Christopher Rivas
“If we only had a year to live, what would change in us?” Most people build altars after someone dies. The Punchline, a new solo piece from playwright and performer Christopher Rivas, urges us to build those altars now, to our own lives and the moments that touch and change us, while we’re still alive. Through humor, story, and ceremony, The Punchline reminds us to live in the present and celebrate it as sacred, because it won’t last.
Christopher Rivas is an acclaimed author, actor and storyteller whose work spans theater, literature and film — with a focus on identity, history and untold narratives. His critically celebrated solo play, The Real James Bond… Was Dominican, has toured theaters across the country, engaging audiences with its dynamic storytelling and powerful exploration of race, masculinity and cultural erasure. His play Rough Magic, starring Annie Gonzalez, is being adapted into a book, and is set for release in 2026.
Rivas is currently the artist-in-residence at Arizona State University (ASU) for the next three years, where he continues to develop new works that challenge and inspire.
His book Brown Enough has received national recognition, becoming required reading in classrooms and curriculum across the country, solidifying its place as an essential exploration of Latinidad, belonging, and race in America. His children’s book, You’re a Good Swimmer, tells the story of conception without gendered terms, and is inclusive of all family dynamics. As the founder of the Brown Literacy Movement, he has led national campaigns to bring culturally relevant literature into classrooms and communities of color to combat poor literacy among our youth. On screen, Chris is known for his role on Call Me Kat, opposite Mayim Bialik. He also hosts two podcasts: Brown Enough, which explores the parallel themes of his book through interview-style episodes; and Rubirosa, a 10-episode documentary-style investigation of Porfirio Rubirosa, a Dominican diplomat, race car driver, soldier and polo player who was the inspiration for ‘James Bond’. With an expansive body of work and momentum across publishing, film and theater, Rivas is at the forefront of powerful, intersectional storytelling that redefines representation. His creative activism continues to challenge dominant narratives, increasing access to belonging, and redefining what public service can look like for bodies of culture.
Visit his website www.christopherrivas.com
Instagram: @christopher__rivas