John Cariani

John Cariani is a Tony Award nominated actor and an accomplished playwright. As an actor, he is best known for his roles on NBC's "Law & Order" (as Forensics Tech Beck)," on CBS' "Numbers" (as Professor Otto Bahnoff), and on IFC's "The Onion News Network" (as reporter Michael Falk). Notable film work includes "Showtime" (with Robert De Niro), "Scotland, PA" (with Christopher Walken), and "Elephant Sighs" (with Ed Asner). On stage, he is best known for his work n Broadway. He made his Broadway debut in the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof and received an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of Motel the Tailor. He originated the role of Nigel Bottom in the Broadway hit, Something Rotten! and received an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for his performance. He most recently appeared as Itzik in the The Band's Visit, winner of the 2018 Tony Award for Best Musical. As a playwright, he is best known for his first play, Almost, Maine, which premiered at Portland Stage Company in 2004 and became the most successful play in the company's history. Almost, Maine opened Off-Broadway in 2006 and has since become one of the most popular plays in the United States with nearly nearly 5000 productions to date. Almost, Maine is currently the most frequently produced play in North American high schools topping perennial favorites A Midsummer Night's Dream, You Can't Take It with You, and Our Town. It has also received over twenty international productions and has been translated into over a dozen languages. In 2014, Transport Group revived Almost, Maine Off-Broadway to critical acclaim. The Advocate named the production to its "Best Theatre of 2014" list, and Lincoln Center recorded the production for its Theater on Film and Tape archives. Almost, Maine is published by Dramatists Play Service and is featured in Smith and Kraus' New Playwrights: Best Plays of 2006. Cariani recently inked a deal with Macmillan imprint Feiwel and Friends to develop Almost, Maine into a young adult novel. His other plays include Last Gas and LOVE/SICK both of which are newly published by Dramatists Play Service and have had several professional productions across the country and around the world. His newest play, cul-de-sac, is in development. Originally from Presque Isle, Maine, John is a graduate of Amherst College. He lives in New York City.