the ride. It's such a smart play, too. In just a few pages, Gill says so much about Americans' cultural values. Highly recommended.

Wedding day jitters serves as the backdrop for this sweet, uplifting look at love when it's still new and perfect. Though essentially a two-character monologue, both characters are so well developed, I could see them fully materialize as I read the play. Martin is so very good at crafting feel-good stories, and this short will not leave you wanting. What a lovely piece to include in a short play festival.

Honestly, I was attracted to this play because of the title, and you'd think a play with such a title would be a little wacky. It is. Weaver does a good job of pulling in all number of random story points in a fun blend of "anything goes" in dreamland. Just weird and nonsensical enough to be interesting, while still making sense enough to be a story that holds the reader's attention. I especially liked the idea of the "NOT Jessica Alba" character (read it and see what I mean ;)

A short thriller perfect for any terror-themed play festival. A fun read, I want to see this play produced if, for no other reason, than to see the highly-theatrical elements fully staged in all their glory. The characters are well-rounded and challenging, too. So much artistic fun and potential to be found here.

'Overeater' is an empowering monologue told from the perspective of a type you don't normally associate with eating disorders. In a short span, it travels the distance from confession to triumph. Not so much uplifting as it is accessible and real, which brings all the more authenticity to this character. Wonderful piece for competition.

This one-minute play is like my first week in pandemic lock down, I chortled until reality set in.

Artful ambiguity is a theme in Partain's works. A psychological, horror drama with more than one interpretation, this play would be a visual treat in full production. Designers will have wonderful challenges bringing this short play to life. Partain knows her voice, and I look forward to reading more of her writing.

'Choose your reality.' Odd to have stumbled onto this vivid nightmare/play while my brain is so feverishly working to make sense of the pandemic. Sickles' reality switches are so effortlessly done, so clever, I can never anticipate what's around the next corner. In fact, you can't even anticipate the corners until you're already around them! Time is murky, reality much more so. Highly theatrical, I would love to see this play in all its full production glory. Insanity really well done.

Sharp, acerbic commentary on how we justify the hostility we aim at what we fear. A wonderful short short highlighting humanity's irrationality.