Recommended by Steven G. Martin

It isn't easy for everyone to speak openly, to act upon opportunities. Collin's and Barney's inability to say what they feel in "Turtles and Bulldogs" is genuinely heart-wrenching. Just when it seems there's no hope, however, Sickles provides a glimmer.

Moran's comedy "WTF" is a minute-long avalanche about language. It starts with realistic dialogue, builds to ridiculous permutations, and ends in sheer absurdity. Additional kudos to Moran for creating a complete story -- beginning, middle, and end with conflicts and characterizations -- in a single page.

Hilton's "Ten Speed" is a contemporary tragedy that brings together characters damaged by the past and plagued by bad decisions in the present. The plot's actions and reactions make the climax feel inevitable, but Hilton's eye for characterization allows Red and Terry to be fully realized individuals rather than just automatons set on a destructive path.

Christiansen has written an impeccable 10-minute play. "Gaming the Funeral" is a power struggle at a very intimate and personal level: finalizing the details of a loved one's funeral. Christiansen has written high emotions, huge stakes, strong-willed characters creating and dissolving alliances, and fine dialogue. Actors, directors and audiences will love it.

Lasher's lovely monologue doesn't deny there is harshness in the world: fear of abandonment, death. But "Stay" doesn't dwell on those. Instead, it's a gentle reminder that being in the moment, that being with someone or something beloved is not just worthwhile, but is everything. This play is as soothing as softly petting a dog's fur.

Vovos' one-person play shows that no one is "just" a junkie. Brian's story is horrifying, heartbreaking, rage-inducing, frustrating and so complex.

He is a complete person -- not merely a type that can be cast aside as "just another dope fiend." Very highly recommended.

A deep, longstanding friendship is at stake in this short, historic drama by Frascone. The stakes are raised when John no longer has to only imagine about moving to California, but actually has the opportunity to carry out his plans. Add a looming deadline and an understanding about the difficulty of life during the Great Depression, and "Days of Plenty" offers much to actors, a director and audiences.

Partain's one-minute play "When I was a Child" is extraordinarily well written. It's so taut that the audience infers everything it needs to know about the given circumstances after the first line of dialogue. It's short, yes, but the dialogue, action and characters will stick with audiences long after it ends.

This short play is a terrific single serving of comedy. King crafts a complete story, creates strong conflict between polar opposites of characters, and adds just enough details for quirkiness. King achieves a lot in four pages.

I watched Kansas City Repertory Theatre perform this comedy during its Online 10-Minute Play Project in May 2020, and it was just as quirky and funny in performance as it is on the page.

How difficult is it for damaged people to connect, trust, and open up? Ben Firke's humane, full-length drama "spoons" is a thoughtful examination about contemporary loneliness.

Firke's empathy for Molly and Brad runs as deep as their complexity. Through their actions and dialogue, the audience's perceptions about them shift and evolve -- they're more than just the initial impressions of "loser" and "savior." And Firke puts them through a lot, including unforgivable betrayals, soul-bearing revelations and the awkwardness of needing more than just transactional intimacy. Strong characters, strong dialogue, strong story.