Sandy Rustin is an actress and award-winning playwright named to the Broadway Women’s Fund’s “Women to Watch” list. 

Her adaptation of the cult-hit film, CLUE was the most produced American play in 2020 and 2021 (over 1000 productions!). Directed by Casey Hushion, the play broke all box office records during its regional premiere at Cleveland Playhouse, its West Coast premiere at La Mirada Playhouse, and its East Coast premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse where the NY TIMES called it “a welcome throwback to an era of physical comedy!” The play is currently running in the UK (“Cluedo”) on a national tour directed by Tony and Olivier winning director, Mark Bell. CLUE is available for licensing via Broadway Licensing. 

Sandy’s original comedy, The Cottage, (“Laugh Out Loud!” – The NY Times) was presented by Manhattan Theatre Club with Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) directing, and is in development for an upcoming commercial production in New York.

Her musical adaptation of MGM’s film, MYSTIC PIZZA, directed by Casey Hushion premiered at The Ogunquit Playhouse in '21; and will start its life of licensing at the Adirondacks Theatre Festival in the summer of '22.

Sandy has partnered with Disney to create a musical review: JOLLY HOLIDAY with DISNEY ON BROADWAY, which premiered at Paper Mill Playhouse in 2021, the new YA musical: IN THIS TOGETHER for their Junior division, and A STORY FOR BELLE for their cruise lines. (Licensed through Disney on Broadway).

Sandy is collaborating with Tony-award winning composer/lyricist, Maury Yeston, on a musical adaptation of the MGM 1930’s hit film, The Lady Eve, produced by Joey Parnes and directed/choreographed by Josh Rhodes. She is also creating a new original '80s juke box musical, MORE THAN A FEELING, in partnership with producer, Ken Davenport and Primary Wave Music, directed by Emmy-award winning director/choreographer, Joshua Bergasse.

Sandy created and wrote the book & lyrics for Mattel’s American Girl Live; a musical that toured 47 cities in the U.S. Also, with collaborator, Sarah Saltzberg, Sandy gave a “thorough feminist scouring” (NY Times) to Rogers & Hart’s I Married an Angel, which they adapted for NYC’s City Center’s Encores! directed by Joshua Bergasse. Sandy’s play, Everything Seems Like Maybe, is published and licensed by Playscripts (over 50 productions in 2021) and her new comedy, The Suffragist’s Murder, was recently written as a commission for Florida Studio Theatre’s The Suffragist Project.

Her sketch comedy musical, Rated P … For Parenthood, (“Wistfully Funny!” – The NY Times) opened Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre, was optioned for TV development with ABC Studios, and is available for licensing through Broadway Licensing. Sandy’s play, STRUCK (“A Charming Comedy!” – The NY Times) enjoyed two critically acclaimed productions at NJ REP and Theatre Raleigh. Her play, HOUSTON, is the recipient of the New American Musical Award and Sandy’s comedy, ELIJAH, was named amongst the Jewish Plays Project “Top Plays of 2020.”

Sandy's first feature film, SIFU, a coming of middle-age dramedy, is scheduled to go into production in Puerto Rico in '22/'23, directed by award-winning director, Jason Chaet, starring Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) and Armando Riesco (The Chi), produced by Hirsch Giovanni Entertainment.

Sandy was the voice director of the YA Panoply Podcast, Jessica Majors from the Peabody Award Winning Gen-Z Team and wrote a kids’ scripted podcast for Gen-Z called, The Magic Sash, hosted by Olympic gold medalist, Aly Raisman.

After being named to Florida Studio Theatre's Playwright Collective in 2020, Sandy developed a masterclass: Writing Comedy for the Stage, which she teaches to a wide range of students all over the globe (thank you Zoom).

As an actress, Sandy regularly appeared at New York’s The Upright Citizen’s Brigade in “Gravid Water” (named “Best Improv Show” by Time Out NY) for 15 years. She has worked with Loopers Unlimited as a voiceover actress on hundreds of TV shows and films and is an award-winning audiobook narrator. Favorite NY acting credits include Found (Atlantic Theatre Company), Modern Orthodox (New World Stages), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Westside Theatre), Jolson & Company (Century Center), Sarah, Plain and Tall (Lucille Lortel), and Neil Simon’s Hotel Suite (Roundabout). TV credits include “Inside Amy Schumer,” “The Scariest Show on TV” (Comedy Central), “Law and Order; SVU,” “As the World Turns,” “All My Children” and “Guiding Light.”

Sandy is the Founding Co-Artistic Director of Midtown Direct Rep. She also, with her family, created the Jerry Kraut Memorial Fund, which supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Chicago. Northwestern University graduate. Sandy is a member of ASCAP, SAG, AEA, and the Dramatists Guild and is represented by A3 Artists Agency and The Cartel.