Recommended by Dan West

Camdenburg, IN is a town with an interesting history. And to acknowledge that history, Mayor Simkins (with the help of his earnest assistant and her oddball nephew) is about to reveal the contents of the towns 100-year time capsule to celebrate the town’s bicentennial. But what they find may change their hometown (and the world?) forever. This darkly funny, 10-minute science fiction comedy is a definite crowd pleaser.

Kyle and Brianna are young and in love. He, with her beauty. She, with his money. But hey, I am sure totally healthy and long lasting relationships have been built on much less than that, right? As they wait at the airport on their way to elope, they discuss their plans for their honeymoon (and beyond) and learn that they have more in common than either of them thought. A darkly funny ten minute play.

Backstage on opening night can be a zoo. Especially when your leading man is running late and your young ingenue develops an acute case of stage fright. But as all astute theatre professionals will confirm, the real heroes of the stage are not those standing beneath the lights; but the ones in back, dressed in black. If you are searching for a large cast, ensemble based comedy that is sure to delight theater goers of all ages, “In the Green Room” has everything you’re looking for.

Running into an ex years later can such an awkward experience. Especially when you consider yourself “The King of the gods” and she doesn’t exactly recognize you. (Maybe don’t show up as a cow next time). This short comedic play hits all the right notes both as a send up of the Ancient Greek Myth and as a more serious commentary on rape culture, toxic masculinity and the modern dating scene.

Jonna and Jack have struggled as a couple throughout the years. Throughout 500 years and three different lifetimes in fact. After their most recent failed romance, the couple is confronted with the Akashic Record of their times together, and are left to see if they can finally figure the whole soulmate thing out before the next go. Arianna Rose has written a compelling and emotional authentic yarn about two star-crossed lovers that can’t quite get it figured out over multiple lives, but seem committed to keep trying.

What happens when parents stop parenting their children and instead start living vicariously through them? Robert Macadaeg has created a richly realized world in which children can harness their boundless joy and imagination to take flight; but the adults are unable to accept it as the childish “flight of fancy” that it is. A well executed and scarily profound indictment of toxic parenting and our competitive youth sports/pageant parent culture.

What is meant to be a “family dinner” held by widower Harry in order to bring his girlfriend Julia and his teen daughter Harper closer together is thrown off course by the unplanned inclusion of Harper’s schoolmate Ruby. What is already an unsteady balance tumbles ass over teakettle into chaos when it appears that the two girls may be more than “just friends”. An excellent bit of Kitchen Sink realism with some of the best, most naturalistic dialogue that I have read in ages,

I love plays about liminal spaces, and the diner in Larry White’s eerie short work “Still Time” is just such a place. From the very first line, we (and the characters) are left to figure out on our own what exactly is happening..and why. And when it hits you, believe me, it’s a gut punch. A well earned (and rewarding) one.

A haunting comedy/thriller about two young lovers, a mysterious wishing well, and a ghostly curse (or is it a blessing.). Nothing is quite as it seems in this short, genre-subverting piece. Would make a great addition to any evening of short works, Halloween themed or not.

A wonderful ten-minute piece about friendship, anxiety, and the existential anguish of being treated as laundry. Lottie is used to being pushed around and Priya is happy to provide the well-intended pushing - that is until Lottie's childhood pal Bluebeary (not Blueberry) has see enough. What follows is a masterful bit of magical absurdity.