Jonathan Carr has directed in professional and academic settings across the Northeast including Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. Prior to joining the faculty at Northeastern University, he taught at Villanova University and directed for the American Repertory Theatre/ Moscow Art Theater School Institute.
As a director at home in many styles, Jonathan loves plays that bring the audience into dark terrain while they are laughing. His taste ranges from new work — including the two world premieres Billy Witch by Gregory S. Moss and The Death of May McAllister by Deirdre O’Connor — to neglected classics like Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth and Calderón’s The Phantom Lady. Among his many productions at Northeastern, he has directed the musicals Company and The Last Five Years; and contemporary plays such as The Antipodes, Middletown, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Clybourne Park, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, and No. 11 (Blue and White). Professionally, he directed David Auburn’s Proof and Neil Simon’s Rumors (People’s Choice Spotlight Award) for the Seacoast Repertory Theatre; and several plays for the Boston Theatre Marathon, including Swans by his colleague Melinda Lopez and Closing Doors by John Minigan.
Jonathan holds an MFA in Directing from Columbia University and a BA in Theatre and Dance from Amherst College. He trained with Anne Bogart, Robert Woodruff, Andrei Serban, Kristin Linklater, and Vjacheslav Dolgachev, among others. His Columbia thesis production of Gombrowicz’s Princess Ivona typified his explorations of strange, dark European plays, which he enjoys to this day.
Jonathan teaches Viewpoints, Directing, Introduction to Acting, Introduction to Theatre, and Improvisation.
Production Highlights
⦁2022 The Antipodes (Annie Baker). Northeastern University, Boston. Studio Theatre
⦁2021 Swans (Melinda Lopez). New 10-minute play. Boston Theatre Marathon. Zoom performance.
⦁2020 Sked Du Al (Ronán Noone). new 10-minute play. Boston Theatre Marathon. Zoom performance.
⦁2019 The Skin of Our Teeth (Thornton Wilder). Northeastern University, Boston. Studio Theatre.
⦁2019 Closing Doors (John Minigan). new 10-minute play. Boston Theatre Marathon. Wimberly Theatre.
⦁2018 Reeling (adapted/compiled by the company from multiple contemporary plays). Workshop production, Northeastern University, Boston. Ryder Theatre Lab.
⦁2017 Middletown (Will Eno). Northeastern University, Boston. Studio Theatre.
⦁2017 A Normal Story (Beirut Balutis), new 10-minute play. Boston Theatre Marathon. Wimberly Theatre.
⦁2016 Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Sarah Ruhl). Northeastern University, Boston. Studio Theatre.
⦁2016 Chuck Roast Toast (Jeni Mahoney), new 10-minute play. Boston Theatre Marathon. Wimberly Theatre.
⦁2015 Clybourne Park (Bruce Norris). Northeastern University, Boston. Studio Theatre.
⦁2014 The Last Five Years (Jason Robert Brown). Northeastern University, Boston. Studio Theatre.
⦁2013 The Phantom Lady (Calderón). Northeastern University, Boston. Studio Theatre.
⦁2012 Company (Stephen Sondheim and George Furth). Northeastern University, Boston. Studio Theatre.
⦁2011 The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Christopher Durang). Northeastern University, Boston. Studio Theatre.
⦁2010 Proof (David Auburn). Seacoast Repertory Theatre, Portsmouth, NH.
⦁2010 Billy Witch (Gregory S. Moss), World Premiere. Northeastern University, Boston. Studio Theatre.
⦁2009 Good Christian Wife (Caroline Prugh), new short play, workshop production. Theatre Offensive, Boston.
⦁2009 Rumors (Neil Simon). Seacoast Repertory Theatre, Portsmouth, NH.
* People’s Choice Spotlight Award winner, “Favorite Play”
⦁2009 No. 11 (Blue and White) (Alexandra Cunningham). Northeastern University, Boston. Studio Theatre.
⦁2008 Largo Desolato (Václav Havel). A.R.T. Institute, Cambridge, MA. Zero Arrow Theatre.
⦁2007 Expats (Heather Lynn MacDonald). A.R.T. Institute, Cambridge, MA. Zero Arrow Theatre.
⦁2007 The Death of May McAllister (Deirdre O’Connor). Northeastern University, Boston. Itty Bitty Theatre.
⦁2006 Tales of the Lost Formicans (Constance Congdon). Northeastern University, Boston. Studio Theatre.
⦁2005 Mayhem (Kelly Stuart). A.R.T. Institute, Cambridge, MA. Zero Arrow Theatre.
⦁2004 The Visit (Friedrich Dürrenmatt). Villanova University, PA.
⦁2004 Fifth of July (Lanford Wilson). Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA.
⦁2003 Audience/Unveiling (Václav Havel). Allens Lane Theater, Philadelphia, PA.
⦁2003 Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) (Ann-Marie MacDonald). Villanova University, PA.
⦁2002 Terminal (Caroline Prugh), new short play. Vital Theatre Company, New Works Festival, New York City.
⦁2001 Angelina (Timothy Braun), new play, reading. Blue Heron Arts Center, New York City.
⦁2000 Son of Nun (Heather Lynn MacDonald), new short play. Filling Station, N.Y. Fringe Festival, Paradise Theater.
⦁2000 The Ladies (Deirdre O’Connor), new play. Company Project, Horace Mann Theater, New York City.
⦁1996 Dog Opera (Constance Congdon), Austin premiere. Runamuck Theatre Company, Austin, TX.
Departments
Theatre
Education
- M.F.A. in Directing,2002,Columbia University School of the Arts, Theater Division, New York, NY
Awards
- 2009 People’s Choice Spotlight Award winner, “Favorite Play” for directing “Rumors” (Neil Simon), at Seacoast Repertory Theatre, Portsmouth, NH.
Professional Experience
- Teaching Professor, 2021-present, Department of Theatre, Northeastern University
- Associate Teaching Professor, 2017-2021,Department of Theatre, Northeastern University
- Assistant Teaching Professor, 2014-2017,Department of Theatre, Northeastern University
- Assistant Academic Specialist, 2013-2014,Department of Theatre, Northeastern University
- Lecturer, 2006-2013,Department of Theatre, Northeastern University
- Part-time Lecturer, 2005-06 (3 semesters),Department of Theatre,Northeastern University
- Adjunct Professor, 2003-04 (4 semesters),Villanova University Theatre Department, Villanova, PA
- Guest Director (2 productions),Villanova University Theatre Department, Villanova, PA
Research Focus
- Directing
- Viewpoints