Charles Carr

Charles Carr is a multiple award-winning, nationally published author (Macmillan, St. Martin's Press, Heartland, Eldridge). His op-ed newspaper column, Southpaw, is the recipient of back-to-back Press Club awards and has appeared across the country and in college textbooks including America Now (Macmillan), The American Writer (St. Martin's Press), and Writer/Thinker/Maker 2e (Bedford).

Charles has written thousands of newspaper articles, magazine stories, and columns for the San Diego Union-Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, The Orange County Register, The Reader, San Diego Magazine, The Californian, and many more.

Carr is author of What a World, a collection of vignettes and award-winning newspaper columns chronicling twenty years in the San Diego back country.

Carr is also a noted television producer/director with documentaries currently airing and/or in production on Cox Cable and elsewhere.

Carr's background in the world of journalism has created an excellent basis for penning scripts and stage plays, most of which have a classical literature, historical, or true crime footing. His theatrical works have been produced at prestigious venues across the nation and attended by thousands. Works include Mark Twain's A Christmas Carol; All the Time in the World; Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Angels; Hope Springs, Eternal; Mr. Scrooge & Mr. Dickens; and The Dangerous Christmas.

Carr's classic thriller, Passage Into Fear, published nationally by Eldridge Plays and Musicals (Balboa Park production pictured), comes Dec. 2023 to the California Center for the Arts Escondido. Tickets on sale now!

A decade ago, Charles, his wife Marsi Carr, and others looking for ways to help organizations struggling in difficult economic times founded Art Animates Life, a CA incorporated, federally tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Art Animates Life along with its award-winning theatrical company, North County Players, have raised tens-of-thousands of dollars for San Diego area charities including a disaster relief agency, arts nonprofits, a municipal art gallery, veterans' relief funds, a community outreach center, a historical society, several struggling community theaters, and others. Thousands have attended North County Players events and productions.

Art Animates Life's first full-length feature film, Old Dogs, Dirty Tricks, written and directed by Charles Carr, stars Lolly Boroff and Marsi Carr with Elizabeth Toker, Charlie DeNatale, Neha Curtiss, Tony Flores, Christopher Olson, Gabriella Valesco, Don Martin, Alex Caratti, Austin Williams, Pamela Wise, Dan Cheatham, and Mickey Faerch. Watch the trailer.

A professional musician for more than 20 years, Carr's playing and arranging have been featured on many recordings. He has taken top honors in San Diego Songwriter's Guild competitions for his original musical compositions "Baby's First Words" and "The Twelve Months of Christmas."

Since its inception Carr has produced the Fallbrook International Film Festival's red carpet event and panel discussions.

Charles enjoys speaking from time-to-time to schools and organizations about his eclectic life in the arts and volunteers at his hometown high school as a journalism teacher and student adviser.