Recommended by Steven G. Martin

Preuss has woven science fiction, romance, and a bit of philosophy into a lovely, easily producible 10-minute play.

"The Elusive Pursuit of Maximum Bliss" engages an audience's imagination to fill in the blanks when the technology is utilized and to notice the subtle hints that Preuss lays out in the dialogue and action.

A little sass and a whole lot of anger in a few pages.

Wang's monologue comically and proudly shows how to cope when bigoted assholes question your existence. You either beat them at their own game by being more like them than they expect, you distract them and run away to fight another day, or you fight.

I watched and enjoyed Barkada Theater's video production of "A is for American" on Facebook.

A comic one-act play that begins with the most idealistic, beautiful, mother-daughter reconciliation and reunion ever ... then goes downhill from there. Fast.

The idealistic suddenly becomes realistic, as the characters turn to power plays, secrets, accusations, and judgments. It's a domestic drama situation that -- as with his "The Greater and Lesser Edmunds of the World" -- Sickles spins into the most wonderful melodrama, with a spotlight on the melodic part because the dialogue sings. Such quotable dialogue!

Ultimately, a feel-good play set against a lifetime of being alone, underappreciated, and ignored.

Rinkel includes so many rich details in laying out his protagonist's life, it feels that much more real because of it. And there are so many parts of the protagonist's life from youth to age 70 that we see the impact one moment has on others. We feel so intensely for the character because of how much Larry Rinkel provides us in just a few minutes.

Horror with a polite smile, dark comedy with a cup of tea.

Praise Karen Fix Curry for her skill; for her trust that an audience will pick up on clues, innuendos, and implications; for advancing the story and showing character through action and visuals.

"Crazy Quilts" is shiver inducing, and your audience will remember it long after a performance.

This feel-good romantic comedy has a terrific concept at its core, strong banter, and a nice sense of irony.

Credit Lam for not just stopping at a wonderful premise for this play. More detail and complexity is added after the initial reveal, and then doubled up prior to the climax. It's really wonderful writing that any audience will enjoy. And then, just before the end, comes the perfect coda to this story.

"Stick and Move" has a strong, varied production history, and it is well deserved.

This 10-minute comedy is a chaotic conversation of worldly, self-aware, yet also innocent characters.

You like Abbott & Costello-like bits? You've got 'em in here. Characters who share knowledge like third graders during lunch? Yep. A wildly out-of-left-field proposition? Uh-huh. Just trust Prillaman's skills and enjoy the ride of "Black, White, & Red All Over."

This short comedy is the stuff of LGBTQ and community theater nightmares. And it's hilarious.

While the central character is stable and sane, the supporting characters are so ridiculous, over-the-top, and extra, they're practically Disney animated villains. What audiences hear and watch during a production of "The New Comet" is so outrageous that their ears and eyes may bleed as their faces cringe.

Very funny, yes, and a very pointed take on LGBTQ culture and being too old in certain people's eyes. Yet, Gary Sunshine provides a bit of joy with a single stage direction of action at the end.

Gary Sunshine's short comedy accurately and vigorously dramatizes teenagers' emotions. Especially those of overachieving, needy teens with an inferiority complex and a hell of a sense of entitlement.

Every conflict is life-or-death, and long-term perspective doesn't exist. Everything is heightened, including desires (to feel sexy, to talk naughty) and -- much like when we look at our school yearbooks decades later to reminisce -- a lot of it is cringeworthy.

"Most Successful People" is a lot of fun, quite painful and a gift to two strong actors.

J'accuse!

Scott C. Sickles has lifted tabloid-TV-torn, shock value, manipulative, confrontational, domestic drama schlock into pure comedic art. I will never be satisfied with straightforward domestic melodramas again.

"The Greater and Lesser Edmunds of the World" is filled with pithy banter, delicious character-based speeches, and over-the-top emotions; twists, turns, and power plays; and fully emotive characters that male actors would love to play.

This is emotionally satisfying high comedy that an audience will love. I know I loved a broadcast reading of this one-act play that was performed to the hilt and highlighted its many strengths.