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Samuel D. Hunter

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Samuel D. Hunter
A photo of Samuel D. Hunter smiling at an awards ceremony
Hunter in 2013
Born1981 (age 44–45)
Pullman, Washington, U.S.[1]
EducationNew York University (BFA)
University of Iowa (MFA)
Juilliard School (GrDip)
SpouseJohn Baker
Children1

Samuel D. Hunter (born 1981)[2] is an American playwright living in New York City.[3]

Hunter was born in Pullman, Washington and raised in Moscow, Idaho.[1][4] He is best known for plays A Bright New Boise, which won the 2011 Obie Award for playwriting, and The Whale, which won the 2013 Drama Desk Award and the 2013 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play.[3] He is also the recipient of a 2014 MacArthur Fellowship.[2] He has also been a guest lecturer at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Fordham University, and other universities.[5] In 2026, Hunter received his first nomination for the Tony Award for Best Play for Little Bear Ridge Road, which ran on Broadway in 2025 starring Laurie Metcalf.[6]

Hunter is also a writer and producer for the television show Baskets.[7] A film adaptation of The Whale, written by Hunter and directed by Darren Aronofsky, was released in December 2022 and received two Academy Awards.

Personal life

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Hunter was forced to leave his Christian school after being outed as gay. He has a daughter with his husband, John Baker.[8][9]

Produced plays

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Awards and honors

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Hunter was named Resident Playwright at at New Dramatists from 2013-2020, and Arena Stage in 2013. [29] He also received an honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letters from the University of Idaho in 2015.[30] He has also been named Premiere Writer-in-Residence at Signature Theatre Company in New York City.

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2008–2009 Lark Play Development Center Playwrights of New York Fellowship Won [31]
2011 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Play A Bright New Boise Nominated [32]
Obie Award Playwriting Won [33]
2012 Whiting Award Won [34]
2013 GLAAD Media Award Outstanding New York Theatre (Broadway and Off-Broadway) The Whale Won [35]
Drama Desk Award Special Award Won [36]
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Play Won [37]
2014 MacArthur Fellowship Won [2]
2019 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Play Lewiston/Clarkston Nominated [38]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play Nominated [39][40]
2020 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Play Greater Clements Nominated [41]
2022 New York Drama Critics' Circle Best Play A Case for the Existence of God Won [42]
2023 Critics Choice Awards Best Adapted Screenplay The Whale Nominated [43]
BAFTA Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated [44]
Dramatists Guild of America Hull-Warriner Award A Case for the Existence of God Won [45]
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Play Nominated [46]
2025 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play Grangeville Nominated [47]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Play Nominated [48][49]
Dorian Award Outstanding Off-Broadway Production Nominated [50]
Outstanding LGBTQ Off-Broadway Production Nominated
2026 Tony Award Best Play Little Bear Ridge Road Nominated [51]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Broadway Play Nominated [52]
New York Drama Critics Circle Award Best Play Won [53]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Soloski, Alexis (November 27, 2019). "Samuel D. Hunter's Own Private Idaho". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Samuel D. Hunter - MacArthur Foundation". John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  3. ^ a b "Samuel D. Hunter - New Dramatists". New Dramatists. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  4. ^ "Writer of 'The Whale' on the Oscars and his play at Seattle's ACT". The Seattle Times. January 31, 2024. Archived from the original on December 24, 2024.
  5. ^ "About Brendan Fraser's Fat Suit in "The Whale"". The New Yorker. 2022-12-07. Archived from the original on 2023-07-14.
  6. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (2026-05-05). "Tony Nominations 2026, Read the Complete List; The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! Lead". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  7. ^ "Samuel D. Hunter - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  8. ^ Harms, Talaura (January 18, 2023). "How Samuel D. Hunter's Own Battle With Self-Loathing Inspired The Whale". Playbill. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  9. ^ Delgado, Emily (April 10, 2023). "Iowa Theatre alumni Samuel Hunter; John Baker inspire students during campus visit". University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  10. ^ "I Am Montana - Arcola Theatre". Arcola Theatre. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
  11. ^ "Five Genocides - clubbed thumb". clubbed thumb. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  12. ^ "Page 73 >> Jack's Precious Moment". Page 73. Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  13. ^ "Season Eight - Partial Comfort Productions". Partial Comfort Productions. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  14. ^ "Norway". Boise Weekly. Retrieved 2011-02-02.
  15. ^ "Review: A Permanent Image". Boise Weekly. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  16. ^ "The Whale: Playwrights Horizons". Playwrights Horizons. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  17. ^ "Pocatello: Playwrights Horizons". Playwrights Horizons. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  18. ^ "The Few - Rattlestick Playwrights Theater". Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. Archived from the original on 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  19. ^ "A Great Wilderness:Synopsis". Seattle Repertory Theatre. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  20. ^ "Rest". South Coast Repertory. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  21. ^ "Clarkston". Dallas Theater Center. Archived from the original on 2015-09-22. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
  22. ^ "Lewiston". Long Wharf Theatre. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
  23. ^ "Samuel D. Hunter's The Healing Opens Tonight". Playbill Inc. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  24. ^ "Photos: First Look at LCT3 Production of The Harvest". Playbill, Inc. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  25. ^ Grode, Eric (18 October 2018). "Pull Up a Seat. Two Plays, Dinner and Western History Are Served". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  26. ^ Shaw, Helen (December 10, 2019). "Theater Review: Greater Clements, a Small-Town Drama Where the Town's Disappearing". New York. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  27. ^ Shaw, Helen (2022-05-02). "Two Men, Twin Falls: Samuel Hunter's A Case for the Existence of God". Vulture. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  28. ^ Schwartz, Alexandra (May 30, 2022). "Making a case". The Critics. The Theatre. The New Yorker. 98 (14): 74–75. Online version is titled "Mottled morals and a fight for justice in 'Golden Shield'", but also reviews 'A Case for the Existence of God'.
  29. ^ "Samuel D. Hunter Named 2013 Resident Playwright at Arena Stage - TheaterMania.com". www.theatermania.com. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
  30. ^ Honorary Degrees, President's Medallion, and Alumni Distinguished Idahoan Award. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-10.
  31. ^ Jones, Kenneth (8 July 2008). "Samuel D. Hunter is Lark's 2008 Playwriting Fellow". Playbill, Inc. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  32. ^ Gans, Andrew (29 April 2011). "56th Annual Drama Desk Nominations Announced; Book of Mormon Scores 12 Nominations". Playbill, Inc. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  33. ^ "New York OBIES: The Village Voice's 56th Annual Obie Awards". VillageVoice, LLC. Archived from the original on February 14, 2011. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  34. ^ "Samuel Hunter".
  35. ^ Hetrick, Adam (18 March 2013). ""Smash" and The Whale Win NYC GLAAD Media Awards". Playbill, Inc. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  36. ^ "2013 Drama Desk Award Winners". Drama Desk Awards. Archived from the original on 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  37. ^ "2013 Nominations". The Lucille Lortel Awards. Archived from the original on 2018-02-08. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  38. ^ "Nominations for the 2019 Drama Desk Awards Announced; Oklahoma!, Tootsie, Rags Parkland Lead the Pack". Playbill, Inc. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  39. ^ Lefkowitz, Andy (May 13, 2019). "Hadestown Leads Winners of 2019 Outer Critics Circle Awards". Broadway.com. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  40. ^ "2018–2019 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  41. ^ "2020 Drama Desk Nominations: Soft Power, The Wrong Man Lead the Pack in Condensed Season". Playbill, Inc. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  42. ^ "'A Case For The Existence of God' Named Year's Best Play By New York Drama Critics' Circle; 'Kimberly Akimbo' Best Musical". Deadline. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  43. ^ "Film Nominations Announced for the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Chelsea Handler – Critics Choice Awards".
  44. ^ "Film in 2023 | BAFTA Awards".
  45. ^ "The Dramatists Guild Announces Initial 2023 Award Recipients | Dramatists Guild".
  46. ^ Logan Culwell-Block (April 5, 2023). "Wolf Play Leads 2023 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations; Read the Complete List of Nominees". Playbill. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  47. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 12, 2025). "Maybe Happy Ending Leads 2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  48. ^ "2025 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  49. ^ Logan Culwell-Block (June 1, 2025). "Drama Desk Award Winners 2025: The Full List". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  50. ^ Abourizk, Michael (June 3, 2025). "'John Proctor Is the Villain' leads winners of Dorian Theater Awards". Broadway News. Retrieved June 4, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  51. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (2026-05-05). "Tony Nominations 2026, Read the Complete List; The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! Lead". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  52. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Award 2026 Nominations". New York Theater. April 21, 2026. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  53. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (2026-05-01). "Little Bear Ridge Road Wins Best Play New York Drama Critics' Circle Award". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
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