Recommended by Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos

I want to live in the world where Mark Harvey Levine writes all our dialogue. This short monologue is endearing, heartfelt, and so very funny. Where's your pure joy? It's right here. Give this one a read right now!

As the saying goes, before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. That would have come in handy in this two-hander thriller with some of the most clever construction I've ever seen in a short play. Three solid characters, two actors, and a whole lot of guessing as to how the tale could possibly end. Funny, dark, and satisfying because everyone gets what they deserve. I reveled in every twist and turn. Scott Sickles, I salute you!

I don't know how it is Matthew Weaver parlayed his 'nice guy of the internet' persona into an entire genre, but here we are. Playwright Elisabeth Giffin Speckman taps into something so universal, so ubiquitously true, almost every human on earth can relate to it - we have never met Matthew Weaver. But this monologue is smarter than that. It's an exploration into the ways we are all connected, even if we've never shared the same air or chair. The ways in which social media has pioneered and engineered complex networks of humans across the globe. Nicely done.

Gill continues to enchant with his rich, poetic, yet naturalistic dialogue in this beautiful piece. Amy Singh lays it all on the line - her heart, her career, maybe even her life - in this deeply felt monologue that shows a character punching through the paper-thin niceties that separate performer and audience. What an unexpected delight it would be to see this performed or in an audition. Wow.

I’m a sucker for anachronisms, and this short play with its hilarious title delightfully checks all the boxes. We follow our cave people couple, with their wonderfully unlikely names, through a discovery of a now common food (Who has NOT wondered about this??) Cathro is a master of clippy, couples’ banter, as demonstrated in this short. What a fun read!

An interesting look into a small, historical moment that has gone unnoticed until now. This short is full of hope and promise, forgiveness and grace, with just the right amount of tension to keep us fixated. And the characters' journeys just might surprise you, too. Nicely done.

In this short, DC Cathro throws the audience into the pot right before it boils over. On the surface, an intimate, heartfelt look at a sad, dysfunctional relationship. On a deeper level, we wonder if these sisters are just a terrible, self-fulfilling reflection of each other. When and how will the cycle of despair end? Will it? Disturbing but so intriguing, the reader can’t turn away. Fascinating.

You’re going to get something truly heartfelt from any Steve Martin play, and “That Moment When...” is one of his most touching. If you’ve ever been in love, you’ll relish in what Martin walks you through here. His use of the experimental format makes this piece all the more effective. Challenging roles for two actors. Another knock-out from Mr. Martin. So very well done.

Energetic and engaging from the start, this monologue hits peaks and valleys with such precision, it makes a wonderful vehicle for actors to show their emotional range. A solid character with lovely, supporting dialogue. Favorite line "I finally got what you always wanted for me!". Beautiful!

Feeny-Williams has the British crime genre down pat in this short drama about shifting identities and shifty loyalties. Complex and layered, the writer leaves us hanging in a really fun way. And I enjoyed pondering what happens next. (Psst...I have faith Detective O’Phelan will catch up with the perps!)