Recommended by Steven G. Martin

This play is real enough that it stings a bit.

Sickles dramatizes a situation fraught with ... well, ultimately nothing; the bond between these two men is strongest as friendship. But that level of affection still is nice.

"The Night is Young, the Sky is Clear" contains one of Scott Sickles' funniest bits of dialogue.

What's wonderful is that not only the line itself hilarious and jaw-dropping, but it's also the very moment when things change for the characters in this 1-minute play.

Delightful and smile-inducing.

How do you contend with the (at least) one sourpuss in your family? Someone who doesn't enjoy even the smallest of joys or appreciate the variety of beauty in the world?

If you're in the wedding party in "Destination: Wedding," Scott Sickles' cycle of 1-minute plays, you love and accept that person to the last, and perhaps while also ignoring some ostentatious remarks so you can appreciate that joy and beauty yourself. Funny, but also a bit sad.

New relationship goals: Find someone who loves and is loved as much as Reese and Jenny love one another in this duo of one-minute plays by Scott Sickles.

Sickles theatrically shows just how much in love these two adorable weirdos are -- you put them in close proximity and they almost can't function because they are in so much love.

This duo of 1-minute plays is pure romantic comedy and will leave everyone smiling.

A whimsical romantic comedy that'll bring smiles to audiences' faces.

This play is a lot of fun thanks to Garcia's bold choices for setting and characters, dialogue, and self-awareness. It'd be fun to see Travis, Trevor, and Mysty on stage at a short play festival with LGBTQIA characters, or with St. Patrick Day's themes, or in the romantic comedy genre.

A beautiful story filled with the major and minor victories and losses and other emotional moments incurred during an average summer afternoon.

Hwang's talent at writing natural dialogue for a group of friends is unmistakable. Add that the friends are in their teens and younger, then it's even more remarkable.

It isn't just teen angst.

Rayshaad, who's terrific at math, isn't just affected with teen angst. TyWuané Lewis multiplies the pressures Rayshaad faces by putting him in a relationship with a closeted teen athlete who sets impossible rules and may not even reciprocate anyway.

Rayshaad may never want anyone else to know how complex the issues are, but Lewis makes the character even richer by adding these details.

This is one of the most visceral, painful monologues I've ever read. The 180 degree turn that Tarick experiences in TyWuané Lewis's short play left me speechless.

The opposite of body shaming isn't body positivity, it's body PRIDE.

TyWuané Lewis infuses Bacardy, the protagonist, with lots of levels of pride -- and that pride leans in on the sexual. And for all of the frustration and anger that Bacardy has built up over the years toward his mother's judgments, that pride feels good.

There's a lot of righteous rage and joy in "my honeypots." I'd love to see this performed.

Even if it's never read, sometimes you have to write the letter.

Marquise, the protagonist, has a single reason to write to Jared, but TyWuané Lewis provides so many precise details and conflicting emotions in this monologue that it's a complex journey, and one I'd love to see on stage.