Recommended by Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos

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.

Delightful! Best describes this short play. A truly fun and funny unraveling of decorum as an elementary school art competition devolves into chaos. There is seemingly nothing more important to these judges than upholding the well-established standards of the professional art world and applying them to two young artists who prove to be more mature and more secure in themselves than their elders could ever hope to be. There’s a lesson there ;) All female cast of various ages. Perfect show for any festival. Family friendly. Highly recommended.

Refreshingly different! It’s a simple story of multi- generational emotional and physical abuse and reconciliation enabled by the culture from which it springs – in this case, represented by the neighborhood Bitchy Greek Mom Chorus whose commentary pushes the action along. But in spite of the subject matter, the play is funny. It’s quirky. It’s uncomfortable. The dialogue is poetic and delightfully strange. The play addresses authoritarianism at the familial level, its effects and consequences stored in a Sack of Grievances. Easily produced. Highly recommended – especially if you’re looking for something artistically challenging with contemporary relevance.

Johnson has a knack for filling simple spaces with big stories. Wiccans in the Hood is a perfect title for a play that addresses issues of cultural appropriation, classism, racism, and religious difference. Johnson is adept at handling race in a way that feels natural and without bluster or blame. The premise is unique and the story kept me guessing. The play has particularly good roles for older teenagers/young people as well as middle-aged actors, making it a great fit for community theatre. Simple staging is a plus as well. Highly recommended.

This story could belong to almost any family in America. After their grandmother’s death, siblings confront her secrets – and their own - in multiple ways. This play includes a refreshing treatment of race, especially in the less than warm relationship between the Black sister and her white sister in law. Generational racial dynamics are probed and their consequences explored. Believable characters and situation that ring true in contemporary America, with the added benefit of simple staging and diverse casting. A good choice as a vehicle to prompt discussions of changing race relations in any community.