I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Jennifer Lieberman shares the steps needed to build an independent theatre company and produce your own projects in “Independent Theatre Production For The 21st Century in Seven Easy Steps.” 

The Synopsis

Do you believe that your success is determined by gatekeepers like casting directors, agents, directors or producers? Are you waiting for strangers to decide to choose you? Is your creative fire turning into frustration? Take your power back.

There is no traditional path to success for an artist, and waiting for a break is the fastest way to end your career before it begins. My life changed the moment I stopped waiting and started creating my own work. Once I took control and started producing my own projects I was finally able to become the artist I dreamed of. You have the power to make your dreams happen too, you just need a proven system.

This guide strips away the mystery of independent production and hands you a battle-tested, 7-step system designed to turn your creative vision into reality—regardless of your budget or your current industry standing.

This book is not about “hacking” the industry or chasing viral fame. It is about professional self-reliance. It is for the writer with a drawer full of scripts, the actor who is tired of waiting to get cast, and the creative who knows they have more to offer than the opportunities that come their way.

In these pages you will learn my 7-Step Roadmap:

1. Goal: Defining your Creative North Star and moving from “getting picked” to “getting it made.”

2. Material: Curating or writing the project that fits you.

3. Team: Identifying the “tribe” you need, passionate to breathe life into your vision..

4. Budget & Schedule: The art of reverse-engineering a production to fit the resources you actually have access to.

5. Fundraising: How to secure the capital needed without emptying your own pocket.

6. Marketing: an audience before the project is finished, so you aren’t shouting into the void upon release.

7. Execution: How to navigate the chaos and get to your closing performance while maintaining your sanity and chances of success.

With a clear step-by-step path there is nothing standing in the way of you and your creative vision, you just have to make a choice.

The Review

Immediately, what stood out was how well the author balanced the creative endeavors of theatre life with the detailed, nuanced world of business. The author does a great job of writing in a straightforward, skillful way while also keeping their personal experiences relatable and conversational. The fast-paced book gives readers a chance to see the readability factor at work, offering so many useful lessons and steps to take in their own work that they can use it as a reference time and time again.

The ways in which people define success in the modern world are changing drastically. As seen in projects like the latest horror thriller, Obsession, not every success can be found by major studio funding or the backing of a major corporation or organization. Sometimes, in order to truly succeed, people need to take a chance on themselves, and that is what the author drives home in this book. The emphasis on both fueling your own creative drive and, at the same time, understanding the business and need to become your own boss in the process works not only for those seeking to own a theatre company or bring theater productions to life, but in all creative works and industries, making this book such a powerful tool to wield. 

The Verdict

Insightful, educational, and thoughtful in its approach, author Jennifer Lieberman’s “Independent Theatre Production For The 21st Century in Seven Easy Steps” is a must-read nonfiction book and guide. The steps are both self-explanatory and deeply inspiring, giving readers the tools and confidence to tackle them and make their dreams a reality. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Hi, I’m Jennifer Lieberman — and I was an actor who got tired of waiting to be picked.

So I stopped waiting and started creating. I wrote and produced my own solo show, “Year of the Slut”, which went on to win the Audience Choice Award at the Frigid Festival in New York City. That show became my break — and eventually the #1 Amazon Bestselling novel “Year of the What?”, 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, among several other international awards.

That experience taught me something I now teach every day: you don’t need anyone to choose you — when you choose yourself, you just need the right tools.

I founded Make Your Own Break Ltd. to give writers and performers exactly that — a practical roadmap to produce independent film and theatre with little to no resources. Since then, I’ve appeared in over 30 international stage productions, produced over 40 independent film and theatre productions, and helped over 200 creatives make their own break through my workshops and consulting. I’m also a guest lecturer at Toronto Metropolitan University.

I hold a BA from York University in Toronto and a Certificate in Film & TV Development from UCLA Extension.

https://www.jenniferliebermanactor.com

https://www.instagram.com/iamjenlieberman