Recommended by Steven G. Martin

I love the form Mark Loewenstern's short drama takes: A very analytical, self-aware character monologue that incorporates and plays with rhythm and pattern, and speeds and slows time. There are strong emotions in "One is the Road," but it feels they're examined from a distance rather than fully experienced. I'd love to see this on stage or hear it through the radio.

I love that Emily Hageman's short comedy parodies well-known characters from classic literature. Even better, however, is how the story brings all of them together in appreciation of each other.

There is so much that is shocking in Hannah Vaughn's 10-minute dark comedy: The almost cute title compared to the viciousness of the revenge, the secret that is never uttered, the imagined sights and stench of the tools of revenge.

What I love most, however, is how Vaughan shows these two young women reestablishing a bond that clearly will never be broken after the events of this night.

Vivian Lermond's one-minute comedy shows how couples can speak in a shorthand ... and sometimes with a few choice gestures. There'll be a gasp of laughter at the end, it's an unexpected shock.

I look forward to watching "Charades" during the 2021 Gi60 U.K. festival in December.

This is the epic holiday crossover event you've been waiting for. Brisk, filled with banter, fun visuals -- "Joyride" is going to be a favorite of any audience who sees it.

I'm looking forward to seeing "Joyride" during the 2021 Gi60 UK festival in December.

I love Evan Baughfman's gracious, soothing one-minute monologue. It's a gentle plea that asks all of us to be a little more thoughtful, a little more generous, a little bit kinder. It is a vast request made in the most intimate way, and it could sustain the greatest impact.

I look forward to watching "Easy to Say" performed during the 2021 Gi60 U.K. Festival in December 2021.

I enjoy stories that move from the mundane to the horrible, but I can't recall many that travel the reverse direction.

I love that Madison Mondeaux plays with my expectations with this short monologue. Madison creates such horrible, visceral details at the start of "The Wreck of the Angelica May," it's genuinely gruesome. But there's a spin at the end that will leave an audience with jaws agape, wondering, "Did we really just go in that direction"?

Dark oh so dark, but with an ending that will bring forth a blast of laughter from an audience.

What I love about this one-minute play is that the audience sees how expressing positivity has the potential to create positivity for others.

Matthew Weaver doesn't naïvely proclaim that all of life is happiness and joy. He shows in "Infinite Possibilities" that there may be disappointment and darkness in a person's future. But that's when the ray shines brightest.

I look forward to seeing this play performed at the 2021 Gi60 UK event in December.

"Sports, Weather, Murder" feels like the kind of play that changes depending on who is watching it. I imagine younger people who are beginning to make their way in the world will feel differently about Bey's interactions with her mom than parents would feel. Or even people without parents.

That's the kind of quality writing we're talking about: a one-minute play whose content leads to questions about point of view and perspective. Thoughtful and deep.

I love the depth and variety of pain that DC Cathro creates in this short drama. Guilt, resentment, anger, and even acceptance wind their way through the brief minutes of "Goodbye, Howie."

I love that Bridge is able to express his feelings, and I love even more than Lisa has the strength to stop him from going too far.

Ultimately it feels this story is about the beginning of healing, the kind of story I'd like to see more of on stage.