Recommended by Craig Houk

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    Crater is a nicely crafted piece about longing, reinvention, and the strange ways we seek closure. What begins as a sharp, intimate encounter gradually reveals itself as something far more poignant… a meditation on memory, desire, and the emotional impact of roads not taken. Funny, tender, and quietly devastating, it’s a deceptively compact play that leaves a lasting impression.

    Crater is a nicely crafted piece about longing, reinvention, and the strange ways we seek closure. What begins as a sharp, intimate encounter gradually reveals itself as something far more poignant… a meditation on memory, desire, and the emotional impact of roads not taken. Funny, tender, and quietly devastating, it’s a deceptively compact play that leaves a lasting impression.

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    Church on Fire is an assured piece of writing that builds two deeply human, fully three-dimensional characters within a brief runtime. Through sharp humor, authentic voice, and emotionally grounded conflict, the play reveals profound truths about love, faith, and acceptance with striking simplicity. It is timely, compassionate, and nicely crafted, delivering an important message not through preaching, but through genuine humanity.

    Church on Fire is an assured piece of writing that builds two deeply human, fully three-dimensional characters within a brief runtime. Through sharp humor, authentic voice, and emotionally grounded conflict, the play reveals profound truths about love, faith, and acceptance with striking simplicity. It is timely, compassionate, and nicely crafted, delivering an important message not through preaching, but through genuine humanity.

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    Erstwhile is a thoughtfully constructed short play that balances wit with an underlying sense of reflection and consequence. Philip Middleton Williams uses polished dialogue and an inventive premise to explore questions of privilege, identity, and accountability, creating an engaging two-hander that is both entertaining and quietly resonant.

    Erstwhile is a thoughtfully constructed short play that balances wit with an underlying sense of reflection and consequence. Philip Middleton Williams uses polished dialogue and an inventive premise to explore questions of privilege, identity, and accountability, creating an engaging two-hander that is both entertaining and quietly resonant.

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    The Shill is an inventive dark comedy that pairs an imaginative sci-fi premise with sharp wit and thoughtful satire. Greg Mandryk builds an engaging world that cleverly examines themes of survival, complicity, and consumer culture, while balancing absurd humor with moments of genuine tension. A smart, entertaining piece that offers audiences plenty to laugh at while leaving them with something deeper to consider.

    The Shill is an inventive dark comedy that pairs an imaginative sci-fi premise with sharp wit and thoughtful satire. Greg Mandryk builds an engaging world that cleverly examines themes of survival, complicity, and consumer culture, while balancing absurd humor with moments of genuine tension. A smart, entertaining piece that offers audiences plenty to laugh at while leaving them with something deeper to consider.

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    Having experienced a live reading of Finisher, I was struck by Tom Moran’s exceptional command of character voice, with each of the three women emerging as wholly distinct, authentic, and deeply engaging. The dialogue is sharp, tightly constructed, and beautifully paced, balancing laugh-out-loud comedy with an expertly woven undercurrent of emotional depth. A wonderfully crafted play that proves humor and heart can coexist brilliantly.

    Having experienced a live reading of Finisher, I was struck by Tom Moran’s exceptional command of character voice, with each of the three women emerging as wholly distinct, authentic, and deeply engaging. The dialogue is sharp, tightly constructed, and beautifully paced, balancing laugh-out-loud comedy with an expertly woven undercurrent of emotional depth. A wonderfully crafted play that proves humor and heart can coexist brilliantly.

  • Craig Houk: Failing by Erin Moughon
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    Having the good fortune to catch a live reading of Failing, I was impressed by how quickly Erin Moughon pulls the audience in through sharp, economical dialogue and two immediately engaging characters. The chemistry between them feels authentic from the start, making the eventual reveal of what is truly happening genuinely startling and effective. Timely, relevant, and compelling, Failing is a smart piece of theatre that stays with you.

    Having the good fortune to catch a live reading of Failing, I was impressed by how quickly Erin Moughon pulls the audience in through sharp, economical dialogue and two immediately engaging characters. The chemistry between them feels authentic from the start, making the eventual reveal of what is truly happening genuinely startling and effective. Timely, relevant, and compelling, Failing is a smart piece of theatre that stays with you.

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  • Craig Houk: The Rebellious Angels Enjoy Malört by Michael C. O'Day
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    Having been fortunate enough to catch a reading of The Rebellious Angels Enjoy Malört at the Valdez Theatre Conference, I was delighted by Michael C. O'Day's hilarious and moving play. At its heart is the wonderfully realized friendship between Phil and Joe, whose decades of shared history make every exchange feel authentic, funny, frustrating, and deeply human. O'Day balances sharp comedy with themes of faith, guilt, belonging, and change, delivering laughs without losing its heart.

    Having been fortunate enough to catch a reading of The Rebellious Angels Enjoy Malört at the Valdez Theatre Conference, I was delighted by Michael C. O'Day's hilarious and moving play. At its heart is the wonderfully realized friendship between Phil and Joe, whose decades of shared history make every exchange feel authentic, funny, frustrating, and deeply human. O'Day balances sharp comedy with themes of faith, guilt, belonging, and change, delivering laughs without losing its heart.

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  • Craig Houk: Flying Away A short play by David Adam Gill
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    Having been fortunate enough to attend a live reading of Flying Away, I was delighted by David Adam Gill’s witty homage to 1930s melodramas. The stylized dialogue, period slang, and larger-than-life characters evoke classic cinema while cleverly poking fun at its conventions. Beneath the absurd premise lies a tightly constructed story with real heart, making this fast-paced comedy as engaging as it is laugh-out-loud funny. A surefire crowd-pleaser, ideal for any short play festival.

    Having been fortunate enough to attend a live reading of Flying Away, I was delighted by David Adam Gill’s witty homage to 1930s melodramas. The stylized dialogue, period slang, and larger-than-life characters evoke classic cinema while cleverly poking fun at its conventions. Beneath the absurd premise lies a tightly constructed story with real heart, making this fast-paced comedy as engaging as it is laugh-out-loud funny. A surefire crowd-pleaser, ideal for any short play festival.

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  • Craig Houk: A Higher Power by John Busser
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    Having caught a live reading of A Higher Power, I can once again report that Busser has a gift for outrageous scenarios, razor-sharp dialogue, inspired puns, and storytelling that seems gloriously dumb right up until you realize how smart it is. Equal parts hilarious and blasphemous, it's the kind of play that will have audiences laughing hysterically while probably offending at least a few others. Now, if someone could please convince Busser to write a full-length play, I'd be grateful.

    Having caught a live reading of A Higher Power, I can once again report that Busser has a gift for outrageous scenarios, razor-sharp dialogue, inspired puns, and storytelling that seems gloriously dumb right up until you realize how smart it is. Equal parts hilarious and blasphemous, it's the kind of play that will have audiences laughing hysterically while probably offending at least a few others. Now, if someone could please convince Busser to write a full-length play, I'd be grateful.

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  • Craig Houk: The Moth Man Cries by Marshall Logan Gibbs
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    Having been fortunate enough to attend a live reading of The Moth Man Cries, I was captivated by its exquisite dialogue, richly drawn characters, and deeply human relationships. Gibbs masterfully weaves the folklore of Mothman, the history of Point Pleasant, and the restrictive culture of the Two-by-Twos into a haunting folk-horror tale about faith, identity, and freedom. Poetic, emotionally resonant, and almost musical in its construction, this is, in my humble opinion, a stage-ready work

    Having been fortunate enough to attend a live reading of The Moth Man Cries, I was captivated by its exquisite dialogue, richly drawn characters, and deeply human relationships. Gibbs masterfully weaves the folklore of Mothman, the history of Point Pleasant, and the restrictive culture of the Two-by-Twos into a haunting folk-horror tale about faith, identity, and freedom. Poetic, emotionally resonant, and almost musical in its construction, this is, in my humble opinion, a stage-ready work

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