Recommended by Dan West

When a federal operative seeks to subvert her popular “Duckie” series of children’s book in order to advance the administration’s political agenda, author Charlotte Winters is faced with the prospect of watching her beloved creation being turned into a tool of partisan propaganda. This short, ten-minute comedy is not only quite funny in its own right, but it packs a very timely political punch as well.

Set in the heart of the free-wheeling 1970’s, two American siblings vacationing in Romanian seek to spend one full night in the (reputed) legendary Castle of Dracula. There they encounter two mysterious residents who may be paid actors be actors set on scaring them away or who could be something far more nefarious. This clever spoof of the classic horror genre pushes its characters past breaking point until everything collapses hilariously into chaos and camp and perhaps even the occasional Bee Gees tune. Well done.

Scottsdale, AZ is hot and sunny. Scotland, UK is cold and wet. These are important facts to remember when scheduling your nudist resort vacation. In Anna Love Hanna's hilarious short comedy, loving couple Chris and Anna end up in that latter expecting a dessert getaway, only to find a willing Highland host with little more under than a sense of adventure under his kit. Riotious fun, just be careful how you handle the Haggis.

Three sisters gather during the COVID pandemic to shuck corn and discuss ponies, crabs, and Toby Jugs (but not politics, never that.) In a world where the wine has less value than hand-sanitizer and Al Anon and QAnon have become interchangeable, how exactly do we get down to the core of communicating what really matters? The subtext does the heavy lifting here; and, in the capable hands of Nora Louise Syran, it does a great job of it.

Edwin Socrates is a man with a method. Quite an effective method, one might add. But it is a method that, despite its success, gets under the skin of his peers and managers at Athenia, Inc. So far under their skin that some of them will do just about anything in their efforts be rid of him. In this hilariously clever short comedy, our later day Socrates must use his “method” to fend off assaults from both HR and AI before they can escort him the way of his namesake.

Gary Wilkins loves math; but math (as it were) does not love Gary Wilkins. And, as the head of his university’s mathematics department, it is up to Dr. Garst to find a gentle way to shatter Gary’s dreams - whether he is willing to accept it or not. James Teller shows off a fabulous wit and creativity in this expertly crafted short play about destinies unrealized and wrong paths followed. Wilkins Theorem (both the play and the postulate) is comedic winner.

Something is coming between Charlotte and Steven. Something big, and heavy, and undeniable (to one of them at least). Will they be able to find a way to communicate before their lives (and their kitchen) are destroyed by The Elephant in the Room. This savvy absurdist farce pulls out all the stops to great effect and delivers on its promise with both humor and aplomb.

This macabre short play about two teenage girls, a tattered doll, and invitation to play games in a dark and dusty attic will give chills to anyone that remembers the Slender Man stabbing from a decade ago. A vividly written and expertly executed (not pun intended) modern-day penny dreadful that absolutely delivers the goods.

Is “creepyfun” a word? Well, if it’s not, it should be. The deftly crafted short play about a family dinner interrupted by ethereal visitors that only Grammy can hear is the definition of creepyfun. I really enjoyed this.

Jack Levine's "The Forgetful Storyteller" is that rare character-centric piece that hits all the right buttons, drawing you fully into the lives and trials of it multi-generational family of protagonists as they deal with growth, aging, career, and the ultimate loss of a loved one to the tragedy of dementia. Watching the journey of the patriarch, David, as he fights to protect his loved ones while struggling with his own cognitive decline is the true gut punch of the best kind.