Jon Lawrence Rivera News

WAITING is inspired by Samuel Beckett’s iconic play, WAITING FOR GODOT. With humor deeply steeped in Latinx culture, and our country’s anti-immigrant policies, WAITING explores the meaning—and absurdities—of identity and belonging. This is a shorter, pandemic version of the playwright’s full-length play, WAITING FOR GODÍNEZ. 

Jon Lawrence Rivera, Artistic Director of Playwrights' Arena – the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights – has announced the cast for WAITING by Daniel A. Olivas, which includes Shanelle Darlene, Valentina Guerra, Amir Levi, and Raul Vega Martinez.

Arts in Review hosts playwright/actor Justin Tanner an director Lisa James, discussing the premiere of “Minnesota,” a one-person play, starring Tanner and directed by James.

Award-winning theatre company Son of Semele Ensemble is announcing its departure from their Silver Lake home of 18 years. Led by Founding Artistic Director Matthew McCray since 2000, the company has been in residence at 3301 Beverly Boulevard in a black box theatre they created in 2003. 

Artists throughout the state of California are uniting for the passage of Senate Bill 805 (SB 805), titled, “The Performing Arts Relief Act,” which the Senate Labor Committee will vote on Wednesday, April 19, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. in Sacramento, CA.   A Coalition of 36 small 99-seat non-profit theaters and freelance performers are banding together to make theater accessible to all.  

Playrights' Arena's artistic director Jon Lawrence Rivera will world premiere MARCH, inaugurating the Los Angeles LBGT Centera??s innovative new live theatre series, GARAGE THEATRE on Saturday, October 17, 2020. Performances for audiences (in their individual vehicles) will take place in the unique, experimental space of an underground parking structure located below the Centera??s Anita May Rosenstein Campus in Hollywood.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center and Playwrights' Arena have announced the inaugural production of the Center's innovative new live theatre series, Garage Theatre.

During this week's Skylight Live time slot on Thursday, August 20th at 3pm (PDT), the company will stream the archival video of AMERICAN ADJACENT by Boni B. Alvarez.

This Spotlight focuses on Jon Lawrence Rivera, co-founder of Playwrights' Arena with Steve Tyler in 1992 during the LA Riots. At the time, and for at least two decades, we were the only theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing new works for the stage written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights to be enjoyed by adventurous minds. I first discovered Playwrights' Arena when their 2017 production of Bloodletting was selected to be presented during Center Theatre Group's 2018 Block Party at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.

Dr. Kerry English, pediatrician, long time director of the pediatric division at Martin Luther King Hospital and board member for Ojai Playwrights Conference and Rogue Machine, passed away on April 27, 2020, of complications of ALS. A board member for several nonprofit family and child support organizations, he was also a well-known Los Angeles theatre and arts aficionado. He was committed to caring for children and engaging with diverse communities throughout his life. His long-term relationships testify to his belief in diversity and inclusion. Kerry was 74 years old.

Noted theatre artist Diane Rodriguez, born June 22, 1951, in San Jose, CA, died today, April 10, 2020, in Los Angeles, of cancer.

The Board of Directors of Playwrights' Arena has voted to postpone its annual fundraiser, HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY, and the balance of its 2020 Season.

Jon Lawrence Rivera, Artistic Director of Playwrights' Arena a?" the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights a?" is thrilled to announce the extended run of RED INK by Steven Leigh Morris through Monday, February 24, 2020.

Jon Lawrence Rivera, Artistic Director of Playwrights' Arena – the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights – is presenting RED INK by Steven Leigh Morris, with a cast that includes Michelle Bonebright-Carter, Steven Culp, Tracey A. Leigh, Leo Marks, Jocelyn Towne, and Peter Van Norden.

Jon Lawrence Rivera, Artistic Director of Playwrights' Arena - the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights - has announced its 2020 Season of World Premieres which include: RED INK by Steven Leigh Morris, A HIT DOG WILL HOLLER by Inda Craig-Galván, and FABULOUS MONSTERS by Diana Burbano.

Jon Lawrence Rivera, Artistic Director of Playwrights' Arena a?" the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights a?" is thrilled to announce the appointment of Jaisey Bates as its new Literary Manager.

Jon Lawrence Rivera, Artistic Director of Playwrights' Arena – the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights – is thrilled to announce the cast for RED INK by Steven Leigh Morris, which includes Michelle Bonebright-Carter, Tracey A. Leigh, Leo Marks, Christopher Salazar, Jocelyn Towne, and Peter Van Norden.

Jon Lawrence Rivera, Artistic Director of Playwrights' Arena a?" the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights a?" is thrilled to announce the extension of LAS MUJERES DEL MAR (THE WOMEN OF THE SEA) by Janine Salinas Schoenberg, directed by Diane Rodriguez, through Sunday, October 20, 2019.

Jon Lawrence Rivera, Artistic Director of Playwrights' Arena – the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is presenting the world premiere of LAS MUJERES DEL MAR by Janine Salinas Schoenberg, directed by Diane Rodriguez, on Saturday, September 21st, 2019, at 4 PM.