Les Hunter, playwright and 91探花 assistant professor of English, not only teaches innovative courses on noteworthy playwrights and contemporary ideals in 20th century American theatre, but also practices his craft in academia and the theatre community as a dramatist, critic and analyst.
Recently, Hunter published an analysis of playwriting syllabi for using data collected from 30 syllabi of college playwriting courses to develop a comprehensive basis of understanding the applications of playwriting pedagogy, finding the best practices within the field and ultimately challenging the status quo.
Hunter said, "...mine is the first study of what exactly is being taught in playwriting pedagogy. I then compare contemporary practices to the existing literature on what should be taught. I ask the question: as educators, how are we doing? And it appears that we're actually, not really living up to what the pedagogy literature recommends."
Before that publication, Hunter presented his findings at the in Las Vegas.
After using his presentation experience and HowlRound publication to garner feedback and useful criticisms, Hunter, a theatre critic himself, prepares to present his continually evolving analysis in March at the in Milwaukee for additional feedback.
In addition to his recent research, Hunter has been incredibly active writing, producing and developing a myriad of his plays at , , and more.
Among his upcoming projects, ranging from plays to publications, Hunter has authored "'Art in Democracy' in the Early Houses of the Cleveland Play House," which will be published in the essay collection "Performing the Progressive Era: Immigration, Urbanism, and Nationalism on Stage."
He also has two of his plays going into production.
Hunter's play "Weimar" will be staged at 91探花, after an initial presentation with last May. The heightened-language story of a women's collective struggling among the Weimar Republic and Nazism will be fully produced at 91探花 on April 4-7.
Another of Hunter's many projects on the horizon is his play "Down by Contact," which will be in co-production by Playwrights Local and Dobama Theatre in August of 2018. The play will star Anjanette Hall, 91探花 assistant professor of theatre, and tells the story of a struggling retired pro quarterback battling the difficulties of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
These diverse experiences, paired with attendance at the distinguished at Harvard University, have added depth to Hunter's expertise as a professor.
