Joseph Dougherty's play "Chester Bailey" made its world premiere at A.C.T. in San Francisco, where it was honored with the Outstanding World Premiere Play and Outstanding Production of a Play awards by the TBA Awards. Following its success, the play was subsequently produced at The Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
Dougherty's play "Digby" earned him nominations for the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards after its production by Manhattan Theatre Club. Additionally, he wrote the libretto for the Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of "My Favorite Year," which was presented at Lincoln Center.
As a television writer and director, Dougherty won an Emmy and Humanitas Prize for his work on the groundbreaking series "thirtysomething." He has also written several movies for HBO, including the remake of "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman," directed by Christopher Guest, and the Emmy-winning "Cast A Deadly Spell," which was nominated for a Ray Bradbury Award by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Dougherty has contributed as a writer and director to various television series, including "Judging Amy," "Once and Again," and "Saving Grace." He was also a writer, director, and executive producer on the hit series "Pretty Little Liars," co-created the spin-off series "Ravenswood," and helped launch "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists."
In addition to his television work, Dougherty is a published author, with books including "Comfort and Joi," "Trunk Piece," "Psychopomp," and "The Persistence of Phosphors." His book "The Persistence of Phosphors" received an AfterEllen Visibility Award as Best Book of 2013.
