A Great Wilderness

by  Samuel D. Hunter

Full Length Play, Drama  /  3m, 3f

Walt has devoted his life to "curing" teenage boys of their homosexuality at his remote Idaho wilderness camp. Pressured to accept one last client, his life begins to unravel with the arrival of Daniel.

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A Great Wilderness

by  Samuel D. Hunter

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A Great Wilderness

  • Cast Size

    Cast Size

    3m, 3f
  • Duration

    Duration

    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre

    Subgenre

    Not Applicable
  • Audience

    Target Audience

    • Adult

Additional Info

After decades as the gentle-natured leader of a Christian retreat that endeavors to “cure” gay teens, Walt is packing up his life and preparing for a reluctant retirement. But when his final client quietly disappears into the remote Idaho wilderness, Walt discovers that his previously unwavering moral compass no longer points the way. With profound humanity and subtlety, A Great Wilderness navigates complex moral terrain, exploring the shifting motives and inconstant strength of our personal convictions.
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Accolades

  • Samuel D. Hunter is the recipient of a 2014 MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellowship
    Samuel D. Hunter is the 2012 recipient of the Whiting Award for Drama

Reviews

REVIEWS

"Hunter, an Idaho-bred playwright of growing prominence, tunes into a high frequency of empathy for isolated social fringe-dwellers." - Seattle Times, Read More 

"[An] affecting drama that strengthens its hold on you bit by unpredictable bit." - Boston Globe, Read More 

RELATED ARTICLES ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Forgiveness and Self-Acceptance: A GREAT WILDERNESS
by Julia Izumi
March 16, 2015

Videos

  • A GREAT WILDERNESS, WTF
  • Samuel D. Hunter, Seattle Rep
  • A GREAT WILDERNESS, Seattle Rep
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Keywords

Aging, LGBT issues, Parenting/Family

Considerations

Performing Groups

  • College Theatre / Student
  • Community Theatre
  • Professional Theatre
  • Large Stage
  • Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups

Cautions

  • Caution Intense Adult Intense Adult Themes
  • Caution Strong Language Strong Language

License details

  • Minimum Fee: £69 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

    Please submit a license request to determine availability.

Production

Details

  • Time Period: Contemporary, Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Setting: The common room of a decaying camp on the outskirts of a Wilderness area in Idaho. There are full boxes everywhere, much of the space has been packed up. Only essential furniture remains, along with some camping gear, books including several numbered Bibles, a television, etc. A hallway leads to other bedrooms and a bathroom, a kitchen occupies a section of the stage.
  • Features / Contains: Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes

Casting

3m, 3f
WALT - Mid-seventies, male.
DANIEL - 16, male.
ABBY - Mid-to-late sixties, female.
TIM - Mid-to-late sixties, male.
EUNICE - Forties or early fifties, female.
JANET - Late forties or early fifties, female.
VOICEOVER ON THE TELEVISION Male or female.
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Cast Attributes

  • Non-Traditional casting

Resources

Available Services

Scripts

A Great Wilderness

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Authors

Samuel D. Hunter

Samuel D. Hunter

Samuel D. Hunter’s plays include The Whale (Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play, GLAAD Media Award, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle nominations for Best Play), A Bright New Boise (Obie Award, Drama Desk nomination for Best Play), The Few, A Great Wilderness, Rest, Pocatello, Lewiston, Cl ...

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Originally commissioned and produced by Seattle Repertory Theater in January, 2014; Braden Abraham, Director; Jerry Manning, Artistic Director.

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