Hector Rivera is joining the leadership team at Playwrights Horizons where he is stepping into the role of new Director of Equity and Inclusion, effective immediately. With Rivera's posting, the Off-Broadway theatre establishes its first director-level position dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion work.
Prior to joining Playwrights Horizons, Rivers worked at Lincoln Center building community engagement and family programs while managing their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. He is also a Trainer with the center for Racial Justice in Education. A queer, Puerto Rican Bronx native, Rivera came up through New York City's public school system before earning a B.A. in Theater and Political Studies from Bard College at Simon's Rock. He underwent further professional development at The National Association of Arts and Culture, The National Association for the Education of Young Children, the CreateNYC: Leadership Accelerator program, and the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute.
In his new role, Rivera will develop, oversee, and implement various practices to strengthen a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism at Playwrights Horizons. Those practices will include holding annual trainings, strengthening relationships within the community, creating new audience development initiatives, improving accessibility, overseeing the theatre’s EDIA affinity groups, and more. His work will extend from the Off-Broadway theatre and its offices to Playwrights Horizons Theater School which is conducted in association with NYU's Tisch School of the Arts' Undergraduate Department of Drama.
Rivera said in a statement. "I hope to bring tools, subject matter expertise, and lived experience that will drive culture, foster a learning community, and move forward the organization's commitment to change. My approach will bring love, grace, and understanding, with the hopes that we can build a brave container to embark in true anti-racist work. I am here to listen, to support, and to lead in community with others.”
Managing Director of Playwrights Horizons Leslie Marcus said, “Playwrights Horizons is very fortunate to welcome Hector Rivera as our new Director of Equity and Inclusion. An artist himself, he brings deep passion and expertise to the urgent work of making the American theatre a field that is open to all."
Playwrights Horizons currently presents the world premiere of Agnes Borinsky's The Trees, which opens March 5.
