Erik Liberman

Liberman has originated roles in Broadway productions including War Paint, as Revlon founder Charles Revson opposite Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole, directed by Michael Greif, and in Alfred Uhry's LoveMusik with Donna Murphy and Michael Cerveris, directed by Harold Prince.[1][2][3][4]

He originated the role of Telephone Guy in The Band's Visit in a performance called "the burning emotional core of the whole night." The New York Times added, "When the ensemble, led by Mr. Liberman, delivers the show’s final number, 'Answer Me,' the music takes on a transcendent harmonic shimmer that stops the heart." The show received 2017 New York Drama Critics' Circle, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, and Obie Awards for Best Musical.[5][1][6][7][8][9]

Liberman debuted the role of Clopin Trouillefou in Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, respectively. The original cast recording reached #1 on Billboard charts, toppling Hamilton. He also originated roles in stage adaptations of the films Reefer Madness! and Somewhere in Time.[10][11][12][13][14]

His performance as Motel the Tailor in the North American tour of Fiddler on the Roof opposite Topol, Harvey Fierstein, and Theodore Bikel was reviewed as "a showcase of sheer star power." He later co-conceived and co-directed Raising the Roof, a 50th anniversary celebration of Fiddler at New York City's Town Hall, and performed in Symphony Space's Fiddler at 50 gala, co-chaired by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Harold Prince, and Stephen Sondheim.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

Liberman held roles in revivals including Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along and a 25th anniversary production of Into the Woods and in Kooman and Diamond's Dani Girl. He played Groucho Marx twice Off-Broadway and at the Obama White House. Drama Desk president William Wolf noted, "Unless we can dig up Groucho himself, Erik Liberman will do."[25][26][4][27][28][29][30]

Liberman made his "superb" Off-Broadway debut in The Calamity of Kat Kat and Willie followed by For Elise. He appeared in concert stagings of Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat, The Who's Tommy, and Carol Burnett's Hollywood Arms with Tyne Daly, and provided choreography for Mabou Mines Dollhouse.[31][32][33][34][35][36]

Liberman began working on television as a child, including an early appearance opposite Joe DiMaggio. Developmental concerts at Joe's Pub led to his role as the musical doppelganger of Jay Duplass in the series finale of Amazon's Transparent. He also appeared in episodes of Vinyl, Modern Family, Unforgettable and Angel, among others[37][38][39][40][41][42].

Liberman contributed to books including Luminous Life: How the Science of Light Unlocks the Art of Living and Wisdom from an Empty Mind and has written for publications including The Hollywood Reporter and Huffington Post. He is also writing a book on American actress Jayne Mansfield.[43][44][42][45][46]

In 2020, Liberman launched Bridge to Broadway, an online educational platform connecting master teachers with theatre students, benefiting The Actors Fund and other charities. Guest artists included Chita Rivera, Alan Menken, Judith Light, Ali Stroker, Ben Vereen, Lea Salonga, and André de Shields.[47][48][49]

Liberman received a YoungArts award in high school and subsequent grants from the National YoungArts Foundation to act at Sundance Theatre Lab. He won the Lotte Lenya Competition in 2005. Harold Prince was a judge and remarked, "Erik is the real deal... Once you've seen him, you can't forget him," hiring the actor for LoveMusik, his Broadway debut. Liberman later appeared in Singing the Story, a documentary about the competition. He is also the recipient of Helen Hayes, Ovation, Garland, and Connecticut Critics Circle Awards.[50][51][52][53][54][55][56][12][57][58][59]