Recommended by Steven G. Martin

Thank goodness for librarians and empathy.

This play unfolds beautifully because of Colleen O'Doherty's skills. Patty's search and Allyson feeling aghast are humorous, then the tone turns somber as O'Doherty provides context with a single word. It grounds Patty's desperation and Allyson's frustration in something deeper than jokes about book titles.

What I especially love about "Ricky and Ready" is that O'Doherty has dramatized a life-changing moment for Patty. It's not a happy one, but it probably provides the best path ahead for her and, by lessening Allyson's frustrations, also Allyson....

You ever get a sinking sensation in your chest when absolutely everything that should have gone right, goes wrong? Billy and Gene must feel a similar sensation thanks to everything Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend puts them through in "Heist!"

One of the neatest parts of this very funny comedy is that an audience feels sympathy for Billy and Gene. They're thieves, yes, but in a "Hey buddy, I've come up with a get-rich-quick scheme that'll have us on Easy Street" way. And their complete unpreparedness -- and moments of kind humanity -- is touching.

"Wishes" is a beautiful, shining copper penny of a short play. The imagery, beautiful. The romance, beautiful. The theatricality of the action and conflict and backstory, beautiful. And at its core: a man and a woman who both want love, but are at a crossroads in finding it. Simple, direct humanity, which is lovely.

Mark Harvey Levine's writing is a dream that everyone would wish to live in.

This short comedy is funny, yes, but it's also emotionally and intellectually stirring. Bridget Grace Sheaff reminds us sometimes we have to venture forth with nothing but our belief, our faith, our optimism as resources. Nothing is certain, but that doesn't mean we stop trying. "And Maybe a River Will Come" is thoughtful and funny, and will bring a smile to audiences' faces.

I love plays in which the central conflict is the protagonist versus herself. Pamela Morgan has crafted an uplifting, theatrical short play that provides exactly that tension. And best of all, the audience knows Meg's life is going to changed forever because of the impact of the interaction in "Mirror, Mirror, Mirror."

Kudos to Pamela Morgan on writing this fun, uplifting short play!

An Egyptologist with a midlife crisis walks into a bar ...

Give Tom Moran a lot more credit -- this 10-minute play is not just a joke: He cares too much about his characters, including Ted, to turn them into a punchline. The comedy plays beautifully in "You Damn Well Can Take It With You," but there's so much more, including Louise's firm hand in guiding Ted back to a calmer state of mind. For all the talks about the underworld and deities in this play, its winning ingredient is the humanity shown.

And yes, it's very funny.

"Cabana Boy" dramatizes bittersweet, heartbreaking personal growth catalyzed by very unusual circumstances. I felt strongly for Mitch and Alex, but understood Miriam's desire for practicality and protection. Audiences will enjoy these strongly drawn, fully dimensional characters whose desires and agendas that are often at odds with one another. And the sunny and playful setting provides a nice juxtaposition to the heavy personal growth in this play. I'd love to see a production.

In "A Tragedy of Owls," John Mabey shows courage is shown both in grand actions and simple, yet paradoxically difficult, personal ones. This is an excellent historic play -- focusing less on events and more about their impact on people's lives.

Viciously funny, with twists. Also, a love letter to "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" rather than a mockery or indictment. This 10-minute play by Paul Donnelly is one of his best.

One of the darkest comedies and most satirical satires I've read. The cringe factor is at a high level almost immediately in this one-minute play, but John Weagly doesn't let up even as an audience will want desperately to get away from Edith and Walter and their dark joy.