Liv Jonson is an actor, playwright, educator, and hairstylist from based in Chicago. Growing up with a big imagination and a deep love of storytelling, Liv has always been drawn to creating worlds, characters, and moments that feel honest, human, and alive.
She earned her BA in Theatre Performance from Dillard University, home to the oldest HBCU theatre program in the country, where she developed a strong foundation not only as a performer but as a well-rounded theatre artist. While there, she immersed herself in all sides of production, gaining experience in technical theatre. While at Dillard, Liv also stepped fully into playwriting. She wrote, produced, and directed her original play ROUGAROU in her final semester of undergrad. Her work has since been selected for Equity readings and featured in the Horizon Theatre’s New South Young Playwrights Festival.
Liv received her MFA in Acting from Indiana University, where she gained extensive professional training and built meaningful industry connections while preparing for life beyond school. Her graduate experience sharpened her craft, strengthened her artistic voice, and deepened her commitment to storytelling that feels grounded, specific, and emotionally truthful.
Another creative passion that has been part of Liv’s life since childhood is Black hairstyling. She now pursues it professionally alongside acting and writing, with hopes to focus on Black hair for film and television. To her, hair is a powerful part of storytelling, identity, and culture.
Outside of her creative work, Liv loves getting lost in dramatic and supernatural TV shows, listening to psychology and pop culture videos, reading dystopian fiction, and spending time with her two cats, Charlie and Simba. She has a major sweet tooth and will always choose sweet over savory.
