Other works

(unknown dates) At several "Dark Shadows" conventions Karlen performed in various skits and plays, including two non-DS productions, the two-character one-act play "Love", and a revival of "The House", an old Art Wallace teleplay which was an early plot source for DS. In the latter, ironically, he played the sinister character, "Walt" later revised for DS as "Jason", which was played on DS by his other great friend, the late Dennis Patrick. He also joined former castmates in reviving their old DS roles for a live, "reader's theater"-style performance of a DS "sequel" entitled "Return to Collinwood", which was afterward recorded on CD as an audio play for sale.

(1959) Stage Play: Sweet Bird of Youth. Drama. Written by Tennessee Williams. Incidental music by Paul Bowles. Scenic Design by Jo Mielziner. Costume Design by Anna Hill Johnstone. Lighting Design by Jo Mielziner. Costumes for Miss Page created by Theoni Vachlioti Aldredge. Assistant Scenic Design: Hugh Hardy. Associate Designer to Mr. Mielziner: John Harvey. Directed by Elia Kazan. Martin Beck Theatre: 10 Mar 1959- 30 Jan 1960 (375 performances). Cast: Sidney Blackmer (as "Boss Finley"), Paul Newman (as "Chance Wayne"), Geraldine Page (as "Princess Kosmonopolis"), Martine Bartlett, Kenneth Blake, Hilda Brawner, Bruce Dern (as "Stuff"), Duke Farley, Ron Harper, Diana Hyland (as "Heavenly Finney"), James Jeter, Monica May, Charles McDaniel, John Napier, Logan Ramsey, Patricia Ripley, Madeleine Sherwood, Glenn Stensel, Earl Sydnor, Rip Torn (as "Tom Junior"), Charles Tyner, Milton J. Williams. Replacement actors: Jack Betts (as "Page"), Norman Burton (as "Bud"), Duke Farley (as "Hatcher"), John Karlen (as "Tom Junior"), Kip McArdle (as "Miss Lucy"), Anne Ramsey (as "Maid"), Robert Readick (as "Tom Junior"), Hack Rightor (as "Scotty"), Patricia Sales (as "Violet/Maid"), Glenn Stensel (as "Stuff"), Rip Torn (as "Chance Wayne"). Produced by Cheryl Crawford. Note: Nominated for Tony Award (Best Direction + 2 others; no wins).

(Summer 1965) He acted in John Osborne's stage adaptation of Henry Fielding's novel, "Tom Jones," in a Cherry County Playhouse production under the Dome at the Park Palace Hotel in Travers City, Michigan. Ruth Bailey was founder and artistic director.