We had the good fortune of connecting with Leigh Honigman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leigh, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Starting out, I often took on projects for how they’d look on my resume or for a connection I could make. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that, but I was rarely saying no to a project and felt my mission getting muddled. Over time, I’ve learned how to choose projects that truly engage me and align with my brand. Naturally, I’ve become more selective. This has helped with avoiding burnout, and with my own sustained focus.

Now, I tried to avoid taking jobs just to take them. It’s important to me to feel invested and fulfilled in what I’m doing, rather than just checking a box. I also make sure to take a “blackout” day where I don’t work whatsoever, not even a single email! Intentional rest has become an important tool in my toolbox..

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
While my work concentrates on administration and logistics, it’s to serve a creative product or process. I don’t generate my own work, but rather provide the support for artists to actualize theirs. I produce and manage theater, events, and film. I enjoy working on psychosocial new works that seek to present marginalized stories and identities, created by folks of marginalized stories and identities.

I’m most proud of my current project, a new Queer play titled YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. written by Ryan Drake and directed by Ryan Dobrin. It’s a difficult, important piece that interrogates memory, agency, and the various boundaries and violations of queer exploration. This decade-spanning work explores the effects of one night on two friends as they shift from teens to young adults. It’s a pleasure to work with a Queer team on this piece, set during a unique period in Queer history when identities were forged online. We just closed our workshop production at IRT Theater and are preparing for a full run in early 2024.

An obvious challenge has been Covid-19. Given my work depends on crowds and an audience, it’s been difficult to deal with having to balance that with Covid safety (though I always will!). To handle this, I prefer to sell under capacity and to always provide PPE. This affects the bottom line of course, but is definitely worth it for the sake of health.

Producing and management has proven to be far more creative than I ever thought it could be, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to uplift stories that need to be heard.

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 based in New York, though I have love for LA! I yearn to be a bicoastal babe soon enough. If I was showing someone around NYC, we’d make sure to check every box!

One of my favorite places to eat in New York City is San Marzano in the East Village. Amazing Italian, great prices, good drinks, and the nicest staff. Next up would be the Park Avenue Armory to check out Euphoria, the new multi-channel film installation by Julian Rosefeldt. I LOVED his work “Manifesto” with Cate Blanchett a few years back, and need to check this out. If we could finagle tickets (it’s VERY sold out), “Merrily we Roll Along” at New York Theatre Workshop looks killer. Dan Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez in the same cast? I’m IN!

Finally, Fort Tryon is slept on – it’s my favorite park in the city. It’s enormous, you can visit the Cloisters, and there’s lots of different areas to explore. It’s also pretty close to another favorite restaurant of mine, The Uptown Garrison – the best cocktails! You HAVE to try their House Old Fashioned. Full recommend.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My friends and collaborators! I love working with my loved ones, and I’m so grateful to get to do so on a regular basis. Shoutout to Glenn Morizio, my dear pal and forever muse!

Website: www.honigman.space

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matzah_brawls/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhonigman/

Image Credits
Andrew Cashin, D. Mills, Julia Rose Weinberg, Nicole Velez, Sub/Urban Photography

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