Recommended by Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos

Because of who these people are, they cannot be together. And yet they dance around that possibility in an agonizingly sweet, sorrowful way. A seemingly typical relationship that turns out to be anything but. This was beautifully presented at the Midwest Dramatists Conference.

This play starts tense and just keeps building as we quickly learn the very different ways these two characters cope with loss. A short play about the assumptions we make about people. We never know the truth about the wearer of the jacket, and that's how it should be.

Seemingly light, poetic dialogue, comic timing, and vivid imagery mask the painful core of this deceptively dark short play. Its surreal nature was refreshing, as was the playwright's use of language. Well developed characters as well.

A sweet but funny short play with lovable characters falling in love themselves. These two youngsters discover in a humorous way two important elements that make a relationship work - honesty and kindness - and that you must have both. But trust me, do NOT follow the recipes talked about in this play ;)

Fun characters, quick dialogue, a unique idea, and a humorous, ethical conundrum make this short play a real gem ;) I truly enjoyed the one character’s attempt to make the other reconsider her decision – but nope! Two-hander with easy production values. Highly recommended.

I saw this read at the Midwest Dramatists Conference, and it changed my mind about non-comedy short plays. The teenage girl is so absolutely chilling, there were times during the reading I realized I had stopped breathing. A terrifying account full of gothic elements. Highly recommended.

When white parents adopt Black babies, who does it serve? Seventeen years ago, Brett and Rebecca tried to right the wrongs of the world by adopting a black baby from a young, unmarried mother. From the start, we wince at dad’s awkward attempts to connect with their teenage son and mom’s suffocating “helicopter parent” behavior meant to protect and mold him. They’ve given him everything except his true identity. An exploration of the complicated ways we form notions of "self" and what really makes a family. Looming tragedy makes this play a real page turner!

Fast paced drama centered on the ethics and morality of cultural research and the motivations that drive its directions. Also a fascinating peek into the lives of academics. Leaves the audience debating the conflicting agendas of the three characters. Particularly strong roles for African American women. At 90 minutes, single set and three characters, the play is easy to produce.

Though baseball is what brings these characters together, this charming story is about complicated relationships among flawed people, all of whom are challenged by the abrupt changes brought about by the Great War, feminism, growing up and growing apart. Wonderfully written in a way that captures the nostalgia and tone of the early 19th century without risk of alienating a contemporary audience. Well developed characters with secrets that provide surprising plot twists. Easy production values. Sound and light designer’s dream.

Serve as an audience ‘juror’ in this interactive historical rendering of the trial of noted colonial ‘witch’ Grace Sherwood. The play’s period language is fun and skillfully employed by Latham (a master at it- see her other plays) and yet remains within easy reach for modern ears. The story offers a contemporary lesson on the danger of dismissing political threats and shows the devastating consequences of underestimating the negative impacts of superstition and sophistry. Timely and relevant. I especially enjoyed the satisfying plot twist. Particularly wonderful women’s roles of various ages. Highly recommended.