Jonathan Caren

Jonathan Caren is an American playwright, producer, and TV writer.

He co-executive produced Hulu's We Were the Lucky Ones and Netflix 's upcoming series Boots . ^[1]

He was a member of the Primary Stages Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group, a MacDowell Colony Fellow, a Dramatist Guild Fellow, a winner of New York Stage and Film Founder's Award, a fellowship recipient of SPACE at Ryder Farm, a two-time Lecomte du Nouy award winner, and a recipient of the Theater Publicus Prize for Dramatic Fiction. Additionally, he was a finalist for the Laurents/Hatcher Award and a nominee for the Otis Guerney New American Playwright's Award. He was also a member of Center Theatre Group's L.A. Writer's Workshop. ^[2]

His play The Morning The Sun Fell Down was adapted into a feature ^[3] by Choice Films, starring Danny Pudi.

He is a graduate of Juilliard’s Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program and Vassar College, where he studied mythology and religion.

List of Works

Theatre

• Catch the Fish (New York International Fringe Festival 2007)
  • Recipient of the Outstanding Play Award ^[4]
• The Morning the Sun Fell Down (Manhattan Theatre Club "7@7" Series 2013) ^[5]
• The Venerable Raman Gupta (New Group 2014 New Works Lab)
  • Sundance Lab 2013 Finalist
• Need to Know (Colt Coeur Play Hotel 2015, Rogue Machine 2015) ^{[6] [7]}
  • Los Angeles Times Critic's Pick ^[8]
• Four Woke Baes (Edinburgh Festival 2019) [9]
• Canyon (Center Theatre Group) ^{[10] [11]}
• The Recommendation (IAMA 2014, The Flea 2013, Old Globe 2012) ^{[12] [13] [14]}
  • Recipient of Craig Noel Award "Best New Play" 2012 ^[15]
  • Nominated for 2019 Jeff Theatre Award ^[16]
  • Recipient of 2014 Ovation Award for Outstanding Play ^[17]
  • Nominated for 23rd Annual NAACP Theatre Awards ^[18]

Television

Year	Titles	Role(s)	Notes
2009	Melrose Place	Writer	Episode 1x07: "Windsor” (Written By)
2017	Gypsy	Executive Story Editor	10 episodes; Episode 1x04: “309” (Credited Story By, Teleplay By) Episode 1x08 “Marfa” (Credited Written By)
2018	A Million Little Things	Producer	Episode 1x09: “Perspective” (Written by)
2020-2021	The Sinner	Co-Executive Producer	16 Episodes; Episode 3x04: “Part IV” (Written by) Episode 4x02: “Part II” (Written by)
2024	We Were the Lucky Ones	Co-Executive Producer	8 episodes; Episode 1x05: “Ilha Das Flores” (Written by)
2025	Boots	Co-Executive Producer	8 episodes; Episode 1x02: "The Buddy System" (Written by)

References

1. "Boots", Writers Guild of America , retrieved 23 September 2025
2. "L.A. Writers' Workshop". Center Theatre Group. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
3. "AFTER THE SUN FELL OFFICIAL WEBSITE". AFTER THE SUN FELL OFFICIAL WEBSITE. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
4. Hetrick, Adam (27 August 2007). "I Dig Doug, Bash'd, Williamsburg! Among Fringe Fest's Overall Excellence Winners". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
5. Jones, Kenneth (12 February 2023). "MTC's "7@7" Reading Series Spotlights Works By Greg Pierce, Ethan Lipton, Ben Ockent, Sharon Kenny and More". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
6. Peterson, Tyler. "Michael Esper, Katya Campbell & Michael Cyril Creighton Set for Colt Coeur's Reading of NEED TO KNOW". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
7. BWW News Desk. "Rogue Machine to Open World Premiere of Jonathan Caren's NEED TO KNOW, 10/25". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
8. Los Angeles Times Staff. "Critics Picks: Critics' Picks: Jan 22 - Jan 28, 2016 - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
9. Guide, British Comedy. "Four Woke Baes". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
10. BWW News Desk. "Iama Theatre Company presents Workshop Production of THE HOUSE THAT JAKE BUILT". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
11. Gray, Margaret (8 March 2019). "Review: An L.A. homeowner, his handyman and the 'Canyon' that opens up in between". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
12. "The Recommendation". IAMA Theatre Company. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
13. "The Recommendation". theaterengine.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
14. "Theater review: 'The Recommendation' at the Old Globe". LA Times. February 2012. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
15. "2012 Awards". The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
16. "51st Equity Jeff Award Nominations are out! – AROUND THE TOWN CHICAGO" . Retrieved 24 June 2024.
17. Riley, Jenelle (3 November 2014). "2014 Ovation Award Winners Announced". Variety. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
18. "23rd Annual NAACP Theatre Awards Announces Nominations | NAACP Theatre Awards". 30 April 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2024.