Sandy Rustin is a Broadway playwright and actress.

One of the most produced playwrights in America, Sandy penned the adaptation of the cult-hit film, CLUE which has enjoyed over 4,000 productions worldwide. The NY TIMES called CLUE “a welcome throwback to an era of physical comedy!” CLUE is currently touring the U.S. (touring schedule here) and is available for licensing via Broadway Licensing. 

Sandy’s original comedy, THE COTTAGE, (“Laugh Out Loud!” – The NY Times), directed by Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) ran at The Hayes Theatre for a limited-engagement on Broadway, starring Eric McCormick and Laura Bell Bundy and is available for licensing via Broadway Licensing’s Dramatists Play Service.

Sandy’s musical adaptation of MGM’s film, MYSTIC PIZZA, directed by Casey Hushion will have its East Coast premiere at The Paper Mill Playhouse before launching a National Tour (touring schedule here) and is available for licensing via Concord Theatricals.

Upcoming theatrical projects include NOW NEVER KNOWS TOMORROW, (previously, HOUSTON) recipient of the New American Musical Award - now in development with Grammy winner, Edie Brickell & The Heavy Makeup Band, LOCH NESS, a new musical in collaboration with Ovation winner, Marshall Pailet and AD Penado, THE SUFFRAGETTE’S MURDER, a new play premiering at The Denver Center for Performing Arts in February 2025 (available for licensing via Broadway Licensing’s Dramatist Play Service), and ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE … a new original juke box musical premiering in Chicago at The Marriott Theatre in 2025. 

In partnership with Disney, Sandy created a musical review: JOLLY HOLIDAY with DISNEY ON BROADWAY, which premiered at Paper Mill Playhouse, the new YA musical: IN THIS TOGETHER for their Junior division, and A STORY FOR BELLE for their cruise lines. For Mattel, Sandy created and wrote the book & lyrics for the national tour of American Girl Live. 

For NY’s City Center’s Encores!, Sandy adapted Jerry Herman’s DEAR WORLD, a NY Times Critic's Pick, directed by Josh Rhodes and starring Donna Murphy, and with collaborator Sarah Saltzberg, gave a “thorough feminist scouring” (NY Times) to Rogers & Hart’s I MARRIED AN ANGEL, directed by Joshua Bergasse.

Sandy’s play, EVERYTHING SEEMS LIKE MAYBE, is published and licensed by Playscripts and 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 comedy, ELIJAH, was named amongst the Jewish Plays Project “Top Plays of 2020” and selected as a semi-finalist in the Eugene O’Neill Festival.

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).

For television, Sandy is working with Sidney Clifton of the Jim Henson Company on developing a new family dramedy for television that utilizes their newly patented HDPS (Henson Digital Puppeteering System) and with the Australian company, JC Media Consulting, on a Broadway musical series for children.

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 was co-founding artistic director of Midtown Direct Rep.

With her family, Sandy created the Jerry Kraut Memorial Fund, which supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Chicago. She also serves on the advisory board for Camp Kesem, a national movement dedicated to helping children through and beyond their parent’s cancer. Northwestern University graduate. Sandy is a member of ASCAP, SAG, AEA, and the Dramatists Guild and is represented by United Talent Agency and Kaplan/Perrone.