Recommended by Steven G. Martin

Tuchi's "Wandering, Whistling" instantly has become one of my favorite short plays, period.

The premise, the stakes, the theatricality jump off the page. Action -- and lack of it -- define the characters as much as the dialogue, and their emotions are so earnest. There are echoes of the third act of "Our Town" but the conclusion is entirely its own.

Produce this play, please. Your audiences, actors, directors, and designers will thank you.

This well-written play deserves its rich production history.

I love that the almost-unspoken tensions of "172 Push-Ups" make the play soar. Audiences don't know if this brief encounter will end well -- there are conflicts and connections throughout. But when the final resolution arrives, audiences will feel glad. Very well done, Scott Mullen.

A loving spoof of science-fiction entertainment. Williams includes so many references that even the most knowledgeable of fans will be overcome.

This 1-minute play makes me smile because Rinkel celebrates earnest optimism.

An insightful -- and a bit cringe-worthy -- minute of comedy. Ekstrand has written two characters who would be fun to perform, to direct, or to watch.

A 1-minute, scathing portrait of ugliness, stupidity, and hypocrisy in America. This sharp condemnation of white Americans' attitudes toward race is about as honest as it gets. Read to the end for the ultimate steel-tipped kick to the ass.

THIS is the play that you never expected about the coronavirus pandemic, and it will stay with you for a long time.

Cato begins by creating extremely unnerving, surprising parallels in this monologue about the character. She doesn't stop there. Cato continues with an exploration of how our lives will be affected in unusual ways in the short-term and long-term. This is fiction, but it's still true.

A stunning, shocking monologue in every way. A playwright to pay attention to. Read, produce "My Name is Corona."

You have to love the comic possibilities created when characters with different priorities and mindsets clash. That's what drives the beginning of Sickles' "Canopies and Canapés" (and yes, you'll crave food as you read it/watch it). The lovely part of this play is the blooming of the relationship of the characters as they come together and realize some truths beyond the initial clash.

I am on board for the plot twists, turns, and loops that Vansant has created in "Bluehair." This 10-minute play is funny and dopey, it's a little bit sinister and a little bit sexy, and it's got moments of intense action and heroism. And there are two marvelous side characters whom any actors would love to play, along with the central heroic character whom audiences will cheer.

I watched Kansas City Repertory Theatre perform this comedy during its Online 10-Minute Play Project in May 2020. Everyone -- actors and audiences alike -- had a riotously funny time.

This romantic comedy has it all: snappy dialogue that audiences and actors will flip over, stratagems and reverses to push the plot, and musical references galore that accentuate the joy of this play. Plus a sweet relationship that's just beginning to bud.

I watched Kansas City Repertory Theatre perform this comedy during its Online 10-Minute Play Project in May 2020. And oh, did it shine!