ABOUT HARTWELL
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As an award-winning and internationally produced playwright, Hartwell is represented by Abrams Artists Agency in NY. Contrived Ending (Ovation Award and Henry Award nominees) earned feature film and Off-Broadway contracts with Starry Night Entertainment. The Rank and the Bloodrush was a finalist for The O’Neill Festival’s New Play Conference and won second place at the Bottletree One Act Play Competition in Kingston, Ontario. A Different Client was produced in Auckland, NZ; Melbourne and Sydney, AU; and Buffalo NY. Hartwell's play Resolutions had its world premiere in December 2017 at Edge Theatre Company. His Queen of Conspiracy was commissioned by and premiered at Miners Alley Playhouse, and was named "Best Play by a Local Playwright" in Westword's Best Work of 2019.
Hartwell was a co-writer for Buntport Theater’s monthly family-friendly shows, Trunks and Duck Duck Dupe. He has written plays for Curious Theatre Company’s “Denver Stories” since 2005—including Riding on a River of Beer: The Life and Times of the Hon. John Hickenlooper. He has been an instructor for young playwrights with Curious New Voices since 2008 and with The Denver Center for Performing Arts since 2014.
Hartwell recently directed Grounded by George Brant and Ghost-Writer (Henry nominee) by Michael Hollinger for BETC, The Motherfucker With the Hat by Stephen Adly Guirgis and Casa Valentina by Harvey Fierstein for The Edge Theatre Company, Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph for Passage Theatre Company, and HIR by Taylor Mac for Miners Alley Playhouse.
Awards
Best of Westword 2004 Best Character
in a New Play Pam Lynch in "Reaching for Comfort"
by Josh Hartwell more
Official Selection Playwrights Showcase of the
Western Region, Arvada Center, CO 2005
"Bull Baiter" by Josh Hartwell
Official Selection Mid America Theatre Conference; Minneapolis, MN 2006 "Bull Baiter" by Josh Hartwell
Official Selection Venture Theatre 12th Annual One-Act Play Festival: Billings, MT 2007 "Bull Baiter" by Josh Hartwell
Winner Rocky Mountain Theatre Association New Play Contest, Helena, MT 2005, "Nothing but Skin" by Josh Hartwell
Best of Westword 2007 Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Josh Hartwell as Tesman in "Hedda Gabler," Paragon Theatre Company more
O'Neill Festival Finalist Waterford, CT 2011 "The Rank and the Bloodrush" by Josh Hartwell
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Second Place Bottletree One Act Play Competition, Kingston, ON 2011 "The Rank and the Bloodrush" by Josh Hartwell more
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Denver Post Ovation Award 2011 Best Actor in a Comic Role Josh Hartwell as Karl/Steve in "Clybourne Park," Curious Theatre Company more
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Henry Award Nominee 2013 Outstanding Direction of a Play "Ghost-Writer" by Michael Hollinger, directed by Josh Hartwell, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company more
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Official selection Short + Sweet Festival; Auckland, NZ 2013 "A Different Client" by Josh Hartwell
Official selection Short + Sweet Festival; Sydney, AU 2013 "A Different Client" by Josh Hartwell
Official selection Short + Sweet Festival; Melbourne, AU 2013 "A Different Client" by Josh Hartwell
Official Selection BUA Takes 10, 2013 "A Different Client"
Best of Westword 2015 ”Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy” Josh Hartwell as Alan in "This," Boulder Ensemble (BETC) more
Best of Westword 2015 Best Place for Family Theater Buntport Theater, "Duck Duck Dupe" (Co-Writer for Ongoing Family-Aimed Series) more
Edgy Award Winner 2016 Outstanding Director "Casa Valentina" by Harvey Fierstein, directed by Josh Hartwell, The Edge Theatre Company
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Edgy Award Winner 2017 Outstanding Director "Bad Jews" by Joshua Harmon, directed by Josh Hartwell, The Edge Theatre Company
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True West Award 2017 True West Award more
Henry Award Nominee 2018 Outstanding New Play "A Christmas Carol" by Josh Hartwell, Miners Alley Playhouse
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Denver Theater Best Work in 2019 Westword, Best Play By a Local Playwright "Queen of Conspiracy" by Josh Hartwell, Miners Alley Playhouse more
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