Actor
Leslie’s acting career has taken her from one side of the country to the other.
She has performed professionally on the East Coast with the New York Theatre Strategy and Long Island’s PAF Playhouse; in Los Angeles with the Pacific Resident Theatre Ensemble, the Commonwealth Theatre, the Vanguard Theatre Ensemble, the Broadway Playhouse, and the Padua Hills Festival; and regionally with the Asolo State Theatre of Florida, the California Actors’ Theatre and the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival.
She most recently played Maria Clemm in Foothill Theatre Company’s production of Evermore, and Marmee in their staging of Little Women.
Leslie’s had professional training at the HB Studio and Circle in the Square in New York; ACT in San Francisco; and UCLA, the American Film Institute and the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in LA. She has a B.A. in Dramatic Art from the University of California, and a M.F.A. in Acting from Stanford University. She has also taught acting at a number of universities, schools, and acting companies.
Leslie is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Acting Reviews
“Foothill’s EVERMORE leaves a feeling of wanting more….without the superb cast the play might not have resonated so strongly. ….Leslie Ann Rivers creates a very believably aggrieved and mourning mother-in-law to Poe.”
Hindy Greenberg, THE UNION
“'Evermore' is not to be missed....The sterling script is rendered gold by director Jon Tracy and platinum performances by four top regional stars....This is one play in which the female parts are given good material and time to express it as actors. Those women are, as Leslie Rivers and Elana Wright portray them, as strong and forceful as the men.”
Tom Nadeau, THE APPEAL-DEMOCRAT
“Leslie Ann Rivers gives an outstanding performance in the lead role of Anastasia....For those who like intense drama, a scene between Anastasia and the Empress gives the most moving performance seen this season.”
Dave Butler, THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN
“The Vanguard Theatre Ensemble is presenting G.B. Shaw’s classic comedy, Arms and the Man. Wendy Abas is the beautiful Raina....Her mother, Catherine Petkoff, is played by Leslie Ann Rivers. There is a special chemistry between the two, and together they draw many of the laughs from Shaw’s clever dialogue.”
Lorna Densmore Funk, FULLERTON OBSERVER
“Maud Gonne Says No To The Poet is a probing of the mind of an emotional, temperamental, and totally committed person who is brought to life in an exciting characterization by Leslie Ann Rivers. Maude Gonne is a dream role, and Rivers does justice to the challenge. She uses the full range of her considerable abilities. Beginning with a very funny series of heartwarming anecdotes, Rivers quickly wins the audience over, then charges along changing from exhilarated to sad, joyous to despondent, sullen to outraged. For frosting on the cake, she flourishes a charming, consistent and correct Irish brogue. We discover a Maudie who, whatever her faults, is a warm, loving and tender person, but one free of conventional restraints of decorum.”
Ron Secor, SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE
“A Christmas Carol, San Jose Theatre Guild’s contribution to local holiday tradition, is in good hands with John Carradine as Scrooge....Leslie Ann Rivers excels among the guest professionals....She ably handles her part as Belle, the sweetheart who represents Scrooge’s last chance for happiness during Christmas Past.”
Gloria Tully, SAN JOSE MERCURY
“Among the ‘goods,’ we would list Leslie Ann Rivers as Audrey, Touchstone’s love. Miss Rivers played her role of ignorant country wench to perfection. She and Mr. Sanders (Touchstone) work so well together that one is tempted to wish to see them so in vehicles such as Two for the Seesaw, or The Four Poster.”
NEW JERSEY MUSIC & ARTS