Meet Rivka Rivera | Playwright, Actor, Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rivka Rivera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rivka, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m a born and raised New Yorker! I identify as Jew-Yo-Rican, because I am half Jewish and half Puerto Rican from New York. After attending undergrad at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, I spent six years living in Los Angeles. While I loved every city I’ve called home, my heart has always been in New York, and I knew I would return. Growing up, my parents split when I was young, which meant I had the unique experience of living in different parts of the city. I spent my early childhood in Park Slope, Brooklyn, a beautiful neighborhood filled with open spaces, parks, and diversity. Later, my father moved to El Barrio (East Harlem), while my mother remained in Brooklyn, this time in Cobble Hill. As a result, I traveled frequently between these neighborhoods, and I believe this shaped my artistry deeply.

In all my work—whether as a storyteller, performer, playwright, or facilitator—I aim to explore nuance. I focus on creating spaces where seeming paradoxes and differences can coexist, helping people embrace their full, authentic selves. Another major influence New York gave me was the opportunity to attend LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, the inspiration for the movie FAME. It’s an incredible place where students from all five boroughs come together after auditioning to get in. The training I received there in acting is still some of the best I’ve ever had. The school’s talent-based admissions allowed a wide variety of students to thrive, students who might not otherwise have had such opportunities. Today, as a teacher, I understand the deep importance of early arts training in developing empathetic problem solvers.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My name, Rivka, means to bind or make whole, and that intention shapes everything I do as an artist. My work—whether on stage, on screen, or in a classroom—centers on helping audiences and participants wrestle with and reflect on the complexities of their identities, just as I have done in my own life. Through this process, I hope we can all begin to make ourselves whole.

As an actress, I’ve been lucky to be part of a variety of stories, from Firelight (ABC/Hallmark) with Cuba Gooding Jr. to the sci-fi film The Circle (Netflix) and Peter Hedges’ The Same Storm. I also produced and starred in the web series Abandon All Hope. Acting has always been a key part of my journey, but my passion for writing and creating stories that explore deeper personal, political, and cultural questions runs alongside it.

My latest play, The Mourners, which was selected for Carnegie Mellon’s ColLABo development incubator, explores the grief and resilience of an estranged family during Hurricane Maria. Much of my work is grounded in themes of family, history, and the complexities of identity. I’ve also had the privilege of being a finalist for Rattlestick Theater’s Terrence McNally New Works Incubator and a semi-finalist for the Princess Grace Awards. On the filmmaking side, I worked on a personal project—a short film inspired by a real mushroom trip I took with my mother—that was featured in PAPER MAG.

At the core of my creative practice is the belief that stories live in paradox. I’m drawn to contradictions because I think that’s where truth often hides. Through theater, I want to create spaces where people can explore these paradoxes—whether it’s through characters who fight for justice, or through stories that invite us to question the systems we live in. My creative process is a mix of things that ground me—prayer, walking, napping, dancing, and a lot of reflection. I find that this tension between the chaotic and the intentional often leads me to the heart of what I want to say.

A big part of my work has also been about building community. From co-founding Towne Hall in downtown Los Angeles, to working with Irondale Theater’s To Protect, Serve, and Understand project, where we use theater as a bridge between police officers and community members, I believe in the power of storytelling to connect people. These experiences remind me that theater is more than a performance—it’s a way to hold space for people to confront themselves and each other, to grow, and to find some version of wholeness.

Currently, I co-host Movies vs. Capitalism, a podcast that combines my love for storytelling with my interest in examining how capitalism shapes our world. I’m also part of collectives like Conch Shell Artist Collective and the Irondale Ensemble, which allow me to keep growing as an artist and to work with others who share similar values. What I strive for in all of my work is to tell stories that reflect the complexities of human experience, and in doing so, maybe help others feel more seen and connected.

For me, art is about progress—political, spiritual, and personal. I’m committed to making work that not only entertains, but challenges the systems we live in, helping us imagine new possibilities. I believe that our grief can lead to action, and that even our rage can come from a place of love. My hope is that through my work, others can find space to explore, reflect, and ultimately move toward a more just and compassionate world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
While I’m currently in NY – I LOVE LA – I visit at least twice a year since living there and my best friends are still out there. Here are some fave spots:
1. Capri Club LA – AMAZING food and people – a current hotspot in eagle rock.
2. LA FLOWER MART – downtown. Go early on a friday and enjoy the most beauiful fresh flowers for incrdible prices – pick up bouquets for all your friends!
3. Gelson’s Salad Bar – haha! I love Gelson’s – a grocery store that makes me miss LA!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely. There are so many people because I believe the life journey is one giant collaboration. First and foremost, I’d mention my parents: Amy Berkman (a dancer turned healer), my father Pedro Angél Rivera Muñoz (a professor and filmmaker), and my stepmother Pilar Alamo (a dancer turned teacher). They not only nurtured and supported my curiosity and artistic growth, but they continue to inspire me with the work they do. I’m very close to all of them, and I’ve even collaborated on creative projects with each of them—such as a film about a mushroom trip between a mother and daughter with my mom.

I would also highlight Harry Shifman, my drama teacher at LaGuardia, who remains a friend and creative mentor. He recently helped me crack the structure of my latest play. Irondale Theater in Brooklyn and Conch Shell Collective, a writers’ group supporting creatives in the Caribbean diaspora (run by Magaly Colimon), have both been creative homes for me. I’ve also benefited tremendously from the guidance of Jon Shear, an amazing filmmaker and teacher based in NYC. Finally, a special shoutout to Anticapitalism for Artists (a4A), a group that has been vital to my creative and political development, dedicated to raising class consciousness among artists.

Website: https://www.RivkaRivera.com

Instagram: @therivkarivera

Image Credits
primary headshot: Ambe J. Photography
Second: Louis Stein Photography