Harrison David Rivers
he, him, his
Affiliated Writer
Saint Paul, MN
Biography

Harrison David Rivers is the winner of the 2018 Relentless Award for THE BANDAGED PLACE. His other plays include WHEN LAST WE FLEW (GLAAD Media Award); SWEET (AUDELCO nom); WHERE STORMS ARE BORN (Berkshire Theatre Award nom, Edgerton Foundation New Play Award); THIS BITTER EARTH (Jeff nom, MN Theatre Award for Exceptional New Work, Lavender Magazine citation for Outstanding New Playwriting); FIVE POINTS (MN Theatre Award for Exceptional New Work, BroadwayWorld Minneapolis Award for Best New Work, Lavender Magazine citation for Outstanding New Playwriting); BROADBEND, ARKANSAS (Broadway Black’s Antonyo Award nom for Best Book of a Musical, Times Square Chronicles citation for Best New Off-Broadway Musical and Outstanding Book of a Musical); AND SHE WOULD STAND LIKE THIS; LOOK UPON OUR LOWLINESS; TO LET GO AND FALL; and A CRACK IN THE SKY. Harrison was named a Runner-up for the 2018 Artist of the Year by the Star Tribune and a 2017 Artist of the Year by City Pages. He is the recipient of McKnight, Jerome, and Van Lier Fellowships and residencies with the Bogliasco Foundation, the Siena Art Institute, the Hermitage, Duke University, New York Theatre Workshop, New York Stage & Film and the Williamstown Theater Festival. Harrison is a member of the Playwrights’ Center's Board of Directors. harrisondavidrivers.com

Agent Information

Michael Finkle
WME
11 Madison Ave 18th Fl.
New York, NY 10010
212-903-1144
MFinkle@wmeagency.com

Plays

by Harrison David Rivers

Jonah is a dancer.
Jonah is injured.
Jonah has an ex-boyfriend.
A brutal and lyrical play about the things we hang on to and the price of moving forward, the bandaged place tells the story of one man’s attempt to free himself from the abuses of his past. Jonah is forced to turn to his precocious daughter and tough love grandmother for support when a former lover resurfaces, re-opening a painful wound.

Cast:
2W, 3M
by Harrison David Rivers

Neil is a passionate white activist and advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement. Jesse is an introspective black playwright coming to terms with his own activism, or the lack thereof. As racial tensions mount with the extrajudicial killings of black men throughout the country, the young gay couple is forced to contend with the politics of their love in these turbulent times. Wrestling with issues of race and class, this poetic and timely story, is a haunting reminder of the strength it takes to love out loud.

Cast:
2M
by Harrison David Rivers

The Baker sisters have always been the best of friends, but when their next door neighbor returns home from college, desire threatens to tear them apart. SWEET is a bittersweet coming of age story about the sacrifices we make in order to hold onto the ones we love.

 

Cast:
2W, 1M
by Harrison David Rivers

After stealing his local library’s only copy of "Angels in America," misfit teenager Paul locks himself in the bathroom and begins reading the landmark play. He soon finds that his life and the lives of those around him in his small Kansas suburb are about to take flight, and over the course of a seemingly ordinary day, extraordinary things start to happen…

Cast:
4W, 4M

Successes

Interlude

Oct 8 - Nov 7, 2021

By Harrison David Rivers

World Premiere Commission

Jesse Howard’s life looks nothing like it used to. Forced by a national pandemic to return to his childhood home in Kansas with his Conservative parents, he finds himself standing still for the first time. As Jesse battles his writer’s block in a country that no longer feels like home, his mother struggles to reach out to the son she never really knew. Adapted for the stage from NCTC’s critically-acclaimed audio drama, Interlude is a personal and tender snapshot of one man’s search for connection,

Harrison David Rivers's play PARKS will be part of NNPN's Showcase Playwright Slam during their 19th Annual National Showcase of New Plays. The 2020 Showcase will take place virtually from November 19-22. Read the announcement here.

Affiliated writer Harrison David Rivers' What You Can't Keep, which was comissioned by Trademark Theatre of Saint Paul, MN last year, will recieve a digital workshop as a part of Trademark's fourth season. Full announcement found here.

Affiliated Writer Harrison David Rivers has a new monologued featured on The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues.

Transport Group has announced its 2019–2020 season will open with the world-premiere musical Broadbend, Arkansas, running Oct. 25–Nov. 23 at The Duke on 42nd Street. Featuring a libretto by Ellen Fitzhugh and Harrison David Rivers. More information.