Jordan Harrison (playwright)

For the professional soccer player, see Jordan Harrison (soccer).
Jordan Harrison
Born1977 (age 48–49)
Bainbridge Island, Washington, U.S.
Education

Jordan Harrison (born 1977) is an American playwright. He grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington. He is primarily known for his plays Marjorie Prime, a finalist for the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama which was revived on Broadway in 2025,[1] and The Antiquities in 2025.[2]

Biography

Harrison was born in Bainbridge Island, Washington, a rural suburb of Seattle. [3] He received a B.A. from Stanford University in 1999 and an M.F.A. from Brown University,[4] where he studied with Paula Vogel. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.[5] While attending Brown, Harrison began writing Kid-Simple, the story of a girl genius who listens to a radio serial.[6] The production was first was presented at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in 2004.[7] The Actors Theatre of Louisville subsequently premiered his plays Act a Lady[8] and Maple and Vine,[9] both of which were directed by Anne Kauffman, and The Grown-Up, which was directed by Ken Rus Schmoll.[10]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.[11]

Harrison's next play, The Museum Play, followed the bizarre ongoings of a natural history museum,[12] 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).[13][14] Finn in the Underworld premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, California, in 2005, directed by Les Waters.[15]

In 2010, Arden Theatre Company premiered 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.[16]

He also wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Suprema, with music and lyrics by Daniel Zaitchik. The musical had a reading at Ars Nova in May 2012, directed by Leigh Silverman after being developed at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's 2011 Music Theatre Conference.[17]

In 2018, he premiered his new play, The Amateurs, at the Vineyard Theatre. The show began previews on February 8, 2018, 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.[18][19] The play received strong reviews, with The New York Times calling it "slightly eggheaded and strangely moving."[20]

His other Off-Broadway credits include Doris to Darlene, produced in 2007, Maple and Vine in 2011,[21] and Log Cabin in 2018, all produced at Playwrights Horizons. .[22] His 2025 play, The Antiquities was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award[23] for its Off-Broadway run at Playwrights Horizons, and its Chicago production, presented at Goodman Theatre,[24] was nominated for two Jeff Awards, for the production's ensemble and Harrison for the New Work - Libby Adler Mages Award.[25]

Marjorie Prime

Among his most notable plays is Marjorie Prime, which deals with themes of artificial intelligence, with Playbill calling it "a sly and surprising work about technology and artificial intelligence told through images and ideas that resonate."[26][27]. The show 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.[28]

The play had a reading at the South Coast Repertory's 2013 Pacific Playwrights Festival on April 28, 2013, directed by Pam MacKinnon,[29] before premiering Off-Broadway in 2015 at Playwrights Horizons[30] to critical acclaim.[31][32][33] The show received the 2016 Horton Foote Prize for Outstanding New American Play,[34], and being nominated for two Drama League Awards and a Lucille Lortel Award.

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.[35][36] The film premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival (Park City, Utah) in January 2017.[37] The film won the Sloan Feature Film Prize at the Sundance Film Festival; the prize includes a $20,000 cash award.[38]

In 2025, the play was revived on Broadway by Second Stage Theatre, starring June Squibb in the titular role and directed by Anne Kauffman. The production also starred Cynthia Nixon, Danny Burstein and Christopher Lowell. The show opened on November 20, 2025 at the Helen Hayes Theatre, and closed on February 15, 2026, after 17 previews and 79 performances.[39] The production received critical acclaim, with The New York Times praising the show's timely themes, writing "the show rustles up more questions — and stirs up more trouble — than it did 10 years ago."[40] Squibb and Burstein were both nominated for 2026 Tony Awards for their performances.[41]

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)[42][43]
  • Marjorie Prime (2014) - Finalist for the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
  • The Amateurs (2018)
  • Log Cabin (2018)
  • The Antiquities (2025)

Awards and honors

Harrison attended the Sundance Institute Playwrights Retreat at the Ucross Foundation in February 2007.[44] He received a Kesselring Fellowship in 2007, presented by the National Arts Club.[45] He received the Hodder Fellowship from Princeton University in 2009.[46] He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2009.[47] He received the Jerome (2004) and McKnight Fellowships (2005) from The Playwrights' Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.[13][48][49]

He was also awarded the Roe Green Award, Cleveland Play House in 2013, which included a grant of $7,500, a weeklong residency and a public reading.[50] He has also received the NEA/TCG Playwright-in-Residence Grant at the Empty Space Theatre in Seattle, Washington.[51]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2003 Actors Theatre of Louisville Heideman Award Fit for Feet Won [48]
2007 GLAAD Media Award Los Angeles Theatre Act a Lady Nominated [52]
2011 Barrymore Award Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical The Flea and the Professor Won [53]
2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama Marjorie Prime Nominated [54]
2016 Drama League Award Outstanding Production of a Play Nominated [55][56]
2025 The Antiquities Nominated [57][58]
Jeff Award New Work (The Libby Adler Mages Award) Nominated [59]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play Nominated [60]
2026 Outstanding Revival of a Play Marjorie Prime Nominated [61][62]
[63]

Notes

  1. ^ "Marjorie Prime (Broadway, Helen Hayes Theatre, 2025)". Playbill. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  2. ^ "The Antiquities Review: AI Theater". The New York Times. February 4, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  3. ^ "This Playwright Has Seen the Future. It Isn't Human". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  4. ^ "Profile of a Playwright: Jordan Harrison". Mn Artists. Walker Art Center. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  5. ^ "Jordan Harrison". John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  6. ^ "Kid-Simple: A Radio Play in the Flesh". Backstage. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  7. ^ Kid-Simple Archived 2018-03-28 at the Wayback Machine actorstheatre.org, accessed October 28, 2015
  8. ^ "Humana Festival Launches in KY With Act a Lady and Six Years". Playbill. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  9. ^ "Plays and Playwrights for 2011 Humana Festival Announced; Rapp, Washburn, Nachtrieb Among Scribes". Playbill. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  10. ^ "Actors Theatre Humana Festival to Feature Works by Dorothy Fortenberry, Lucas Hnath and Kimber Lee". Playbill. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  11. ^ Connema, Richard. "Reviews. 'War Music', 'High Spirits' and 'Act a Lady'" talkinbroadway.com, April 22, 2009
  12. ^ "The Museum Play puts some big ideas on stage". Cleveland.com. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  13. ^ a b Kleiman, Jaime. "Profile Playwright Jordan Harrison" mnartists.org, October 10, 2004
  14. ^ The Museum Play playscripts.com, accessed October 29, 2015
  15. ^ Hurwitt, Robert. Interview" San Francisco Chronicle, March 29, 2012
  16. ^ The Flea and the Professor ardentheatre.org, accessed October 28, 2015
  17. ^ Hetrick, Adam. "'Suprema' Musical Reading to Feature Jason Danieley, Claybourne Elder and Betsy Wolfe" Playbill, May 10, 2012
  18. ^ The Amateurs vineyardtheatre.org, retrieved January 31, 2018
  19. ^ McBride, Walter. "Photo Coverage: Meet the Company of Vineyard Theatre's 'The Amateurs'" broadwayworld.com, January 9, 2018
  20. ^ "The Amateurs Review". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  21. ^ "Maple and Vine (2011–12 Production History)". Playwrights Horizons. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  22. ^ Clement, Olivia. " 'Log Cabin', Starring Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Begins Off-Broadway" Playbill, June 1, 2018
  23. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 12, 2025). "Maybe Happy Ending Leads 2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  24. ^ "The Antiquities". Goodman Theatre. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  25. ^ "Jeff Awards Equity Nominees". Joseph Jefferson Awards. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  26. ^ Purcell, Carey. "'Marjorie Prime', With Lois Smith, Opens at Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum Sept. 21" Playbill, September 21, 2014
  27. ^ Gans, Andrew and Viagas, Robert. "'Between Riverside and Crazy' Wins the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama" Playbill, April 20, 2015
  28. ^ McNulty, Charles. "Playing with memory in 'Marjorie Prime'" Los Angeles Times, September 22, 2014
  29. ^ "2013 Pacific Playwrights Festival" scr.org, accessed December 15, 2015
  30. ^ "Marjorie Prime Listing" playwrightshorizons.org, accessed October 29, 2015
  31. ^ "'Marjorie Prime' Review". Variety. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  32. ^ Gordon, David. "Stephen Root, Lois Smith, and More Start Rehearsals for 'Marjorie Prime'" theatermania.com, October 27, 2015
  33. ^ Clement, Olivia. "Lois Smith Heads Cast of 'Marjorie Prime', Beginning Tonight Off-Broadway" Playbill, November 20, 2015
  34. ^ Rickwald, Bethany. "Jordan Harrison and Zayd Dohrn Awarded 2016 Horton Foote Prize" theatermania.com, September 13, 2016
  35. ^ Ford, Rebecca. "Tim Robbins Joins Jon Hamm in 'Marjorie Prime' " The Hollywood Reporter, October 7, 2015
  36. ^ "'Marjorie Prime' Listing" imdb.com, accessed November 3, 2015
  37. ^ Gans, Andrew. " 'Marjorie Prime' Film, with Lois Smith and Jon Hamm, Will Premiere at Sundance" Playbill, December 6, 2016
  38. ^ Gans, Andrew. " 'Marjorie Prime 'Wins Feature Film Prize at Sundance" Playbill, January 25, 2017
  39. ^ "Marjorie Prime (Broadway, Helen Hayes Theater, 2025)". Playbill. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  40. ^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (December 8, 2025). "Review: In 'Marjorie Prime,' A.I. Can't Heal Human Loss". The New York Times. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  41. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 5, 2026). "Tony Nominations 2026, Read the Complete List; The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! Lead". Playbill. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  42. ^ Humana Festival playscripts.com, retrieved February 8, 2018
  43. ^ The Grown-Up actorstheatre.org, retrieved February 8, 2018
  44. ^ Pincus-Roth, Zachary. "Sundance Institute Announces Writers for Ucross Retreat" Playbill, January 25, 2007
  45. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Harrison, Eno, Groff and Gardley to Receive Kesselring Awards" Playbill, November 12, 2007
  46. ^ "Hodder Fellowship" princeton.edu, accessed October 28, 2015
  47. ^ "Fellows" gf.org, accessed October 29, 2015
  48. ^ a b Huyck, Ed (April 3, 2006). "Jordan Harrison: Living the Airport Terminal Life". Backstage. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  49. ^ "Past McKnight Artist Fellows" mcknight.org, accessed october 29, 2015
  50. ^ Simakis, Andrea. "Playwright Jordan Harrison heading to Cleveland for the Play House New Ground Theatre Festival" cleveland.com, April 21, 2013
  51. ^ "Residency Program for Playwrights" Archived 2016-04-21 at the Wayback Machine tcg.org, accessed October 29, 2015
  52. ^ Lipton, Brian Scott. "19th Annual GLAAD Media Award Nominations Are Announced" theatermania.com, January 21, 2008
  53. ^ "Barrymore Awards. 2011 Nominees & Recipients" Archived October 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine theatrephiladelphia.org, accessed October 30, 2015
  54. ^ "Between Riverside and Crazy Wins the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama". Playbill. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  55. ^ "Drama League Awards Nominations 2016: Full List". Variety. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  56. ^ "Drama League Awards 2016 – And the Winners Are". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  57. ^ "2025 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  58. ^ "Photos: 2025 Drama League Awards (Winners, Nicole Scherzinger, Sam Pinkleton & More)". Playbill. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  59. ^ "Jeff Awards Equity Nominees". Joseph Jefferson Awards. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  60. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 12, 2025). "Maybe Happy Ending Leads 2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  61. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Award 2026 Nominations". New York Theater. April 21, 2026. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  62. ^ "Announcing the 2026 Outer Critics Circle winners: Full list". Broadway News. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  63. ^ "Schmigadoon!, Ragtime Win Big at 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 21, 2026.

References

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