ACTING UP (1970-2025)
Anthology of North American Mennonite Plays
A representative collection of 51 plays and musicals
in six volumes (1970-2025)
1970-2025 in Six Volumes
Volume 1: 1970-1979
ISBN: 978-1-990827-09-9 (pbk)
Cheyenne Jesus Buffalo Dream by Robert D. Hostetter
A Lean and Hungry Priest by Warren Kliewer
The Booth Brothers by Warren Kliewer
The Blowing and the Bending by James Juhnke and J. Harold Moyer
Chasing the Wind by Lauren Friesen and Lyle Preheim
Who Burned the Barn Down? by Merle Good
Volume 2: 1980-1989
ISBN: 978-1-990827-10-5 (pbk)
The Courier by Vern Thiessen
The Shunning by Patrick Friesen
Heart of the World by Helen Stoltzfus with Albert Greenberg, and Martha Boesing
Two Marys by Warren Kliewer
Dirk’s Exodus by James Juhnke and J. Harold Moyer
Dance of the Kobzar by James Bixel
Castle on the Prairie by Lauren Friesen
Volume 3: 1990-1999
ISBN: 978-1-990827-11-2 (pbk)
The Raft by Patrick Friesen
Censored by Alvin Schnupp
Going Places by Merle Good
Hawkfeather by Lauren Friesen
Fisheyes by Ted Swartz and Lee Eshleman
Creation Chronicles by Ted Swartz and Lee Eshleman
Volume 4: 2000-2009
ISBN: 978-1-990827-12-9 (pbk)
How the War Started by Doug Reed
Lenin’s Embalmers by Vern Thiessen
Quite an Undertaking by Veralyn Warkentin
In a Time of War by Miriam Suzanne
These Corydon Blues by Di Brandt
The Longing by Robert Hostetter
Bigger Guns III: Return of the Apocalypse (Again) by Miriam Suzanne, Michelle Milne, et. al.
Mary and Martha by Veralyn Warkentin
Rothko by Lauren Friesen
Looking for Lulu by Michelle Milne
Volume 5: 2010-2019
ISBN: 978-1-990827-13-6 (pbk)
A Short History of Crazy Bone by Patrick Friesen
The Lamentable Tragedie of Scott Walker by Doug Reed
Burning Libraries by Helen Stoltzfus
Helen at the Gym (Again) by Anya Martin
The Death of Pollyanna by Veralyn Warkentin
One Happy Family by Merle Good
inclusIVitY by Alvin Schnupp
The Preacher and The Shrink by Merle Good
Camino by Anya Martin
Listening for Grace by Ted Swartz
Feral by Bruce Hostetler
Wine and Little Breads by Armin Wiebe
Geertruydt by Julia Reimer
Volume 6: 2020-2025
ISBN: 978-1-990827-23-5 (pbk)
Benched by John Friesen
The Dream Inside Us by Helen Stoltzfus
The Sitter by Patrick Friesen
Voice of the Residue by Cameron Altaras
The Bridge by Veralyn Warkentin
Goods & Effects by Alvin Schnupp
Wheelies by Armin Wiebe
Bat Kol by Cameron Altaras
Pity+Fear by Miriam Suzanne
Lauren Friesen, Editor
Lauren Friesen was a theatre adjudicator for the Kennedy Center for sixteen years. He also served as the chair of their National Playwriting Program and received the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion for his contribution to University and College Theatre. Lauren's first play, “Abraham and Isaac” was published in Faith and Art Magazine while he was a student at AMBS (Elkhart, IN). Subsequently, his plays have been performed at Goshen College, Bethel College, Rosthern Junior College, University of California, Brock University, Pacific School of Religion, San Jacinto College, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, Fresno Pacific University, National Theatre-Hannover, New York University, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Munster Theatre Center, KRAB PBS-Seattle, Seattle Quaker Meeting, Vertigo Players-Michigan, George Fox College, and in many Mennonite churches and conferences. He is the past Poet in Residence with the Seattle Arts Commission and his poems have been published in a variety of literary journals. Friesen and his wife, Janet, reside in North Newton, Kansas.