Recommended by Steven G. Martin

The voice in Eppich-Harris's monologue is so specific, which is lovely. There's hope, but there's also a feeling an overriding feeling of befuddlement, that the character is thrown off by humans as an entire species. This would be a nice challenge for a female actor, and a fine audition piece or standalone performance.

For all of its dark, off-the-wall, kooky, screwball dialogue and action -- you'll never think of hot dog buns in the same way! -- Elise Wien's one-act play has serious questions at its core: how do we live, how do we cope, how do we connect while living through something so life-altering? Unforgettable.

Sometimes when a character meets her comeuppance, it's tragic.

But not in this very dark, very comic monologue by Lee R. Lawing. Not in how Miss Brenda spills the tea about the misadventures of a self-centered, entitled manicurist and her client.

You'll laugh, you'll cringe. You'll laugh again.

This 10-minute play feels like a folktale because of Tony Pelham's precise use of structure and tone. It's very earnest, but also observational, which I love. I also love that the exact cause of the man's losses aren't explicitly stated -- it could be a mid-life crisis, grief, depression, or other things. But Pelham makes it clear that what's most important is the recovery of those senses. This is a feel-good play.

Teddy, the protagonist in "Day Six," is a joy -- dramatic and dry enough to make an audience giggle.

I love this play. For all the turbulence and chaos that the Karens of the World whip up, it's the grounding presence of a loving parent that helps us through it all. An affirming, smile-generating play.

Hageman has created a heartfelt, gentle, theatrical, bittersweet moment. There's a sadness that lingers in the air when the story completely unfolds.

She uses 13 words of dialogue and less than a minute of stage time, but Emily Hageman has completely dramatized a moment when a young person's life changes forever. This play will be a crowd pleaser.

I enjoyed a production of "The Last Man" during the 2019 IndyFringe Festival in Indianapolis. It's a strongly plotted one-act with twists, turns, and technical jargon to satisfy fans of science fiction and thrillers. The conflict and suspense are ratcheted up with each scene, and there's no certainty about the outcome until we arrive at the climactic scene itself. Fun & fast-paced.

Speckman has written a shaggy dog story here, literally and figuratively. This direct, and complex, comic monologue is a charming reminder that people who speak without interruption for a long while will share more than even they expected. Spot-on for monologue and comedy festivals, lots of fun for a female actor.