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JOSH CARPENTER
(AEA) Welcome!
After many years of working in theatre and film on the East Coast, I returned to Chicago in 2019. Thanks for checking out my site! Download a copy of my headshot by clicking here, and a copy of my resume by clicking here. |
Comedy Reel |
Dramatic Reel |
Current Work: Mysterious Ways at Naked Angels, November 4th, 2025
My one-act play Mysterious Ways will be part of the evening of readings at Naked Angels Chicago's Tuesdays@9 on November 4th.
For more information, please visit the Naked Angles site here.
For more information, please visit the Naked Angles site here.
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PressRomeo and Juliet
"Capulet comes off as the most dangerous figure here. His attempt to force Juliet into an unwanted marriage with Paris (Jason Pavlovich) is a brutal scene... When the guilt-stricken Capulet makes peace with his enemy, Montague (Belinda Bremner), his mournful description of the dead couple — 'Poor sacrifices of our enmity!'— leaves a powerful final impression." - Chicago Tribune
The Mandrake
Great Expectations
"Josh Carpenter, the appealing actor who gives a vivid depiction of Dickens' character Pip... does a commanding job playing the role." - Newsworks
"A perfect combination of passion, pride, storytelling, and imagination... Josh Carpenter is a pleasure to watch; he brings wonder, innocence, and new life to his Pip." - Phindie Mourning Becomes Electra
"As Orin, Josh Carpenter kept you wondering if he was insane or facing a higher reality."
- Philadelphia Inquirer "Josh Carpenter devolves from sanity to a murderous, guilt-wracked conniver in a memorable performance that's alternately menacing and affecting." - Newsworks "Hawkinson, Dardaris and Carpenter in particular are incredibly watchable, taking O’Neill’s deeply sick characters and exploiting all their cryptic possibilities." - Phindie Hamlet
"There's strong work throughout, especially from Josh Carpenter in the title role... This Hamlet is no slacker—especially when he opens his mouth and pierces the air with violent torrents of words." - Talkin' Broadway
"Josh Carpenter (Hamlet, in fighting form) has put in the work and labored over imparting the messages of the soliloquies, and it shows... This Melancholy Dane has lots of spark, and Carpenter handles the comedy exceptionally well." - Curtain Up She Stoops to Conquer
"Carpenter’s Marlow, handsome, and alternately chest-out pompous or knock-kneed impotent, makes a fine match for his intended, Sonja Field’s charming Kate Hardcastle." - Philadelphia Inquirer
"Josh Carpenter as the dashing yet bashful Charles Marlow is both convincing and appealing. His extensive experience with classics is evident in his command of the stage." - Stage Magazine "Carpenter and Fredrick's sparkling performances as gentlemen Marlowe and Hastings." - City Paper The Taming of the Shrew
"A veritable master class of comedic acting... When an ensemble like this presents one of W.S.'s works, it is so clear and topical that you walk out of the theatre thinking in the Bard's language, much like you leave a musical humming a catchy tune... Josh Carpenter's Petruchio is a delight to watch... The pair (with Ambien Mitchell as Kate) is extremely strong throughout." - Broadway World
PEER nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role The 39 Steps
"There is no doubt that this is one of the best pieces of theatre in the Atlanta-Metro area this year. Each actor is impressively versatile, absurd, and, honestly, perfect." - Broadway World Othello
"Carpenter’s charm invigorates every scene; one moment pliant and self-deprecating, in the next he clamors with murderous bombast and self-destructive ambition." - The Philadelphia Inquirer
"Carpenter is smiling and charming toward his superiors, but when he delivers Iago's soliloquies, he takes chilling pleasure in spitting out the poisonous words... This is a vivid, compelling Othello with a cast that does justice to Shakespeare's words and a staging that's full of swagger and menace." - Talkin' Broadway The Seagull
"The production's best moments come from the trio at its center, who bring a convincing naturalism to their story... Carpenter's sullen Trigorin is both romantic and dangerous."
- Talkin' Broadway The Venetian Twins
"Josh Carpenter plays both twins and shows off remarkable range... No matter who he's playing, he's completely winning." -Talkin' Broadway "As Zanetto, Carpenter hobbles bowlegged across the stage, speaks with a thick drawl, and yet draws genuine sympathy. His Tonino dashes into action, elicits admiration, and elocutes verse with ease." -The Philadelphia Inquirer The Merchant of Venice
"...perfectly clean-cut, strong-voiced Josh Carpenter" -The Philadelphia Inquirer "Burns' production depicts a Shylock who is tormented by bigots like Antonio (the excellent Josh Carpenter), the merchant of the play's title." -Talkin' Broadway The Importance of Being Earnest
"The two couples excel in bringing Wilde's words to life. Carpenter and Blouch amiably ramble through diatribes on muffin eating, marriage and clever people." - Mt. Airy Patch
Henry V
"Dashing as he is commanding, Carpenter plays the young king with intense vigor and dedicated passion... Carpenter does a splendid job of navigating the uncertain waters of self-realization
and the even more uncertain perils of foreign war." -Stage Magazine "(A) powerful performance by Josh Carpenter in the title role. With a commanding presence... Carpenter shows just why Henry earns the respect of his men." -Talkin Broadway "...forceful without being overwrought. He has a beautiful speaking voice..." - The Philadelphia Inquirer Romeo and Juliet
"Romeo (is) played with convincing sincerity by Josh Carpenter...Carpenter‘s Romeo and Brandi Rhome’s Juliet well evoke the fervor and eagerness of adolescent attraction. The pair are deliriously happy, goofy even, without losing the poetry."
-The Berkshire Review Hamlet
"Josh Carpenter is an excellent Laertes, devoted to his sister Ophelia while
he lovingly mocks their father, Polonius. Carpenter shines in the climactic and deadly confrontation with Hamlet." -Perpetual Folly Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
"There is a terrific performance by Josh Carpenter as Alfred, a member of the troupe who takes on female roles and, or so it is implied, may offer other services to help the actors make ends meet. Carpenter—reluctant one instant, eager the next—is hilarious." -Perpetual Folly
"Josh Carpenter reprising his role as the tragedian (Alfred) performing the Player Queen proved a great comic foil with a performance of lithe physicality." -Shakespearences The Taming of the Shrew
"Exceptionally strong individual performances,
most notably Josh Carpenter’s Petruchio and Scot Carson’s three-role flexibility." -C-Ville Weekly "Everyone is terrific in this production, especially the key players: Josh Carpenter as Petruchio and Ginna Hoben as Katherina make a great pair and their mercurial, lightning-speed romance was believable." -Perpetual Folly |
Wildlife
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In Wildlife.I play Pelham Fitzwater -- womanizer, master of misadventure, and Young Adult fiction writer -- who goes with his recently divorced friend to his family's lakehouse with the intention of destroying it before he loses it to his ex-wife. More information available at the Wildlife facebook page. |
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