{{Short description|American playwright and screenwriter}} {{Infobox person | name = Courtney Baron | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|31|2003|Oct|26}}<ref name=NYT.Wedding /> | birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S. | education = University of Texas, Austin {{small|(BA)}}<br>Columbia University {{small|(MFA)}} | occupation = playwright, screenwriter | spouse = Blair Singer | father = Fred Baron | website = }}
'''Courtney Baron''' (born 1971/1972)<ref name=NYT.Wedding>{{cite news |last= |first= |title=Weddings/Celebrations: Courtney Baron, Blair Singer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/26/style/weddings-celebrations-courtney-baron-blair-singer.html |work=The New York Times |date=October 26, 2003 |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref> is an American playwright and screenwriter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Courtney Baron |url=https://theatricalindex.com/person/courtney-baron |website=Theatrical Index |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref> Her plays include ''A Very Common Procedure'' (MCC Theater), ''Earlstreetman'' (New York Theatre Workshop), ''Eat Your Heart Out'' (Actors Theatre of Louisville), ''Consumption'' (Guthrie Theater), ''Morbidity & Mortality'' (Magic Theatre), ''Here I Lie'' (59E59 Theaters), and ''When It's You'' (Keen Company).<ref name=Columbia>{{cite web |title=Courtney Baron |url=https://arts.columbia.edu/profiles/courtney-baron |website=Columbia University School of the Arts |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>
Barron's plays are published by Concord Theatricals. She has been a finalist for the Princess Grace Award and the American Theatre Critics Association's Osborn Award. She currently teaches on the playwriting faculty of Columbia University School of the Arts.<ref name=Concord>{{cite web |title=Courtney Baron |url=https://www.concordtheatricals.com/a/5565/courtney-baron |website=Concord Theatricals |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Berman was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, to Wendy Baron, an architect with Morrison Seifert, and Fred Baron, an attorney and founding partner of Baron & Budd, P.C. Her stepmother is noted attorney Lisa Blue Baron.<ref name=NYT.Wedding /><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |title=Paid Notice: Deaths BARON, FREDERICK MARTIN |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9406EED8133AF932A35752C1A96E9C8B63.html |work=The New York Times |date=November 21, 1999 |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>
Baron earned a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Austin. She subsequently earned an M.F.A. in Playwriting from Columbia University in 1998.<ref name=NYT.Wedding />
==Career== ===''Morbidity & Mortality''=== Bron's play ''Morbidity & Mortality'' was developed by the Cherry Lane Theatre's Mentor Project in April 2005. Mentored by David Auburn and directed by Peter DuBois, the cast featured Tasha Lawrence, Greg McFadden, and Maulik Pancholy. The creative team included Regina Garcia (sets), Rebecca Bernstein (costumes), Pat Dignan (lights), and Bart Fasbender (original music & sound). ''Morbidity & Mortality'' subsequently had its world premiere at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco from February 26 through April 9, 2006, produced in association with WP Theater. Directed by Loretta Greco, the cast featured Sasha Eden, Jonathan Leveck, and Hari Dhillon.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hurwitt |first=Robert |title=New onstage |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/new-onstage-2503621.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>
===''A Very Common Procedure''=== Baron's play ''A Very Common Procedure'' was produced Off-Broadway by MCC Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre from January 31 through March 10, 2007. Directed by Michael Greif, the cast featured Amir Arison, Lynn Collins, and Stephen Kunken. The creative team included Robin Vest (sets), Miranda Hoffman (costumes), Tyler Micoleau (lights), and Fabian Obispo (original music & sound).<ref>{{cite news |last=Isherwood |first=Charles |title=A Very Common Procedure |url=https://variety.com/2007/legit/reviews/a-very-common-procedure-1200510289/ |work=Variety |date=June 25, 2007 |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref> For his work in the production, Kunken was nominated for the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Drama League 2007 Nominations |url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/drama-legue-2007-nominations |website=New York Theatre Guide |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>
===''Here I Lie''=== Baron's play ''Here I Lie'' was produced Off-Broadway by 59E59 Theaters as part of their annual Summer Shorts Series, running from July 19 to August 31, 2019. Directed by Maria Mileaf, the cast featured Libe Barer and Robbie Tann. The creative team included Rebecca Lord-Surratt (sets), Amy Sutton (costumes), Greg MacPherson (lights), Nick Moore (original music & sound), Joshua Langman (projections), and Jenna Snyder (properties).<ref>{{cite web |last=Wild |first=Stephi |title=BWW Review: SUMMER SHORTS at 59E59 Theaters is an Engaging Seasonal Theatrical Event |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/BWW-Review-SUMMER-SHORTS-at-59E59-Theaters-is-an-Engaging-Seasonal-Theatrical-Event-20190731 |website=BroadwayWorld |date=July 31, 2019 |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>
Baron's plays have been developed by the Royal Court Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Atlantic Theater Company, and Primary Stages, among others.<ref name=Concord />
On television, Baron was a staff writer and executive producer for the romance/comedy drama series ''Almost There'' on the Audience network starring Steven Pasquale. The program ran for one 10-episode season in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last=Paulson |first=Michael |title=Playwrights Are Finding Television Money Helps Pay the Bills |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/23/theater/playwrights-are-finding-television-money-helps-pay-the-bills.html |work=The New York Times |date=December 23, 2019 |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |title=Steven Pasquale Cast in 'Almost There' Comedy Series |url=https://deadline.com/2015/04/steven-pasquale-cast-almost-there-comedy-series-directv-1201410061/ |website=Deadline |date=April 13, 2015 |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hetrick |first=Adam |title=Steven Pasquale and Christopher Fitzgerald Land Roles in New Comedy Series "Almost There" |url=https://playbill.com/article/steven-pasquale-and-christopher-fitzgerald-land-roles-in-new-comedy-series-almost-there-com-346818 |website=Playbill |date=April 13, 2015 |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>
Since 2019, Baron has taught in the Graduate Playwriting Program at Columbia University School of the Arts. She previously served as an adjunct professor at New York University, The New School, and Stony Brook University.<ref name=Columbia />
==Reception== Baron's short play "The Blue Room" was a co-winner of the Heideman Award at Actors Theatre of Louisville in 1999, was presented in “Life Under 30” at the Humana Festival of New American Plays, and was nominated for the American Theatre Critics Association's Osborn Award. It has been published in numerous anthologies.<ref name=Columbia /> She is the recipient of an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation commission from Manhattan Theatre Club.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Juliana-Nash-Nell-Benjamin-Nathan-Jackson-Branden-Jacobs-Jenkins-Greg-Pierce-and-More-Among-MTCs-Alfred-P-Sloan-Commissions-20141021 |title=Juliana Nash, Nell Benjamin, Nathan Jackson, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Greg Pierce and More Among MTC's Alfred P. Sloan Commissions |website=BroadwayWorld |date=October 21, 2014 |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>
''The San Francisco Chronicle'', in reviewing ''Morbidity & Mortality'' for the 2006 Magic Theatre production, called the play "Smart, modern, disarmingly funny and deeply affecting."<ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |title=Smart and affecting 'Morbidity' deals with life, death |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Smart-and-affecting-Morbidity-deals-with-2539940.php |work=SFGate |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>
''The New York Times'', in reviewing her play ''Here I Lie'' for the 2019 59E59 Theaters Summer Shorts Series, noted
{{Blockquote |text=''Here I Lie'', a strange and strangely charming two-hander by Courtney Baron ends the program on a fizzy high — which seems like it ought not to be possible in a play whose twin strands concern Maris (Libe Barer), a young editor faking a fatal illness, and Joseph (Robbie Tann), a nurse whose own arcane symptoms are not what they appear. But such is the magic of Maria Mileaf’s impeccable production that warmth and pleasure find an amiable coexistence with determined self-destruction."<ref>{{cite news |last=Green |first=Jesse |title='Summer Shorts' Series Review |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/theater/summer-shorts-series-a-review.html |work=The New York Times |date=July 30, 2019 |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref> }}
==Personal life== In 2003, Baron married Blair Gilbert Singer, and Emmy Award-nominated screenwriter and television producer.<ref>{{cite news |last=Solomon |first=Dan |title=Countdown to Bliss |url=https://observer.com/2002/11/countdown-to-bliss-138/ |work=The New York Observer |date=November 4, 2002 |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Blair Singer |url=https://arts.columbia.edu/profiles/blair-singer |website=Columbia University School of the Arts |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>
==Plays== Her plays are published by Concord Theatricals' various imprints, including Samuel French, Inc., Dramatists Play Service, and Playscripts, Inc.<ref name=Concord /><ref>{{cite web |title=Courtney Baron |url=https://www.dramaticpublishing.com/authors/profile/view/url/courtney-baron |website=Dramatic Publishing |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>
*''Earlstreetman'' (New York Theatre Workshop, 2003)<ref name=NYT.Wedding /> *''Morbidity & Mortality'' (Magic Theatre & WP Theater, 2006)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/regional/sanfran/s763.html |title=Regional Review: San Francisco |website=Talkin' Broadway |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref> * ''A Very Common Procedure'' (MCC Theater, 2007)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://playbill.com/article/courtney-barons-a-very-common-procedure-begins-off-broadway-run-com-138096 |title=Courtney Baron's ''A Very Common Procedure'' Begins Off-Broadway Run |website=Playbill |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref> *''Consumption'' (Guthrie Theater, 2008)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/100338/consumption |title=Consumption |website=Concord Theatricals |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref> *''Eat Your Heart Out'' (Actors Theatre of Louisville, 2012)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://playbill.com/article/a-letter-from-louisville-an-overview-of-the-humana-festival-of-new-american-plays-where-voices-bloom-every-spring-com-189067 |title=A Letter from Louisville: An Overview of the Humana Festival of New American Plays, Where Voices Bloom Every Spring |website=Playbill |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref> *''When It's You'' (Keen Company, 2017)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.keencompany.org/whenitsyou |title=When It's You |website=Keen Company |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref> *''Here I Lie'' (59E59 Theaters, 2019)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.59e59.org/shows/show-detail/summer-shorts-2019-series-a/ |title=Summer Shorts 2019: Series A |website=59E59 Theaters |access-date=April 15, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Baron, Courtney}} Category:20th-century American dramatists and playwrights Category:Living people Category:1970s births Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Writers from Dallas Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Texas