Love According to John was written by June Hunt and first produced by Teen Time of Edmonton. In 1965, Wally Sczebel became concerned about the children on the streets of Edmonton without wholesome recreational opportunities. He went to depressed areas in the City and gathered up young people to start a club called Teen Time of Edmonton. They began with athletic activities and socials, and as time went on expanded to trail rides, summer camps and retreats, eventually establishing their own facility, Makiwin Lodge, north of Edmonton.

In 1971 Wally asked one of his customers, June Hunt, to organize a musical activity for his club members. He was really expecting some sort of variety show, but June thought it should have a story line. Though Teen Time was not a church group, it had a christian focus, so after some thought June selected text from the gospel according to St. John, because so many characters stand out as individuals in this gospel. She then chose music from Bach to Rock, collected an unlikely orchestra from within Teen Time, and with the Teen Time Rock Band, her own church choir, and a cast of 100 teens began rehearsals in a church gym. The first performance of Love According to John, in 1972, was in the SUB Theatre at the University of Alberta.

From 1973 to 1982 the production evolved with the addition of new music, improved staging and increased awareness of the disciplines of theatre. In 1976 the production moved to Victoria Composite Theatre, and a two-record LP of text and music was produced. (This original recording is still available to collectors.) In 1980 the production moved to the Edmonton Jubilee Auditorium. The 1981 production was taken on tour to the Calgary Jubilee Auditorium. Then in 1983 a very ambitious sequel, Saul of Tarsus , boasting an onstage shipwreck and other special staging was mounted in the Jubilee Auditorium with spectatular effect. Love According to Johnwas once again presented in 1984.

In 1985 the Alberta Lyric Theatre was approached to present a second production of Saul of Tarsus. This was at a time when Teen Time of Edmonton was busy with camp promotions and organization. The Alberta Lyric Theatre readily agreed. The next year the Alberta Lyric Theatre agreed to produce Love According to John and this production has been presented every year since, including a number of additional special performances in Hawrelak Park (1991), on the Edmonton Fringe (1992) and in the Millwoods Chinese Alliance Church (1993). A professional video of Love According to John made by Shaw Cable in the mid 80s has been shown on Cable TV for many years. A second video was made by Videotron under 'contract' to the Alberta Lyric Theatre in 1992. This was produced for limited distribution to members.

For several years now emphasis has been placed on the development of skills and abilities in both our on-stage and our off stage members, such that we now offer in excess of fifteen different workshops which are attended by literally hundreds of individuals. This ambitious program has resulted in steady improvement in the skills of our actors, singers, dancers and stage crew, and has significantly raised the level of production for Love According to John.

The Alberta Lyric Theatre has not limited itself to Love According to John, and has in fact presented other musical dramas directed by June Hunt, with musical direction by Arthur Querengesser, such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (1985) and Artaban: The Other Wiseman (1990, 1991, 1992). Christmas Chorales organized by June Hunt and directed by Arthur Querengesser have been toured to more than 15 venues each year since 1993. Ron Johnston, assisted by Heather Johnston, has directed and produced more than a dozen different musicals with 'TEENS' since 1982. These have been presented on the Edmonton Fringe, in Old Strathcona Market, in Walterdale Theatre, in the Chinook Theatre, in Edmonton Parks, in Ardrossan United Church and in the Kaasa Theatre (Jubilee Auditorium).