What They Say
I asked them to tell you what they think, and here's what they said...
Testimonials
CT King
Jay,
We (spouse & I) saw your play The Sing Sing Suite last evening. We enjoyed it very much, the ‘word play’ was what made it a hit for me. When the warden started using $5 words, I was trying to hold in my laughter so that I could hear the next line. Each player seemed to try to out-do the other.
Thanks for another entertaining evening.
Sincerely,
CT King
Billy Stroup
I have had the privilege of knowing and performing with Jay Huling for more years than either of us care to admit. I have also been in awe of his talents for comedy and writing almost since the day we met. It is with humility and honor that I remember Jay casting me to act with him in the premiere production of the first play he wrote, “Trilogy for Two.”
While “Trilogy” was warmly received and continues to delight audiences, since then Jay’s insights into characters, plots, comedic turns of phrase and writing style have skyrocketed. A significant part of this is due to his innate intelligence, wit, and charm; the rest is because Jay has been on both sides of the curtain. He observed and learned several “do’s” and more “don’ts” performing original plays and working with the playwrights on several occasions in his early years. Those experiences helped hone his desire and ability to deliver interesting characters for the actors, settings that can be minimalist or complex for a variety of production designers and their budgets, cast requirements that almost any theatre company can fill, and, most importantly, fill a theatre with happy, laughing, entertained patrons night after night.
I recently had the opportunity to screen “Transisters,” and it does not disappoint. In a world where we have to constantly guard ourselves and consider every choice, Jay’s plays surprise us when we realize that we have let go of the day to day worry and find ourselves in a full-on belly laugh.
If you are a producer, produce one of the many “Winners” among Jay’s plays. If you are an actor, audition for the part “you were born to play.” If you aren’t one of the above, buy a ticket to levity.
Billy Stroup
Scott Schneider
“The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns” is one of the most cleverly funny scripts I have experienced. Jay’s mastery of comedic content and storytelling results in a great night of entertainment. As Gordon Hepworth, I had a wonderful opportunity to display multiple sides of a well-crafted character in a story line that was engaging from start to finish. Our audiences loved this production. . . as did the cast. It was funny, frenetic, and first-rate! Bravo, Jay! I hope to have the opportunity to play another one of your characters one day!
Scott Schneider
Bell Tower Theater
Dakota Vaassen
I had the greatest pleasure of playing the conniving lawbreaker Josh Pocket in Jay Huling’s hilarious comedy, “The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns” for the Bell Tower Theater in Dubuque, Iowa. There’s no shortage of jokes and wacky hijinks in Jay’s plays. It’s a wonderful experience when an actor gets to perform in a play that’s truly written for the actor.
Dakota Vaassen
Bell Tower Theater
Miki Robinson
Please accept this letter as a glowing recommendation for playwright Jay Huling and his play The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns. The Bell Tower Theater regularly presents new works and, therefore, has the opportunity to work with many playwrights from across North America. I am happy to say that our experience working with Jay was among the best.
From our first inquiries about the show, Jay was attentive to our questions and always provided prompt responses. The process of booking the show was simple, and he was kind enough to provide extra support including pictures of previous sets and assistance with the music in the show.
In between when the show was booked and the dates of production, COVID-19 hit. Jay was accommodating and extremely supportive as we tried to figure out when (and if) we might be able to do the show. Thankfully we were able to mount the production in November of 2020, only about a month later than planned, and our audiences absolutely loved it. While our houses were not full due to the pandemic, those who were able to attend truly enjoyed the play.
The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns was one of six shows we were forced to either cancel or reschedule in 2020, and our experience working with Jay was much easier than with most of the other rights holders. We look forward to working with him again in the future.
Miki Robinson
Bell Tower Theater
Paul Deputy
Jay Huling is a professional writer that everyone knows about him. Huling makes the audience laugh and cry when they are going to his shows. Magical, Mesmerizing and a Joy to watch. Keep those Plays COMING.
Paul Deputy
The Gourmet Goat
Jennifer Osborn
I love Jay Huling’s “The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns.” Wonderful characters, laugh out loud funny, and a great ending!!
Jennifer Osborn
Andy Pelegreen
Based on my experience producing Jay Huling’s one-act comedy It Happened at Kings Island, I feel very strongly that you should read the script and consider producing it at your venue.
Although I have to admit, we were a little hesitant to produce this unique comedy when our committee first read it. After all, it’s an unknown work by a relatively unknown playwright – or so we thought. We were concerned that we’d have trouble drawing an audience to something people had never heard of, especially since patrons notoriously cling to the tried and true and tend to shy away from anything they feel they have to take a chance on. However, the play was strongly recommended to us by Harlequin Productions, who had produced it in New York. Based on their enthusiasm for the work, and for the response their audiences gave it, we decided to take our own chance on it.
What we didn’t understand at the time was that Jay Huling has quite the following with underground theatre enthusiasts and is well-known for his zany comedies Elvis of Nazareth and Plumber’s Butt. This was a welcome surprise when we sold almost every seat each night during our run of the show. Afterward, many of our audience members told us they had seen Huling’s Elvis Of Nazareth and were curious about what he’d come up with now.
It Happened at Kings Island is honest, thoughtful, and entertaining. It’s easy to produce because the set can be as minimal or as complex as the theatre wants. It could even be perfectly set outdoors – in a park, for example, as the location of the play is two park benches at Kings Island amusement park. The three characters – two women and one man – are unique, compelling, and very funny. We had a lot of fun with it, and Jay Huling was very easy to work with, giving the actors freedom to lift the script with their talents.
The results we experienced with the play at The Hope Players speak for themselves. There is absolutely a direct link between the buzz this comedy generated in our theatre circles and the number of tickets we sold.
Andy Pelegreen
The Hope Players
Doug P.
My wife and I had the great opportunity to sit with Jay for the premier of The Sing Sing Suite at our favorite dinner theater in Maryland. The play was hilarious on its own but it was even more enjoyable to be sitting with Jay during the performance and see that he was having just as much fun as the rest of the audience, laughing along with all of the great lines in the play. I remember thinking to myself that this was a truly funny play if the playwright himself was laughing at all of the punch lines that he already knew were coming. Thanks, Jay, for a memorable evening and an enjoyable play!
Doug P.
Brian DeRaimondo
I had the pleasure of playing Jon in Jay’s The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns. It’s fun, fast paced, and sure to make audiences laugh. Especially nice to see the playwright in the audience at our Long Island premier.
Brian DeRaimondo
BroadHollow Theatre Company
Lewis Hauser
Having directed one of the productions of your play Twelve Bar Blues, all I can say about Jay is that you wrote such realistic characters that it made it very easy for me to use the audience as eavesdroppers on your very realistic situations. I knew characters like this. Very realistic. Very three dimensional. A lot of the audience was able to identify with these wonderful characters thanks to your wonderful and thoughtful writing. Anyway, speaking of writing, keep it up Jay, and BRAVO!!
Lewis Hauser
Raven Playhouse
John Lamar
Several years ago I had the privilege of being a part of the very first production of Hard Luck Sings the Blues by Jay Huling. This romantic comedy has all the elements, including surrealistic companions, witty repartee, and incredibly clever plot twists.
Mr. Huling’s writing is both funny and intimately poignant. He captures the soul of the situation with fast-paced dialogue and spot-on character development.
This production was at the very beginning of my acting career, and I can’t imagine a better introduction to the joys of theater. I was sort of a Bunraku character who steps out to perform some effect for a scene. The fake smoke in a can was my favorite bit.”
John Lamar
The Intentional Theatre
Avery Finch
Jay’s unique, hilarious voice comes through in every line he writes, and translates seamlessly to the stage. The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns is a thoroughly original comedy about family, religion, and the things we do to make a buck. It’s somehow timely and perfectly timeless – a modern farce that captures all the humor of brothers at odds, evangelical church, and the IRS!
Avery Finch
Knoxville Stage Company
Delonda Hartman
Twelve Bar Blues included an intimate setting of candle-lit tables and a selection of drinks to make the audience feel as if they were patrons in the bar rather than separated from the action by a proscenium stage and an orchestra pit . . . Several clever lines brought laughs. In The Sensuous Scan-Tron, when the girl claims she wants security, the would-be lover declares, “I’ll put a dead bolt on your door.” In Hooking, the man dons baby garb to be cuddled by his prospective sweetie. When she sees people looking at them, she says, ‘I smoked during pregnancy.’
Delonda Hartman
The Star Press
Ryan Lash
Twelve Bar Blues was an exercise in performing hysterical vignettes that made a wonderful whole. The dialogue was fun to work with and was very malleable in terms of being able to approach it in different ways. I also loved how it all tied together in the end. It had a ton of characters which meant I had the chance to meet some wonderful people. Nice job, Jay!
Ryan Lash
Heartland Stage Company
Shaun Berkey
I got to be in one of Jay’s plays that was being put on in my town in 2006 and remains of my favorite shows I ever did. I got to play a character where I got to use my own creativity in many things I did. It was also the first time I met a writer in the play I was doing and really cool to her him speak very highly to what I was doing.
Shaun Berkey
Muncie Civic Theatre
John Morogiello
I’ve had the great pleasure of sharing a bill with Jay Huling a number of times now, and it is always a delight. His wit, his absurdity, and his embrace of the silliness in humanity are refreshing tonics from the dreary burden of everyday life.
John Morogiello
Jason Mencheski
Hard Luck Sings the Blues is a comedy about a love-struck young man, aided by his well-meaning yet misguided Muse, searching for love in all of the wrong places. Bring in a Love Guru and a telephone match making service, and Jay Huling has found the recipe to make audiences laugh nonstop! This is a unique and witty play that breaks conventional theater to bring an unforgettable experience.
Jason Mencheski
Green Bay Community Theater
Gary Wisneski
I had the pleasure of being cast in one of Jay’s play called Hard Luck Sings the Blues. It was a great play, and he was even there to talk to the audience. He is funny man. I think he can make it as a comedian. I highly recommend trying one of his plays.
Gary Wisneski
Green Bay Community Theater
Glen J. Beck
My name is Glen J. Beck, and I’m the Associate Artistic Director for BroadHollow Theatre Company. I’m just writing this short note to taut the success of Jay Huling’s The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns. The cast had a great time performing the show and the audiences laughed and laughed especially during the plot misdirection of act two. It’s a great piece for a small theatre. Actors can really dive into the various comic situations. One just needs to let go and the lines deliver themselves. Again, it is a great piece for those looking for a light comic event. Thank you, Jay for allowing us to perform your work.
Glen J. Beck
Hollow Theatre Company
Monty Witt
I really enjoyed working on Hard Luck Sings The Blues. I have been directing or stage managing plays for over 20 years and a professional magician for over 30 years. Working on this play was truly a pleasure.
Monty Witt
Monty's Magic Theater
Tom Parkhill
I am writing to recommend Mr. Jay Huling, a playwright, to your attention. We had the honor of presenting Mr. Huling’s The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns as the featured production in our New Play Festival. It is a play we have a deep appreciation for and the production went splendidly. We played to excellent crowds who were wildly enthusiastic about the play. It is a uniquely funny piece and was a tremendous success for us in addition to being complete fun to work on. We couldn’t have had a better experience.
Based on our work with him, I can wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Huling to you without reservation. The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns is terrifically funny but with a real heart underlying it. It is a play audiences relate to and completely enjoy. I recommend it to you with no reservations. Mr. Huling is a skilled playwright and a pleasure to work with.
Tom Parkhill
Tennessee Stage Company
Zoe D’heedene
Through exploring Hard Luck Sings the Blues, I’ve come to respect the extraordinary talent of Jay Huling. He created a work that is not only hilarious and entertaining, but also true to everyday life. Who hasn’t experienced unrequited love or the frustration of having feelings for someone who can’t see what’s right in front of them? It is impossible to watch Hard Luck Sings the Blues or to even read the script without laughing out loud almost constantly. The best comedy stems from the truth and this show is definitely proof of that. Audiences will be so busy laughing and enjoying themselves, they won’t even realize how much they have come to care about the characters until they find themselves on the edge of their seats cheering them on! Jay Huling’s unique and wonderful material is a show no one will want to miss – I can promise you that.
Zoe D’heedene
Robert Reich
I commend Mr. Jay Huling for his excellent work as a playwright. I have been involved with the performing arts as an actor, director, producer and playwright for almost three decades, and even though I don’t consider myself an expert by any means, I have a fairly good idea of what a good play looks like, and what a bad play looks like – ( Heaven knows I have seen enough of the later.) Therefore, I can say after having had the privilege and pleasure to perform in Mr. Huling’s play Hard Luck Sings the Blues I had definitely been in a very good play. Also, judging from the response of the audience – we put on two shows a weekend for three weekends to almost capacity crowds –
that they had enjoyed it as much as we, the Cast, did. I hope I have the opportunity to either produce, direct or perform in another Jay Huling play before my final curtain call.
Robert Reich
Opus Nostrum Dinner Theatre
Barbara Trainin Blank
There is meaning found in the silly humor of Jay Huling’s original play Hard Luck Sings the Blues. If the plot sounds full of poignancy, it is. But it also has a lot of silly slapstick and double entendres, certainly raw humor – which adds to the pathos. It’s a very compact and well-written script. And the comedy parts here aren’t predictable. It’s interesting to be funny and meaningful at the same time. Hard Luck Sings the Blues is a comedy that’s over the top screwball, but if you want to take deep meaning out of it, it’s definitely there
Barbara Trainin Blank
Theatre Correspondent, The Sentinel
Alun Montgomery
It’s appropriate that in describing the language in Huling’s Twelve Bar Blues, it’s impossible not to sound like a classic beer commercial: crisp, refreshing – and yes, even sparkling, flavorful, and distinctive.” But that’s just what it is. The words just crackle and jump off the page. It’s very a very funny read, and an enjoyable night of theater. It’s easy to see that a lot of folks writing for the screen today could benefit from taking a page from Huling’s playbook.
Alun Montgomery
The Florida Times-Union
Diana Benigno
…It is always wonderful to work with a playwright who has such a distinct voice such as Jay, while also being reminded of the greats while performing his work. Neil Simon comes to mind for sure. Performing as Nancy in his play was a challenge and a delight, and allowed me to immerse myself in physical comedy, a welcome challenge for any actor. His writing provided the necessary depth and wit for a comedic female character, without her being a pincushion, floosy or a doormat. He wrote someone genuinely funny, in a deadpan sort of way, highlighting the incompetence of her 2 male counterparts, which allowed me to discover new things every night. What fun it was! Truly a highlight of my career.
Diana Benigno
The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns, New York debut
Eileen Conway
It was my pleasure to get to know Jay while performing in his play The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns. He is an actor’s playwright – providing background and context for the character and encouraging words for a nervous performer. I would happily collaborate with him again, given the opportunity.
Eileen Conway
Tennessee Stage Company
Catherine Michaels
Please consider this my strong recommendation that you read and consider Jay Huling’s two-act evening of twelve comedy sketches entitles Twelve Bar Blues.
Our company, the Vagabond Players Theatre Company, recently produced Twelve Bar Blues for a six-week run at the Raven Playhouse in Hollywood. We’re always looking for original voices in comedy to challenge our actors and our audiences. Twelve Bar Blues does just that – with laugh-out-loud humor, gags, and one-liners that will remind you of the sketch comedy TV shows of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
The play is perfect for an ensemble cast, allowing actors to play multiple characters throughout the evening. It’s part Monty Python, part Saturday Night Live, park Carol Burnett Show – all reinvented with a contemporary, easy-to-stage approach. This is zany, maniacal, over-the-top comedy that is sure to please any funny bone.
The dialogue is crisp and inventive. The various plots are imaginative and clever. And the unique structure of the play keeps the viewer wondering what crazy antics will follow.
I believe your audiences will love this fast-pace style, as ours did. This is a highly commercial work that works well and puts people in seats. I believe you can fill the house with this one. I encourage you to give Twelve Bar Blues your consideration.
Catherine Michaels
The Vagabond Players Theatre Company
Jeff Czerbinski
As a theater owner, if there’s one thing I know, it is that pleasing your audience is the only way to grow. And, I’ve discovered that today’s audiences are tired of the same bill of fare. They really want fresh material that makes them laugh, makes them feel good, and makes them want to come back again.
We just completed a run of Jay Huling’s The Church of Diminishing Marginal Returns, and I know beyond the shadow of doubt, that I will be producing more and more of Jay’s plays. This is our 29th season at The Washington County Playhouse, and virtually every night of this production, our guests were telling us that this was the best thing we’ve ever done, that we should do more of Jay’s work, that they’ve never laughed so hard, and that they were going to recommend this production to their friends. All of that says to me: more seats in more seats. With that kind of music to my ears, who needs a steady diet of musicals?
If you’re a theater owner, an artistic and/or managing director, a producer, or on the show committee of a community theater, I cannot recommend this piece highly enough. It sold seats, and it was so much fun to do that the cast didn’t want it to end. I really can’t wait to see what Jay Huling has for us for next season.
Jeff Czerbinski
Washington County Playhouse
Steve Trigg
I had the terrific privilege to be the first actor to play Gordon Hepworth in Jay’s hilarious comedy, The Church Of Diminishing Marginal Returns. Jay creates rich, strong characters that make it easy for an actor to climb into and portray with enthusiasm. His comedy style can be nuanced in some parts of his plays and very in-your-face in others without jarring the audience. My favorite consideration in playing Jay’s character is that I had total freedom to make the character what I wanted to make him and it worked beautifully. Our audiences loved the play!
Steve Trigg
Warren Gerds
Hard Luck Sings the Blues is a fun and engaging experience, 4-plus stars out of 5 – very good. It’s a theatrical stunt. The characters speak of the playwright as their creator – you know, like God is called the creator. Sorry if this sounds weird, but “Hard Luck Sings the Blues” is weird for the sake of spoof and humor. Huling is confident in his audience to figure it all out and trust the experiment. “Hard Luck Sings the Blues” is not the same old same old. Once people clue into it, the play creates a buzz.
Warren Gerds
WFRV-TV and We Are Green Bay
David Foulkes
The Intentional Theatre opened its fourth season with a full production of Jay Huling’s Hard Luck Sings the Blues, to wonderful audience response. As much fun as the cast had in performance, they also enjoyed the time we spent in rehearsals on character and story analysis. The many layers of Mr. Huling’s script and the relationships between the characters afforded us all a memorable lesson in digging deep between the lines to reach the understanding necessary to tell the story properly.
We had such a wonderful time on the whole production, trying the simplest ways to bring the richness and complexities of Mr. Huling’s story to the stage. Having already become familiar with his work Bonjour Raconteur as the closing piece in our 2006 Short Play Festival, it was no surprise that Mr. Huling deftly handles the full-length format as comfortably as the short play, and it was an easy selection upon reading to open our season with Hard Luck Sings The Blues.
David Foulkes
Intentional Theatre
Ron Lhotte
Ron Lhotte
Mary Zuzik Andrechik
Hard Luck Sings the Blues is a charming story about an Everyman who chases the girl of his dreams and ends up with the woman he loves. I am grateful to have played a part in the debut production and enjoyed every moment. It is a wonderful play that is full of laughs and full of heart.
Mary Zuzik Andrechik
The Intentional Theatre
Rob Adams
I want to recommend to you Jay Huling’s one-act comedy, Trilogy For Two. The play won the Pennsylvania Playhouse’s 10th Annual International Playwriting competition. The Playhouse Board of Directors chose the play as our first-place winner. It was a hit with our patrons as well, being voted “Audience Favorite” when the results were tallied after the festival’s final evening of performances.
The Pennsylvania Playhouse has a strong commitment toward new works. We’ve been serving our community for 30 years. And we survive solely on box office revenues. Therefore, choosing winners like Trilogy For Two is of the utmost importance to us.
Trilogy For Two is a proven crowd pleaser, easy to stage, and requires only a small number of characters. I enjoyed directing this play, and I sense the audience enjoyed the roller coaster ride of belly laughs combined with intense character-driven drama.
On behalf of The Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Playhouse, I strongly suggest you read Trilogy For Two. It’s a great show, and it compliments any evening of one-acts. Please give it your full time and consideration.
Rob Adams
Pennsylvania Playhouse
Tiffany M. Luke
It is with great pleasure that I recommend Jay Huling’s one-act comedy ELVIS OF NAZARETH.
ELVIS OF NAZARETH was the First Place winner in the 10th Annual Porter Fleming Literary Competition – sponsored by the Greater Augusta Arts Council. This special writing contest is held in memory of Porter Fleming, a prominent Augusta, Georgia citizen and one of the city’s foremost philanthropists during his lifetime.
Mr. Huling’s one-act spoof is every bit as funny as its title is scandalous. One look at its cast of characters immediately caught our attention. You can’t help but wonder what kind of shenanigans Elvis, Moses, King Solomon, and Jesus will get themselves into.
Its unique plot structure is full of surprises — a wonderful blend of social satire and outrageous humor. It’s truly a multi-dimensional play, teetering constantly between reverence and irreverence.
Perhaps what’s most impressive is the subtle message disguised in the subtext of wit and one-liners. ELVIS OF NAZARETH leaves its audience with something to think about: That maybe there is hope for us all, no matter who we are.
This play is easy to stage and requires only 6 performers.
I recommend that you read ELVIS OF NAZARETH. It would make an entertaining, thought-provoking, mind-bending addition to any evening of one-act plays.
Tiffany M. Luke
Amie Tweit
Jay Huling is one of the warmest, most genuine, sweetest, and all-around great men I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. His plays are really funny, have a great message, and are guaranteed to lift your spirits.
Amie Tweit
Adam Blackstock
I’m an actor who has had the good fortune of performing in two of Jay Huling’s plays. His work is refreshing, imaginative, and a bit wacky in all the right ways. When you’re performing or watching one of his plays, you’re not going to experience some re-hashed idea that has shown up in a dozen other plays. You’re going to be seeing likable characters tell the kind of story that you won’t find anywhere else. He writes in a way that puts little restraint on the production, letting directors and actors run wild with the material. These are the kind of shows that can be produced on any stage and are accessible to all companies, regardless of how big or small the theatre company or budget is. If you want to put something fresh and comedic on your season, a Jay Huling play is certainly the way to go.
Adam Blackstock
Gene Gregory
Jay Huling is a master manipulator of words that bring comedy to a whole new level. I got to play Burt in Jay’s “The Sing Sing Suite” and it’s the most fun I’ve ever had on stage! His style of writing is really like nothing else I have ever experienced. As a performer, you’ll get those “Carol Burnett” moments when you just might break if another cast member wants to turn it up a notch. Let me tell you, even rehearsals were a blast!