HARRISON DAVID RIVERS | PLAYWRIGHT

HUSBAND
He moved in three months later.
Which is like five years in gay time.

we are continuous
2M, 1W

Simon and his mother, Ora, have always been close. She’s been his champion, his defender, and his friend. But when a life-changing secret comes to light, can their bond survive?

Productions

Production, Uptown Players, Dallas, 2025: dir: TBD

Production, New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco, 2023: dir: ShawnJ West

Production, Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, 2023: dir. Tyler Thomas

World Premiere, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, 2022: dir. Tyler Thomas

Audio Drama, Recognition Radio, Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, 2020: dir. Mikael Burke

Readings/Workshops

Reading, PlayLabs Festival, Playwrights’ Center, Minneapolis, 2020: dir. Tyler Thomas

Awards

*Berkshire Theatre Award Nominations for Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play or Musical (DOTS), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play (Brenda Pressley) and the Sally and Robert Sugarman Award for World Premiere of a New Play, 2022

Press

“a superb piece of theater.”
--Chuck Louden, Stage & Cinema

“gripping, funny and–above all else–brutally honest. It's rare and wonderful to experience a story where not a single note feels out of tune, not a single detail feels extraneous, and not a single line feels anything less that true and natural… one of the best productions ever at NCTC, and one that richly deserves your attendance and will reward your attention.”
--Patrick Thomas, Talkin’ Broadway

“heartfelt… we are continuous is another feather in the cap of critically acclaimed playwright (This Bitter Earth and Interlude) and another success for Artistic Director Ed Decker’s repertoire.”
--Steve Murray, Broadway World San Francisco

“A touching, true-to-life drama… Brilliant, heroic, comic coming out…”
--Barry David Horwitz, Theatrics

“Playwright Harrison David Rivers writes little lyrical details that shine like jewels… charts with imagination, grace and hope the disconnect between the life parents can fathom and the life their son forges.”
--Lily Janiak, SF Chronicle

“Harrison David Rivers has done a tremendous thing with "we are continuous”… He [Rivers] has blended the humor and day-to-day intimacy of a married couple, as well as that of a mother and son, and fully explored the emotional breadth and contours of both of those relationships… …a powerful and moving play, filled with honesty and tremendous heart. It's a beautifully written piece of theatre.”
--Colin Fleming-Stumpf, BroadwayWorld Central New York

“Theatre goers in The Berkshires are fortunate in that we often have several high-quality theatrical offerings to choose from. Frequently they include new works with great promise. Rarely, but happily, sometimes of the caliber displayed in WE ARE CONTINUOUS. Despite being relatively small in nature, the piece offers a great deal. The script is brilliantly written. The dialogue is contemporary, relevant, and plentiful…WE ARE CONTINUOUS is a tremendous theatrical experience that represents the latest in a long line thereof. At the final curtain I found myself hard pressed to find words other than WOW. Then a far more visceral feeling washed over me as I processed what had just played out before me. I was touched deeply and felt the stirring that gives one chill bumps that stayed with me for some time. In my opinion WE ARE CONTINUOUS is one of the strongest recent examples and is well worth having waited for. I strongly encourage experiencing it while you can.”
--Marc Savitt, BroadwayWorld Boston

“The phenomenon is all too familiar. We all know (or are) people who have been rejected by their “religious” parents because their sexual orientation is unconventional, even ‘sinful.’ Playwright Harrison David Rivers has, in we are continuous at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, made it exquisitely personal, yet universal…we are continuous’s greatest accomplishment may be its remarkable capacity for personalizing the universal, for piercingly transmitting profound feeling to its audience. Naturally, great plays all aim to do that, but this one succeeds on every level.”
--Roseann Cane, Berkshire on Stage

“There is a narrative thread that guides us through the riveting, ninety minute, one act play, We Are Continuous, by Harrison David Rivers, which is being given a pristinely powerful world premiere at Williamstown Theatre Festival…Much love and care has gone into this superb production that owes so much to the craft, synergy and compassion of the remarkable trio of performers. This fine new drama was the perfect way to bring down the curtain on yet another season of the iconic Williamstown Theatre Festival. Moving forward, one may anticipate numerous productions of such a warmly humanistic work of art that has been carved and shaped from real life.”
--Charles Giuliano, Berkshire Fine Arts

“Rivers is an exceptionally adept realistic dialogue writer whose words, delivered by a trio of skilled actors, carry this play. Director Tyler Thomas facilitates the cast through many shifts as the impactful plot escalates…we are continuous, breaking free from traditional format, simmers and ultimately flourishes as it realizes the promise of Harrison David Rivers's high, contemporary drama.”
--Fred Sokol, Talkin’ Broadway

“Williamstown Theatre Festival has hit another home run with their world premiere WTF commission of the semi-autobiographical we are continuous by Harrison David Rivers…With your face streaked with tears and your hands raw from applause, Williamstown Theatre Festival reminds you why they have always mattered. we are continuous is a galvanizing testament to love in all its forms that will lift you up and make you cheer.”
--Patrick White, Nippertown

“Masterfully crafted…”
--Massachusetts News

“The writing, the telling, the motion of the play as directed by Tyler Thomas, contribute equally to the very dynamic conclusion of the work. It is a play that I will long remember and cherish. It deals with life as I could have known it, but didn’t. It deals with everyone’s life, including yours.”
--J. Peter Bergman, The Berkshire Edge

“Exceptional… Williamstown Theatre Festival saved its best for last with Harrison David Rivers' “we are continuous,” a deeply affecting play of grace and humanity.”
--Jeffrey Borak, The Berkshire Eagle