The Best American Short Plays 2006-2007 »

Applause is proud to continue the series that for over 60 years has been the standard of excellence for one-act plays in America. Our editor Barbara Parisi has selected the following 16 plays: DEBOOM: WHO GIVES THIS WOMAN?, by Mark Medoff; And Then, by Amelia Arenas; The Cleaning, by Zilvinas Jonusas; Breakfast and Bed, by Amy Fox; The News from St. Petersburg, by Rich Orloff; Double Murder, by Scott Klavan; Running in Circles Screaming, by Jeni Mahoney; Witness, by Peter Maloney; Asteroid Belt, by Lauren Feldman; The Trash Bag Tourist, by Samuel Brett Williams; Glass Knives, by Liliana Almendarez; Hearts and Minds, by Adam Kraar; In Conclusive Woman, by Julie (Pratt) Mollenkamp; Mixed MeSSages, by Mike Pasternack; The Date, by Joan Lipkin; and The Birth of Theater, by Jules Tasca.

Foreword Mark Medoff ix

Introduction Barbara Parisi xiii

DeBoom: Who Gives This Woman Mark Medoff 1

And Then Amelia Arenas 55

The Cleaning Zilvinas Jonusas 89

Breakfast and Bed Amy Fox 105

The News from St. Petersburg Rich Orloff 123

Double Murder Scott Klavan 145

Running in Circles Screaming Jeni Mahoney 157

Witness Peter Maloney 171

Asteroid Belt Lauren Feldman 185

Glass Knives Liliana Almendarez 195

Hearts and Minds Adam Kraar 239

In Conclusive Woman Julie Rae (Pratt) Mollenkamp 261

Mixed MeSSages Mike Pasternack 293

Amouresque and Arabesque Victor Gluck 321

The Birth of Theater Jules Tasca 357