Susan Rabin

Chicago born and raised playwright SUSAN RABIN earned B.S. and M.A. degrees (theater/broadcasting) from Northwestern University. Susan practiced entertainment law in San Francisco and Los Angeles, worked as a television producer, drama teacher, and sang and toured with Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks. She serves as Artistic Director of Windy City Productions which was awarded a 2022 California Arts Council Cultural Pathways grant and a 2022 Theatre Bay Area CA$H Performs grant. She was also awarded a Marin Arts Council playwriting grant.
JIVE the Musical (book, music, lyrics by Susan Rabin), will be produced October 10-12, 2025 with Abbeville Performing Arts in South Carolina.
Productions: JIVE (Mountain View Ctr for the Performing Arts, 2018), NOSEJOB (Phoenix Theater, San Francisco, 2016)...

Chicago born and raised playwright SUSAN RABIN earned B.S. and M.A. degrees (theater/broadcasting) from Northwestern University. Susan practiced entertainment law in San Francisco and Los Angeles, worked as a television producer, drama teacher, and sang and toured with Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks. She serves as Artistic Director of Windy City Productions which was awarded a 2022 California Arts Council Cultural Pathways grant and a 2022 Theatre Bay Area CA$H Performs grant. She was also awarded a Marin Arts Council playwriting grant.
JIVE the Musical (book, music, lyrics by Susan Rabin), will be produced October 10-12, 2025 with Abbeville Performing Arts in South Carolina.
Productions: JIVE (Mountain View Ctr for the Performing Arts, 2018), NOSEJOB (Phoenix Theater, San Francisco, 2016), Aunt Lakie’s Not Coming to Dinner (Phoenix Theater, San Francisco, 2015), Phillie Ain’t No Fool, (Oxnard, CA Play Festival, 2010), and the musical RAINBOW (Mill Valley Center for the Performing Arts). Maks & the Flying Smirnovs and NOSEJOB the Musical (book, music, lyrics by Susan Rabin) are 2 additional works in development.
REVIEWS:
“A sweet comedy that blends familiar elements from 'The Odd Couple' with one woman's libidinous fantasies about her mailman, Susan Rabin's 'Aunt Lakie's Not Coming to Dinner' is one of the most enjoyable small-ensemble productions now running in San Francisco.” –
Barry Willis, President, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle.
“Provocative, funny & sexy. You'll love it! ...Playwright Susan Rabin is a Winner.”
Lee Hartgrave, Walkin’ Broadway.

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Scripts

The Shiva

by Susan Rabin

Cast Size
10
Genre
comedy

A Jewish memorial event pulls a family apart when the widow is accused of homicide and she accuses her sister-in-law of adultery. A Chinese-Jewish Rabbi tries to mediate the chaos, but the family is flustered by the racial “outsider.” They skirmish over religious and cultural differences and grapple with family loyalties and guilt, while racing against the clock to finish the ceremony before Dateline starts.

A Jewish memorial event pulls a family apart when the widow is accused of homicide and she accuses her sister-in-law of adultery. A Chinese-Jewish Rabbi tries to mediate the chaos, but the family is flustered by the racial “outsider.” They skirmish over religious and cultural differences and grapple with family loyalties and guilt, while racing against the clock to finish the ceremony before Dateline starts.