Aponibolinayen in the Sky (by Les and Elana Hunter)

Aponibolinayen dreams of touching the Sky. When she meets a spirit in the forest and tells it of her dreams, it offers to help her reach them. In this magical coming of age story, Apo learns that dreams are from the heart, and that they sometimes come true in unexpected ways.

• Commissioned and produced by Talespinner Children’s Theatre (Dir. Carrie Williams).

• Published and licensed as Apo in the Sky by YouthPLAYS.

A Light in the Night: A Hanukkah Play (by Les and Elana Hunter)

A brave young girl’s heroic journey to the past to save the ancient history of Hanukkah.

• Commissioned and world-premiere by Talespinner Children’s Theatre (Dir. Margi Zitelli).

• Winner, Best New Play by a Local Playwright, 2023. Cleveland Critic’s Circle.

  Reviews:

  Cleveland Theatre Reviews: “Educate(s) and entertain(s) both those of the Jewish faith (young and old) plus any passerby who happens to wander in. Mazel tov!”

  Broadway World - Cleveland: “The good guys find a way to win, much to the glee of the tykes watching this epic tale.”

Weimar (by Les Hunter, with testimonies by Kenzie Marie Critzer, Sha-Lemar Davis, Esma M. Eddeb, Brooke Turner, Brittany Ganser, Danyel Geddie, Delaney Hagy, Anjanette Hall, Bryce Evan Lewis, Sarah Rupp McKee, Genesis Rosado and Libby Tofig)

(6-12W). In Weimar, a radical women's collective attempts to resist the authoritarian inclinations of their recently elected government.

• Weimar was commissioned and produced by Baldwin Wallace University’s Department of Theatre and Dance.

• The script was awarded a 2020 Ohio Arts Council Award for Individual Excellence in playwriting.

New Play Exchange account? Read the script here.

Voces/Voices (by Elaine Romero, Les Hunter, Maria Torres, and Milta Ortiz)

• Staged Reading, Entry Point. Cleveland Public Theatre, 2020. Dir. Jimmy Noriega.

Father’s Watch (by the men of Y-Haven and Les Hunter)

Created and performed by the men of YMCA’s Y-Haven, Father’s Watch is an original performance digging into the makeup of identities and how secrets can shatter even the strongest bonds. 

• Production, Cleveland Public Theatre, 2019. Dirs. Adam Seeholzer and Leonard Goff.

The Jackson Heights Trilogy (Conceived and Directed by Ari Laura Kreith).

167 TONGUES by Jenny Lyn Bader, Meny Beriro, Alvin Eng, Steven Fechter, Jennifer Gibbs, Les Hunter, Anna Kushner, Rehana Mirza, Suzanne Sheptock, Stefanie Zadravec.

YOU ARE NOW THE OWNER OF THIS SUITCASE by Mando Alvarado, Jenny Lyn Bader, Barbara Cassidy, Les Hunter, Joy Tomasko, Gary Winter and Stefanie Zadravec

JACKSON HEIGHTS 3AM by Jenny Lyn Bader, J.Stephen Brantley, Ed Cardona Jr., Les Hunter, Tom Miller, Melisa Tien and Joy Tomasko

History: Multiple productions, various locales, NYC 2010-2016.

Reviews:

Leah Richards, “Not My Baggage to Bear” Culture Catch review of You Are Now the Owner of this Suitcase. April 12, 2016. "(A) magical realist tale of hope, love, diversity, and community in New York City... that will appeal to lifelong residents, the newest of arrivals, and the other 7 million people in the City." 

Marina Kamen, “A Global 'Edutainment' Family Experience at West End Theatre,” Broadway World review of You Are Now The Owner of This Suitcase. April 11, 2016. "A talented cast...splendid performances...and a story line that reaches out and touches the heart. Perfect for all ages!”

 Megan Lohne, “Theatre Review,” NY Theatre Guide review of You Are Now the Owner of this Suitcase. April 18, 2016. "A romp through magical realism at its finest." 

Hi Drama review of You Are Now the Owner of this Suitcase.  "I just love Theatre 167... Everything about this is captivating. " 

Kimille Howard, “Thoughts: I Like to be Here …” Arts in Color review of I Like to be Here …, Sept. 17, 2014.           “brilliantly reflects the diversity and blending of lives in this city.”

 Paul Notice, “I Like to be Here …” Stage Buddy review of I Like to be Here …, Sept. 27, 2014. "it’s simply something you must see and experience.”

 Jerron Herman, “I Like to be Here …” Theatre is Easy review of I Like to be Here …, Sept. 19, 2014. “an accessible tale of a multi-ethnic environment bridging tense gaps between its multilingual inhabitants. A tough feat, a worthwhile night of theater nevertheless.”

 Glenda Frank, “I Like to be Here …” New York Theatre Wire review of I Like to be Here …, Sept. 8, 2014. “'I Like To Be Here: Jackson Heights Revisited, Or, This Is a Mango' is a bold experiment, which is well-directed and beautifully performed.”

 Lauren Noveck,  “I Like to be Here …” Exuent Magazine review of I Like to be Here …, Sept. 8, 2014. “An elegant experiment”

 Kristen O’Regan, “Journey to Jackson Heights …” Bedford + Bowery review of I Like to be Here…, Sept. 8, 2014.      “A glorious mish-mash of cultures; a remarkably high-definition cross-section of one vibrant neighborhood (streets, homes, places of work) that feels like an intimate encounter.”

 Pete Hempstead, “I Like to be Here …” Theatremania.com review of I Like to be Here…, Sept. 8, 2014. “An engaging and often amusing look into the lives and aspirations of the denizens of this multiethnic New York enclave.”

 Zachary Stewart, “Jackson Heights 3AM,” Theatremania.com review of Jackson Heights 3AM, January 12, 2012. “A sheer delight from beginning to end… adroitly captures the frenetic energy of a neighborhood often called the crossroads of the world… a quintessentially American story.”

Heather Lee Rogers, “You Are Now the Owner of this Suitcase,” NY Theatre review of You Are Now the Owner of This Suitcase, March 12, 2011. “Full of humor, heart, and imagination... a great piece of theatre, with highly inventive writing… truly has something for everyone.”  

William Coyle, “Variety is the Spice of Life,” Offoffonline review of 167 Tongues, May 7, 2010. “Due in no small part to consistently first-rate writing, acting, and direction, this production’s tasty concoction, against all odds, manages to work much like the neighborhood it lovingly chronicles.”  

 Mike Wood, “167 Tongues Strikes Theatrical Gold,” Queens Buzz review of 167 Tongues, May 6, 2010. “I just returned from experiencing something truly wonderful…Better buy your tickets now, because this is something that could quickly catch fire and with only 99 seats available per night, they could go quickly.”