Marco Rivera
Theatre Maker
Marco Rivera is an LA based theatre director interrogating our community's quest for belonging against the "borders" - both internal and external - that stand in the way. His fascinations with puppetry, opera, and soundscapes from his homeland in Mexico shape the way Marco uses performance as the vehicle to pursue his interests. Marco's producing and acting work compliment his artistic mission, placing joy at the forefront of empowering communities.
Image from The Devised Puppetry Project
presented at the Pacific Resident Theatre
Los Angeles, 2016
Image from Real Women Have Curves
by Josefina López
Kentwood Players, 2025
Meet
Marco Rivera
Artistic Vision
Marco believes that humility and joy are central to building community. The theatrical act, the collective act of hearing and seeing, extends beyond the performance space. It is our mandate as theatre artists to recognize the union of image, sound, and language unique to our art form and wield it with elegance. In Marco's case, its use is to investigate "belonging" in a world where borders are divisions both physical and intrapersonal.
Directorial Approach
Directors, by nature of their title, occupy a position of authority. Marco turns to his grandfather's words, "Great leaders create an environment for kindness." He believes the principal job of a director is to create an environment where imagination, collaboration, and respect are a common ground for a collaborative art form.
Mission Statement
The immediate, coercive effect of live performance extols the relationship between "the signifier and the signified" - the call and the response. With the understanding that diversity is not charity, Marco interrogates this relationship by seeking new ways to promote understanding and compassion among divided communities. When confrontation is required, Marco turns to one belief, "The collective act of creating and experiencing joy is resistance."