Recommended by Anj Marie Riffel

At what point does observation and appreciation turn to obsession and...who knows what else? In "This Little Piggy Went to Market," DEBRA A. COLE gives us quirky mash-up of culture in contrasting these two Leos. What a fun monologue for an actor to bring to life!

Oh no! Poor Zack! Poor Jillian! (Poor anyone else who ate the shrimp!) TUMMY TROUBLE IN PARADISE by DEBRA A. COLE is all too relatable — audiences will enjoy a good giggle at the bathroom humor and have their hearts warmed as a bonus. Loved this couple's banter!

Not so long ago, IT MUST BE A MISTAKE would have hit a little lighter. Today, it packs a gut punch. JULIE BRANDON has brought a behind-closed-doors conversation to light that needs to be heard, felt, and understood. Chilling as this is, the empathy and bravery demonstrated by Sgt. Coleman added a hopeful note that I really appreciated. Nicely done!

Hahaha, this was such a fun read as I suspected THE LIST had a twist, but DEBRA A. COLE kept me guessing until the end. DEB is brilliant, and so is her newest strong female character, Aimee. Gotta love a cards-on-the-table kinda girl! Audiences will love this too!

A dark play for dark times, when long shadows may cast moral conundrums. In DEBRA A. COLE's "Patriots" – two beautiful sisters (inspired by real people) have discovered the perfect bait to snare the men they've set their sights on. What happens next will have audiences thinking and talking. This is the hallmark of engaging art, which is greatly needed. Well done!

In an age where everyone is playing the blame game, the moon is not exempt. (Personally, I blame it on the boogie.) In this illuminating monologue by DEBRA A. COLE, lovely LUNA gets a chance to speak for herself – and I am here for it. Rich in full-moon lore and sassy spunk, this monologue would be a fun one for all ages. If we're looking for scapegoats, Mercury Rx has a hand up – would LOVE to see a whole series like this!

Lucy the pussycat ain't playin'. And thank goodness for that — Big Boy needs to be put in his place. DEBRA A. COLE gives us a satisfying conclusion in this brief play, where we see what happens after a "Big Boy" goes too far. Get ready to cheer Lucy on!

I absolutely love the way LOU JONES' film-noir-inpsired play, "Everything About Her Was a Lie" has fun with the genre. Would love to see this performed – I could hear audiences laughing louder each time Edward repeated his own narration. The abrupt, unexpected ending made me chuckle too. Nicely done!

Sensory-rich and slow-steeped in pensive waters, DEBRA A. COLE has written a film-noir-inspired play that explores the dynamic duo of power and love from multiple angles. We wonder if Lacy will take pity on Archie and help him retrieve his "prized possession" that has gone missing. I, for one, fully agree with her conclusion. She has spoken. Well done!

Lots of smiles and giggles in this charming vignette from DEBRA A. COLE that perfectly contrasts the spunk of the young-at-heart with the public perception of "seniors." I may never eat Pad Thai again without musing over the melancholy enhancing properties of peanuts. May we all be as zesty for life as COLE's lovely characters!