Jordan Harrison

{{short description|American dramatist}}

{{use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{For|the professional soccer player|Jordan Harrison (soccer)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jordan Harrison

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1977}}

| birth_place = Bainbridge Island, Washington, U.S.

| education = {{unbulleted list|Stanford University (BA)|Brown University (MFA)}}

}}

Jordan Harrison (born 1977) is an American playwright. He grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington. His play Marjorie Prime was a finalist for the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Biography

Harrison received a B.A. from Stanford University in 1999 and an M.F.A. from Brown University, where he studied with Paula Vogel. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.Morgan, Scott L. [http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/m/APParticle.php?AID=51041&i=0&s=Theater "Feeling all 'Grown-Up'"] Windy City Times, April 1, 2015

Shortly after graduating from Brown, his play Kid-Simple, which he wrote while in grad school, was produced at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in 2004.[http://actorstheatre.org/shows/kid-simple-a-radio-play-in-the-flesh-2003-2004/ Kid-Simple] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328103202/http://actorstheatre.org/shows/kid-simple-a-radio-play-in-the-flesh-2003-2004/ |date=2018-03-28 }} actorstheatre.org, accessed October 28, 2015 The Actors Theatre of Louisville subsequently premiered his plays Act a Lady (2006) and Maple and Vine, both of which were directed by Anne Kauffman, and The Grown-Up, which was directed by Ken Rus Schmoll.Purcell, Carey. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/actors-theatre-humana-festival-to-feature-works-by-dorothy-fortenberry-luca-211667# "Actors Theatre Humana Festival to Feature Works by Dorothy Fortenberry, Lucas Hnath and Kimber Lee"] Playbill, November 12, 2013 Act a Lady, after being developed at the PlayPenn New Play Conference in 2005, was subsequently produced in several venues including the New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco in April 2009.Connema, Richard. [https://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/sanfran/s1001.html "Reviews. 'War Music', 'High Spirits' and 'Act a Lady'"] talkinbroadway.com, April 22, 2009

The Museum Play had workshops at Brown University (2003), readings at Playwrights Horizons (2003) and Signature Theatre Company (2005) and a production at Red Eye Theatre, Minneapolis (2004).[https://www.playscripts.com/play/1543 The Museum Play] playscripts.com, accessed October 29, 2015 Finn in the Underworld premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, California, in 2005, directed by Les Waters.Hurwitt, Robert. [http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Party-like-it-s-1955-in-Maple-and-Vine-3441888.php Interview"] San Francisco Chronicle, March 29, 2012

His Off-Broadway plays include Doris to Darlene (2007)Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/wagner-tune-wafts-through-the-years-in-world-premiere-doris-to-darlene-in-n-145453# "Wagner Tune Wafts Through the Years in World Premiere, 'Doris to Darlene', in NYC"] Playbill, November 16, 2007 and Maple and Vine at Playwrights Horizons (2011),Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/marin-ireland-trent-dawson-pedro-pascal-cast-in-playwrights-horizons-maple--183085# "Marin Ireland, Trent Dawson, Pedro Pascal Cast in Playwrights Horizons' 'Maple and Vine'] Playbill, September 28, 2011Weinert-Kendt, Rob. [http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/theater/maple-and-vine-a-50s-flashback.html?_r=0 "Back to the ’50s, Trying to Escape Freedom’s Pitfalls"] New York Times November 23, 2011 Amazons and their Men (2008) by Clubbed Thumb at the Ohio TheatreGenzligner, Neil. [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/theater/reviews/11amaz.html?_r=0&pagewanted= "Review. The Will (if Not Triumph) of the Frau"] New York Times, January 11, 2008 and Futura (2010) at National Asian American Theater Company.Peters, Thomas. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/jordan-harrisons-futura-to-debut-in-naatco-production-oct.-22-casting-annou-172174# "Jordan Harrison's 'Futura' to Debut in NAATCO Production Oct. 22; Casting Announced"] Playbill, September 28, 2010

He wrote the book for a children's musical, The Flea and the Professor, with music composed by Richard Gray and lyrics by Harrison and Gray. The musical was commissioned by the Virginia and Harvey Kimmel Arts Education Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation and received an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. It was performed by the Arden Theatre Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in May to June 2011, directed by Anne Kauffman.[http://www.ardentheatre.org/2011/flea.html The Flea and the Professor] ardentheatre.org, accessed October 28, 2015 Suprema is a musical, with music and lyrics by Daniel Zaitchik and book and lyrics by Harrison. The musical had a reading at Ars Nova in May 2012, directed by Leigh Silverman. The musical was developed at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's 2011 Music Theatre Conference.Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/suprema-musical-reading-to-feature-jason-danieley-claybourne-elder-and-bets-193466# "'Suprema' Musical Reading to Feature Jason Danieley, Claybourne Elder and Betsy Wolfe"] Playbill, May 10, 2012

The Amateurs premiered Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre on February 8, 2018, in previews and closed on March 29, 2018. Directed by Oliver Butler the play featured Kyle Beltran, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Michael Cyril Creighton, Greg Keller, Jennifer Kim and Thomas Jay Ryan.[http://www.vineyardtheatre.org/the-amateurs/ The Amateurs] vineyardtheatre.org, retrieved January 31, 2018McBride, Walter. [https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Coverage-Meet-the-Company-of-Vineyard-Theatres-THE-AMATEURS-20180109 "Photo Coverage: Meet the Company of Vineyard Theatre's 'The Amateurs'"] broadwayworld.com, January 9, 2018 The play was nominated for the 2018 Off Broadway Alliance Award, Best New Play and the 2018 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play (Bernstine).[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/6471 The Amateurs] lortel.org, retrieved June 2, 2018

His play Log Cabin premiered Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons on June 1, 2018, in previews, officially on June 25. The play involves a tight-knit group of gays and lesbians and is directed by Pam MacKinnon with Jesse Tyler Ferguson starring.Clement, Olivia. [http://www.playbill.com/article/log-cabin-starring-jesse-tyler-ferguson-begins-off-broadway# " 'Log Cabin', Starring Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Begins Off-Broadway"] Playbill, June 1, 2018

Harrison writes for the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black.

= ''Marjorie Prime'' =

His play Marjorie Prime premiered at the Center Theatre Group Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, California, in September 2014, under the direction of Les Waters. The play featured Lois Smith as "Marjorie", Lisa Emery as "Tess", her daughter, Frank Wood as "Jon", Tess's husband, and Jeff Ward as "Walter", a computer-programmed, pixel-generated companion.McNulty, Charles. [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-0923-marjorie-prime-review-20140923-story.html# "Playing with memory in 'Marjorie Prime'"] Los Angeles Times, September 22, 2014 The play had a reading at the South Coast Repertory's

2013 Pacific Playwrights Festival on April 28, 2013, directed by Pam MacKinnon.[http://www.scr.org/plays/pacific-playwrights-festival/2013-pacific-playwrights-festival "2013 Pacific Playwrights Festival"] scr.org, accessed December 15, 2015

The play was a finalist for the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, called "a sly and surprising work about technology and artificial intelligence told through images and ideas that resonate."Purcell, Carey. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/marjorie-prime-with-lois-smith-opens-at-center-theatre-group-mark-taper-forum-sept.-21-330551# "'Marjorie Prime', With Lois Smith, Opens at Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum Sept. 21"] Playbill, September 21, 2014Gans, Andrew and Viagas, Robert. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/between-riverside-and-crazy-wins-the-2015-pulitzer-prize-for-drama-347196# "'Between Riverside and Crazy' Wins the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama"] Playbill, April 20, 2015 The 2016 Horton Foote Prize for Outstanding New American Play was awarded to Marjorie Prime. The prize includes a $20,000 monetary award.Rickwald, Bethany. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/jordan-harrison-zayd-dohrn-horton-foote-prize_78416.html "Jordan Harrison and Zayd Dohrn Awarded 2016 Horton Foote Prize"] theatermania.com, September 13, 2016 The play was nominated for the 2016 Drama League Award, for Outstanding Production Of A Broadway Or Off-Broadway Play and Distinguished Performance, Lois Smith; and the 2016 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Director, Anne Kaufman.

Marjorie Prime opened Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons on November 20, 2015, in previews, officially on December 14, and closed on January 24, 2016, directed by Anne Kauffman.[http://www.playwrightshorizons.org/shows/plays/marjorie-prime/ "Marjorie Prime Listing"] playwrightshorizons.org, accessed October 29, 2015 The Off-Broadway cast featured Noah Bean, Lisa Emery, Stephen Root, and Lois Smith.Gordon, David. [http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/marjorie-prime-cast-photos_74737.html "Stephen Root, Lois Smith, and More Start Rehearsals for 'Marjorie Prime'"] theatermania.com, October 27, 2015Clement, Olivia. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/lois-smith-heads-cast-of-marjorie-prime-beginning-tonight-off-broadway-372504# "Lois Smith Heads Cast of 'Marjorie Prime', Beginning Tonight Off-Broadway"] Playbill, November 20, 2015

The Variety reviewer noted that the play "envisions a day in the near future when we'll be able to program robots to serve as humanoid companions for the old, the infirm and the lonely. The play ... is also a sensitive study of family dynamics, which makes it all the more engaging."Stasio, Marilyn. [https://variety.com/2015/legit/reviews/marjorie-prime-review-1201661106/ "Off Broadway Review: ‘Marjorie Prime’ with Lois Smith"] Variety, December 14, 2015

The play has been adapted for a film, written and directed by Michael Almereyda. The film stars Tim Robbins (Jon), Jon Hamm (Walter), Geena Davis (Tess) and Lois Smith. Principal photography began in October 2015.Ford, Rebecca. [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tim-robbins-joins-jon-hamm-829917 "Tim Robbins Joins Jon Hamm in 'Marjorie Prime' "] The Hollywood Reporter, October 7, 2015[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4978710/ "'Marjorie Prime' Listing"] imdb.com, accessed November 3, 2015 The film premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival (Park City, Utah) in January 2017.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/marjorie-prime-film-with-lois-smith-and-jon-hamm-will-premiere-at-sundance# " 'Marjorie Prime' Film, with Lois Smith and Jon Hamm, Will Premiere at Sundance"] Playbill, December 6, 2016 The film won the Sloan Feature Film Prize at the Sundance Film Festival; the prize includes a $20,000 cash award.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/marjorie-prime-wins-feature-film-prize-at-sundance# " 'Marjorie Prime 'Wins Feature Film Prize at Sundance"] Playbill, January 25, 2017

Artists Repertory Theatre, located in Portland, Oregon, staged the Northwest premiere of Marjorie Prime from February 7 to March 5, 2017.

[https://www.missinglinktheatre.com/ Missing Link Theatre], also located in Portland, Oregon, staged a production of Marjorie Prime in September 2019. It was directed by Donovan James, and starred Julisa Rowe, Jeff Giberson, Lani Jo Leigh, and Dan Fitzpatrick.

=Style=

Tim Sanford, artistic director of Playwrights Horizons said of Harrison: "He's one of the handful of exciting new writers. He creates these worlds that are—how do you describe it?—cerebral playgrounds." In an article in the Stanford Magazine, the writer noted that "Sanford isn't the only one who has trouble describing a Harrison play. Each usually starts [with] a bizarre premise." Harrison says that Tom Stoppard is an influence.Setoodeh, Ramin. [https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=31679 "He Plays Well With Eras"] Stanford Magazine, January–February 2008

Plays and productions

  • Fit for Feet (2003)
  • Kid-Simple (2004)
  • The Museum Play (2004)
  • Finn in the Underworld (2005)
  • Act a Lady (2006)
  • Doris to Darlene, A Cautionary Valentine (2007)
  • Amazons and their Men (2008)
  • Futura (2010)
  • Maple and Vine (2011)
  • The Flea and the Professor (2011)
  • Suprema (2012)
  • The Grown-Up (2014, Humana Festival of New American Plays)[https://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=2751 Humana Festival] playscripts.com, retrieved February 8, 2018[https://actorstheatre.org/shows/the-grown-up-2013-2014/ The Grown-Up] actorstheatre.org, retrieved February 8, 2018
  • Marjorie Prime (2014) - Finalist for the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
  • The Amateurs (2018)
  • Log Cabin (2018)
  • The Antiquities (2025)

Awards and honors

His 10-minute play Fit for Feet won the Actors Theatre's Heideman Award in 2003.Huyck, Ed. [http://www.backstage.com/news/jordan-harrison-living-the-airport-terminal-life/?__hstc=43953530.9a6fe7ce3ee6543b233bba325408e479.1446115737583.1446115737583.1446115737583.1&__hssc=43953530.1.1446115737583&__hsfp=2821425917 "Jordan Harrison: Living the Airport Terminal Life"] Backstage, April 3, 2006 His children's musical, The Flea and the Professor, won the 2011 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical (produced by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia).[http://www.theatrephiladelphia.org/barrymore-awards/2011 "Barrymore Awards. 2011 Nominees & Recipients"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008162212/http://www.theatrephiladelphia.org/barrymore-awards/2011 |date=October 8, 2015 }} theatrephiladelphia.org, accessed October 30, 2015 Act a Lady was nominated for the 19th GLAAD Media Awards, Los Angeles Theater for 2007.Lipton, Brian Scott. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/01-2008/19th-annual-glaad-media-award-nominations-are-anno_12572.html "19th Annual GLAAD Media Award Nominations Are Announced"] theatermania.com, January 21, 2008

Harrison attended the Sundance Institute Playwrights Retreat at the Ucross Foundation in February 2007.Pincus-Roth, Zachary. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/sundance-institute-announces-writers-for-ucross-retreat-137987# "Sundance Institute Announces Writers for Ucross Retreat"] Playbill, January 25, 2007 He received a Kesselring Fellowship in 2007, presented by the National Arts Club.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/harrison-eno-groff-and-gardley-to-receive-kesselring-awards-145354# "Harrison, Eno, Groff and Gardley to Receive Kesselring Awards"] Playbill, November 12, 2007 He received the Hodder Fellowship from Princeton University in 2009.[http://arts.princeton.edu/fellowships/hodder-fellowship/ "Hodder Fellowship"] princeton.edu, accessed October 28, 2015 He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2009.[http://www.gf.org/fellows-Fall-fellows/jordan-harrison "Fellows"] gf.org, accessed October 29, 2015 He received the Jerome (2004) and McKnight Fellowships (2005) from The Playwrights' Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.Kleiman, Jaime. [http://www.mnartists.org/article/profile-playwright-jordan-harrison "Profile Playwright Jordan Harrison"] mnartists.org, October 10, 2004[https://www.mcknight.org/grant-programs/arts/past-mcknight-artist-fellows "Past McKnight Artist Fellows"] mcknight.org, accessed october 29, 2015 He won the Roe Green Award, Cleveland Play House in 2013, which included a grant of $7,500, a weeklong residency and a public reading.Simakis, Andrea. [http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2013/04/playwright_jordan_harrison_hea.html "Playwright Jordan Harrison heading to Cleveland for the Play House New Ground Theatre Festival"] cleveland.com, April 21, 2013

  • Loewe Award for Musical Theater
  • NEA/TCG Playwright-in-Residence Grant at the Empty Space Theatre (Seattle, Washington)[https://www.tcg.org/about/ar/2005/grant_theatre.cfm "Residency Program for Playwrights"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421021838/https://www.tcg.org/about/ar/2005/grant_theatre.cfm |date=2016-04-21 }} tcg.org, accessed October 29, 2015

Notes

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References

  • [http://www.playscripts.com/playwrights/bios/288 Profile from Playscripts, Inc.]
  • [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-mark-taper-2014-season-20130826,0,3179847.story Center Theatre Group Season Announcement]