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We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Lieberman and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jennifer, how do you think about risk?
I’m all about taking risks and truly believe ‘no risk no reward’. I was a competitive gymnast for over a decade growing up and in my training I was conditioned to take huge risks almost everyday when learning new skills. The tricks I dared to do a child, most people never dare to do in their lifetime. I’ve always been a daredevil, and adventurer and a little bit of a rebel so taking risks is just part of who I am. I moved to NY to be an actor after graduating university at 20 with no experience, no contacts, and no plan, I showed up a duffle bag and a dream, talk about risk! I feel like every artistic endeavour since then has been a series of taking risks on projects hoping for success. So it seems, taking risks and having the courage to do so is what got me to where I am now.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a multi-hyphenate writer/performer/producer who ultimately got tired of waiting for my big break and decided to start creating my own opportunities. I wear many hats, aside from my creative work I also have a consulting business Make Your Own Break.
After years of pounding the pavement and knocking on doors with no success of breaking into the entertainment industry, I created the solo-show “Year of the Slut.” This show proved to be my break and the play went on to win the Audience Choice Award in New York City and is now the #1 Amazon Best Selling novel “Year of the What?” and was awarded the Gold Medal at the 2022 Global Book Awards for Coming-of-Age Books and the 2022 IPPY Bronze Medal for Romance/Erotica Ebooks including several others. My friend Patricia was the Executive Producer of the initial play and came to LA and NY from Canada to help me with the shows. Patricia is also the friend, maybe the only one, who encouraged me to move to NY after university and follow my dreams when everyone else in my life was cautioning me to choose a more stable path.
Since deciding to make my own break I’ve appeared in over 30 international stage productions, have produced over 40 independent film and theatre productions in Canada, the US, Australia and Europe. I started the company Make Your Own Break to help other frustrated and struggling creatives make their own break, and to date I’ve helped over 100 creatives through my coaching and consulting work.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m super active and outdoorsy so we would definitely hit a few hiking trails like Temescal Canyon and Griffith Park, preferably to catch the sunset from the top. I love the beach at Point Dume and have gotten lucky seeing whales there several times, so that’s definitely on the list. Bike riding along the beach path in Venice/Santa Monica is always a fun outing. Gallery hopping in Laguna is one of my favorite things to do, I’m a huge fan of Vladimir Kush and love checking out his work. Joshua Tree and the sound bath at Integratron would be a must (unless it’s 120 degrees there). I’m a total rocker chick and love live music so we would definitely check out shows at the Truobadour, Hotel Cafe or the Mint depending on who’s playing. We’d also have to hit Jimmy Shin’s “Shindig Show” at either The Comedy Store, Improv or Roosevelt, he always has a stellar line up with some huge headliners. As for restaurants, We’d hit all my favourite vegan spots: Crossroads Kitchen, Vegan Glory, Sage, Real Food Daily, and Locali.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There have been so many people who have helped me on my journey, it has truly taken a village of mentors, champions, cheerleaders, collaborators, friends and even haters to get me where I am. My good friend Patricia has played a huge role in my success, as the first friend I made in my first acting class in Toronto when I was in University, she has been my biggest supporter over the years…mainly convincing me not to give up the many many many times I wanted to. I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to her.