Many introductory books in theatre offer theory and exercises. Brief Encounters provides students with a frequently missing element — scripts that allow them to transform those concepts into performances. Darren Michael has written twenty-two short plays designed specifically for students and instructors in undergraduate acting and directing classes. Each play involves only two actors and minimal technical elements, all with running times under fifteen minutes. Most can be cast very flexibly to accommodate a wide range of students. For each play, the author has included specific challenges that actors will hone their skills on, as well as questions for readers to reflect on while preparing their performances.