Trivia

He was awarded the 2010 National Medal of Arts for his contributions to the American theatre as a critic, producer, playwright, and educator. He was the founder of the Yale Repertory Theatre and the American Repertory Theatre and Institute for Advanced Theatre Training, and was a former theatre critic for The New Republic since 1959. He has been a leading force in the develop of theatre and theatre artists in the United States.

He was awarded The 1985 Jujamcyn Prize for outstanding contribution to the development of creative talent for theatre for the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

He was awarded the 1986 Regional Tony Award for American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the Tony Awards in New York City as artistic director.

Brustein was the theatre critic for The New Republic from 1959 to "about 2000", and later contributed to The Huffington Post.

As the artistic director of Yale Rep from 1966 to 1979, and of ART from 1980 to 2002, Brustein supervised over 200 productions, acting in eight and directing twelve.

Brustein received the Pirandello Medal, and a medal from the Egyptian government for contributions to world theatre.

In 1996 and 1997, Brustein was involved in an extended public debate - through their essays, speeches and personal appearances - with African-American playwright August Wilson about multiculturalism, color-blind casting, and other issues where race impacts on the craft and practice of theatre in America.

Brustein's klezmer musical, with composer Hankus Netsky, The King of Second Avenue, an adaptation of Israel Zangwill's The King of the Schnorrers, was produced at the New Repertory Theatre in 2015.

As a playwright, Brustein both authored plays and adapted the material of other authors.

Brustein was married to actress Norma Ofstrock until her death in 1979. In 1996, he married activist and academic Doreen Beinart; through this marriage, he became the stepfather of journalist Peter Beinart.