Lauren Halvorsen is a dramaturg and writer based in Washington, DC.
She writes Nothing for the Group, a weekly newsletter about the American theatre. The publication was cited as the "Best Way to Learn About the American Theatre Industry" in Washington City Paper's 2021 Best of DC issue.
Lauren is currently working on projects for Theatre Washington, Woolly Mammoth, Baltimore Center Stage, Repertory Theater of St. Louis, and Long Wharf Theater.
She has dramaturged over 45 new, contemporary, and classic plays, including world premieres by Rachel Bonds, Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm, and Morgan Gould. Lauren spent nine years as the Associate Literary Director at Studio Theatre, where she co-managed the theatre’s script submission, commissioning, and season planning processes; scouted new work around the world; and produced new play workshops, readings, artistic presentations, and post-show conversations.
Lauren also spent six summers as the Artistic Associate at WordBRIDGE, a three-week intensive play development laboratory for pre-professional playwrights. She managed the year-long submission and evaluation process, led the script office, and facilitated artist residencies and developmental workshops for over 35 writers.
She has held various artistic and literary positions at the Alley Theatre, City Theatre Company, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, and The Wilma Theater. Lauren has written features and reports for American Theatre, Howlround, 3Views, and Theatre Washington.
Lauren recently taught contemporary American plays in the Department of Performing Arts at American University and served a three-year term as a Helen Hayes Awards judge for musicals. She’s currently serving on the 2024-25 Board of Artistic Advisors for DC Theater Arts. Lauren graduated from Bryn Mawr College, where she studied English, History of Art, and Creative Writing.
Press
“When Paying Dues Doesn’t Pay the Rent, How Does Theater Survive?”, The New York Times
“Why the DC Theater World Is Obsessed With This Substack”, Inside Hook
“An Interview with Nothing for the Group’s Lauren Halvorsen”, Upstage Left: Intimate Conversations with New York Theater podcast
“In-person theater is back. A lost generation of artists chose not to return with it”, Los Angeles Times
20 Theater Figures on How to ‘Revolutionize’ Their World”, The New York Times
“A Conversation with Lauren Halvorsen”, Teaching Drama podcast
“DC’s Theater Workers Say The Industry Is (Slowly) Rebounding”, DCist
“Without Pandemic Relief, Theater Professionals Debate Leaving the Industry”, Washington City Paper
