Bridget Carpenter (b. New York City) is a television writer and playwright.
She received an M.F.A. from Brown University in 1995, and has taught playwriting in grammar school, high school, colleges (such as Carleton College), and prisons. Her plays have been produced across the country, at venues including Arena Stage, Washington, D.C., the Los Angeles Theatre Center, and La Mama ETC, New York. She was a playwright-in-residence at the Royal National Theatre in London. She is working on new play commissions from South Coast Repertory and the Mark Taper Forum.
She lives in Los Angeles.
She has written the book for a musical version of the book (and films) Freaky Friday. The musical premiered in October 2016 at the Signature Theatre. Followed by a run from January to March 2017 at the La Jolla Playhouse under the direction of Christopher Ashley.
She was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for Best New Series at the February 2007 ceremony, for her work on the first season of Friday Night Lights. She was nominated for the WGA Award for Best Dramatic Series the following year at the February 2008 ceremony, for her work on the second season of Friday Night Lights. Carpenter was nominated for Best Dramatic Series a second time at the February 2009 ceremony for her work on the third season of Friday Night Lights. She was nominated for the WGA Award for Best Drama Series for the third consecutive year at the February 2010 ceremony for her work on the fourth season.