jennifer berry

I am a writer and creator who dives into the personal and political aspects of women’s lives: their work; their families; and their friendships. My play "Big Pharma" was commissioned in 2004 by Bmoca. The Boulder Museum of Contempoarty Art and then toured. Produced at The Marsh Theater in San Francisco, The Changing Scene Theater in Denver and many college campuses across the U.S. My play "After, all" was featured at The Great Plains Theater Conference in 2010. My play “Ojalá” had it’s world premiere at Casa 0101 in 2010. Then in 2019 “Ojalá” was optioned as a screenplay. My play "The Maid's Daughters" was a finalist at Eugene O'Neill Theater Conference in 2016 & 2017. My Television pilot "Playing with Fire" was a finalist at The Orchard Project Showrunners Program in 2019 & 2020. My work has been featured in Ms. Magazine, HowlRound, and several other feminist publications. I am a proud member of The Playwrights Union, a network of L.A. Playwrights writing for theater, television and film and also part of Antaeus Theater Company Playwrights Lab. My feature film “The Exchange” was released in 2019. It was the opening short film at The Madrid International Film Festival. It was also honored at the Hollywood Reel Film Festival and The LA Women’s in February 2020. 

WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Website: https://www.jenniferberry.net
Instagram: jenniferberry1
Twitter: JenniferLBerry

MORE ABOUT ME
My most gratifying moment. Each play is like one of my babies: Performing "Big Pharma" and seeing the success of that show. Watching people react to my words. Reading the reviews.Having it tour and travel for years. With my run of "After, all" I used to love listening to the actors say my words while I was backstage. There was one monologue of mine I used to just wait for. And I would think "I wrote that!" And now this actress is elevating it to even a higher atmosphere. I feel most like myself when I'm around other playwrights and theater people listening to my work being performed. I also feel like myself when I'm actually writing. I overcome disappointment by crying a lot, then calling friends, and then getting back to work. Baking and biking also prove to be useful when I'm in a funk. If I could bring one change to theater...it would be gender parity on all stages, every season. I want to hear more female, non-binary and trans stories. I want artistic directors to know that we as female playwrights are tracking them. We see who you produce. Please don't tell me "things are getting better." I've been told that for twenty years and things are not getting better fast enough!!!!! Excuse me, our lives are waiting. What's the one thing nobody knows about you that you'd like them to know? Gosh, I'm pretty open. I guess it would be that I still feel scared all the time. That as much as I like myself, I'm still way too hard on myself. And what I want for myself is what I want for every woman--freedom to express herself. When I'm not writing my favorite thing to do is dance in the kitchen with my twins after having eaten a great meal that my husband usually prepares. Why do I keep doing theater? Because it is a LIVE COMMUNITY event. It still startles me, excites me and fills me with hope. I was able to write myself into a life I wanted. All of my best friends I've made by doing my art! Why would ever quit? How do I imagine telling stories in these times? Work about the Climate Emergency. The Production that changed my life. "Twilight" by Anna Deavere Smith. It motivated me to write "Big Pharma." When the theater critic of The LA Weekly compared my show to hers, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. 

WHAT I'M WORKING ON
A play about a mother, daughter and grandmother. How their dreams intersect on a planet that is running out of time.

KEYWORDS
​Family, Political, Food, Native American, Climate, Historical, Radio plays, Equality, Climate, Bi-sexual, Historical