By Daily Press staff

The Ruskin Group Theatre presents this weekend “The Best of the L.A. Café Plays” — seven one-acts that were written as part of Ruskin’s popular “speed theater” event over the past several years.

The writers for the “Best of” are Ed Horowitz, Robin Russin, Gregg Alexander, David Bosnak and Kate Mayfield.

The monthly “L.A. Café Plays,” which have been produced at Ruskin for the past few years, are unique because five short plays go from conception to execution in just over 10 hours.

The “Café Plays” have won praise from audiences and the press alike. For example, the LA Times said that “audiences revel in the 10 1/2-hour creation cycle of five one-act plays, bound by a common theme and locale — all must take place in a café — but otherwise are as diverse as the minds from which they spring.”

Past participants in the “Café Plays,” as director or actor, have included Dylan McDermott (“The Practice”), Olivia D’Abo (“The Wonder Years” and “The Odd Couple” on Broadway) and Dan Lauria (“The Wonder Years,” “Jag”).

Although several theaters throughout the country have staged 24-hour plays, Ruskin producers Mike Myers, Erin Kelly and Michael Laurie have upped the stakes and cut that time by more than half. In addition, the speed plays are produced monthly.

At 9 a.m. the day of the performance, five writers gather at Back on Broadway, a café-restaurant in Santa Monica. Each writer picks, at random, two manila envelopes containing actors’ headshots. They are then given four hours to write a seven to 10-page one-act play that takes place in a café. The directors then take over, meet their actors and begin rehearsals.

The Ruskin Group Theatre, founded in 2002, has produced several shows and has done extensive outreach, teaching and performing in correctional facilities, boys’ homes, nursing homes and more throughout Southern California. With its location at Santa Monica Airport, the Ruskin Group Theatre is making an impact on the Westside and LA area theatrical scene.

The “Best of the L.A. Café Plays” performances are at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8 and 9, at Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Dr. Tickets are $10. Call (310) 397-3244 or go to http://www.ruskingrouptheatre.com.