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 is the #1 theatre newsletter on Substack and 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, The Huntington, Woolly Mammoth, Baltimore Center Stage, Repertory Theater of St. Louis, and Long Wharf Theater.
Lauren has dramaturged over 45 new, contemporary, and classic plays. She 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 spent six years as the Artistic Associate at the WordBRIDGE, an intensive play development laboratory for pre-professional playwrights. She oversaw the script office and facilitated artist residencies and development processes for over 30 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 recently taught contemporary American plays in the Department of Performing Arts at American University. She is currently serving a three-year term as a Helen Hayes judge for musicals. Lauren graduated from Bryn Mawr College, where she studied English, History of Art, and Creative Writing.