Samuel D. Hunter is a celebrated playwright from Idaho. He’s made a name for himself by exploring the quiet struggles and profound questions that define modern American life. His hometown plays a pivotal role for his works, the emotional landscapes for his characters often mirror the stark beauty and isolation of the state. Hunter masterfully blends the ordinary with the existential, making us laugh, think, and feel deeply.
In 2004 Hunter earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2004 from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He went on to complete his Master of Fine Arts in 2007 at the University of Iowa which is known for fostering literary and dramatic talent. He attended Julliard’s Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program (2007 – 2009) where he was able to focus on the craft of writing for the stage under the mentorship of experienced playwrights.
Hunter’s education helped refine his voice as a playwright, blending his deep understanding of structure and character development with his passion for exploring existential themes. These experiences provided him with the tools to bring his unique perspective to the stage, focusing on stories that are intimate yet universally resonant.
During his academic years Hunter wrote several works that were not published. However, these provided opportunities to develop his skills and explore themes that would later appear in his more famous works. With a focus on the quiet struggles and profound questions that define modern American life, his first published play, The Few (2008), reflects on life after loss and examines the impact of personal and collective trauma. Other works in his portfolio include Pocatello (2012), The Whale (2012) and The Hill (2022). In 2010, A Bright New Boise was published for the stage. It premiered at the Hybrid Theatre Works in New York and won the 2011 Obie Award for Best New American Play. This work centers on Will, who seeks redemption while working at a Hobby Lobby and trying to reconnect with his son. Hunter was inspired by his employment experiences in retail and the complexities of familial relationships.
Hunter’s plays are generally set against the backdrop of small-town America, blending the ordinary with the existential, making us laugh, think, and feel deeply.
Through his quiet but powerful storytelling, Samuel D. Hunter offers audiences a mirror to our own lives, asking us to reflect on what we believe, what we long for, and what it means to truly connect with one another. Hunter’s work is particularly relevant to contemporary audiences, especially in times of societal and personal uncertainty.
The Arts at CCBC presents A Bright New Boise as part of its 24-25 season under the theme Belonging. The season is filled with performances that celebrate stories of people finding a home, building their own community, and carving a place for themselves.
See A Bright New Boise October 10 – 15 at CCBC Essex, Studio Theatre.
Performance Dates: October 10 at 2:20 p.m., October 11, 12 at 7 p.m., October 13 at 3 p.m. ASL Interpreted, October 14 at 7 p.m., October 15 at 11:10 a.m.
General admission $10, Seniors, Students, CCBC Faculty/Staff/Alumni $5, FREE for CCBC Students with current ID
Purchase tickets online at www.ccbctickets or call the Box Office at 443-840-ARTS.
CONTENT WARNING: This play contains depictions of violence, discussions of self-harm, religious discrimination, and images of medical surgery that are just gross.
A Bright New Boise is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com