Do You Know? Lou Liberatore

By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI

The Coaster, March 20, 2008

Lou Liberatore is just one more example of the talent and commitment of some of the new residents to Asbury Park.

He’s an accomplished Tony-nominated actor who moved to the city full-time only a year ago, a board member of ArtsCap where he brings his years of experience as an actor and his new found love of writing and a member of the Black Box Theater Group.

Liberatore and his partner, Steve Albert, bought a home in the city three years ago, but did not make it their primary residence until a year ago. Albert, who has a masters degree in public health, is the residence director at The Center in the city.

Last year Liberatore, who continues to audition for parts, lent his expertise to the West Park Players cast of “The Laramie Project.”

When he learned of the controversy surrounding the play he stepped forward and offered to lend assistance, coaching the young high school actors and staging the set with the play’s director Bob Angelini.

Liberatore is also a member of the new Revision Theater, which moved from New York City, and he established the Jersey Shore Writer’s Studio which meets once a month at the Stephen Crane House, where aspiring writers can hear their words read out loud without being criticized.
Whoever shows up on a given night is given a part to read.

“It gives them an opportunity to hear their words out loud,” he said.

But for all his community minded activities, Liberatore still auditions for parts, mainly in New York and says he would love to become part of an ensemble cast for a television show.

He was nominated for a Tony award, Broadway’s most prestigious, along with other awards, for his part in the four character play “Burn This.”

He played along side John Malkovich and Joan Allen.

When the play was taken to London, Liberatore was stopped by his union, Actor’s Equity, because of the organization’s rules.

Malkovich told the producers he would not do the play in London without Liberatore.
“John held out for me, I was very happy about that.”

He has also had minor parts in TV shows like “Sex and the City,” “Law and Order” and the daytime soap “One Life to Live.”

He would love to work with Malkovich, who he said has a very funny dry sense of humor, or Sean Penn.

“He’s done very well with the way he chooses roles.”

A graduate of Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus, he worked as an intern at the famed Circle Repertory Theater in New York City.

He ended up doing a workshop with the group on a play by William Hoffman called “As Is.”
It was the first play produced on Broadway about the AIDS epidemic.

“I played eight different roles.”

Liberatore then spent 10 years acting in New York and 10 years in Los Angeles.

But today back in the city by the sea, the actor is focused on “raising the artistic profile of the city.”

He is very happy to advocate for artists living in the city through ArtsCap and to speak on their behalf to city officials and developers.

Although he grew up in Bergen County, he spent summers in Belmar. As a resident of Asbury Park he said he wants to make sure the arts aren’t forgotten during the city’s redevelopment.
So far he has been very impressed.

“I’m impressed with the attitudes and commitment…..I just want it (the arts) to contribute to benefit the town.”