Recommended by Steven G. Martin

Toby Malone's short comedy broadly captures the dynamics of a server-customer relationship. There's plenty of physical action, a clear goal for both characters that leads to conflict, and a dollop of irony at the end to wrap it all up.

"Cinnamon," intended for high school performers, would please audiences and performers alike.

I admire how Joe Nelms has crafted "Plus One" specifically for virtual theatre. The script takes advantage of the strengths of virtual storytelling. Those strengths are implemented into the story and add to the power of the climax.

And it's not just the method of storytelling that I like about this short drama. Nelms also has written a story that plays to our immediate concerns and fears. Ultimately, a heartbreaking tale told well.

This is a brisk, laugh-out-loud, action-packed, silly, joyful, one-minute comedy. It does nothing but build from the first beat to the last. If I were to see it on stage, I would wheeze from laughing so much.

Absolutely delightful. Duncan Pflaster has created a one-minute comedic masterpiece. I'm still smiling thinking about the script. I'll re-read it now.

What I like about this short monologue by Janice Hibbard is the feeling of movement and scale: the small speaker against the grand landscape of Earth, which is also small compared to the grand sprawl of the sky and its uncountable stars.

"They Simply Shine" will especially be enjoyed by starwatchers, by people who question their physical place in the universe. It's very brief, but also evocative.

I like "The Human Laureate" very much. First, Alexander Hehr fully embraces its philosophical leanings by providing a literally universal setting and character. Second, there are plenty of funny lines of dialogue, unless you're an easily offended lemming, banana or hairless ape. Third, Hehr makes you think about your own humanity including just how human you are.

"The Human Laureate" deserves its rich production history to be expanded.

I love Sheila Cowley's plays because she puts humane characters in the path of Big Ideas: Love, Survival, and -- in "Hue and Saturation" -- Art.

What I especially love about this play -- and there is a lot to love in this 10-minute sci-fi comedy -- is Robin's subtle interaction with Ripley at the end. My jaw dropped as Cowley shows the audience why, perhaps, these characters have completely opposite points of view.

Generous, humane, personal and epic. "Hue and Saturation" is wonderful.

Claudia Haas has written a fun, brisk, bantering, silly and pun-filled play, which is terrific. Also terrific: these siblings support one another and their interests, although there is some good-natured kidding. It's sweet.

I think costumers will enjoy "The States Collection - Delaware," too.

The suspense in "Jokes About Ted Bundy" ratchets up quickly from mere cringe-worthy nervousness about dating.

Even when an audience starts to understand what is happening -- that wonderful delicious theatrical irony -- they will still be surprised by the level of viciousness, physical torture and callousness in Gabriella Bonamici's 10-minute play.

Jane, the protagonist in this one-minute monologue, can't lie to herself. "And I know who I am" is chilling.

But it's not enough for the outstanding Emily Hageman to succinctly and achingly show how Jane thinks of herself. Hageman pushes through to the very end to show why Jane feels like she does in "You Ever Wish." It's a triple whammy for the audience: they understand Jane's current state and her history, and also will fear for Jane's kid's future.

This is one minute of direct, dark theatre. Produce it.

I love the details of Ryan's life shared in the first part of this short monologue: Living in Milwaukee, misadventures in Germany, using Accutane and its effects. Ryan's life feels so precise, so lived in.

Which makes the climax and conclusion much more powerful. We know Ryan has the abilities to describe the details of what happened, but he just doesn't know them.

The result was that I felt a lot of empathy for Ryan and I realized that sometimes there are powers greater than ourselves that might step in when we are at our lowest.

Harrowing but fine writing.