Philip James, 'P.J.' Barry is an American playwright, director, and actor, known mainly for his plays, most notably Broadway’s The Octette Bridge Club (Music Box Theatre). His Off-Broadway works include Down By the Ocean, A Distance from Calcutta, and After the Dancing in Jericho (York Theatre) and Heritage (Lucille Lortel Theatre).

His work has been performed throughout the United States, and internationally. Previously the Artistic Director of the Hudson Guild Theatre in New York, Barry is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America. His plays include And Fat Freddy's Blues, recipient of the HBO Award, Baby Grand, Bad Axe, Blow the House Down, Brownsville Raid 1916, Dagger, The Devil Has A Wooden Leg, Gannon, Get Your Own Apple, Getting the Dagger, Getting the Gold, Jump the Train at Riverpoint, Light Me a Candle, Reasonable Circulation, She Played Good Piano, and Toast and Jelly.