ACTING UP (1970-2025)

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.