Playwrights
Urist, Rachel
March 22, 1949 –
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, NY
Place of Principle Residence: Ann Arbor, MI
Biography:
Rachel Feldbin Urist was born to Betty and Rabbi Abraham Urist in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Queens College of the City of New York and got her B.A. and M.A. at University of Michigan in 1969 and 1970 respectively. From 1972 to 1975 she taught Dramatic Literature at the University of Michigan. Urist went on to immerse herself in the theatrical world, working as a theater critic for the Ann Arbor newspaper, radio, and television. She has written a plethora of plays, winning several playwriting awards. Her play The Children of Abraham Project that focuses on Jewish, Christian, and Islamic youth right after 9/11, was the subject of a CBS documentary. Along with playwriting, Urist has been a director and actress, and was named “Best Actress” by the Ann Arbor News in 1999. In addition, she has worked as a Writer in Residence for public schools around Michigan. Currently Urist is the executive director of New Voices, a non-profit organization that promotes self-discovery through theater.
Selected Works:
- The Children of Abrapham Project
- Shylock’s Daughter
- Clowns on Ice
- Shtetl Tales
- A Pound of Feathers
- The Whipping Boy
Awards:
- 1990 Finalist, 5th Annual City Lights Theatre Playwriting Contest
- 1989 Finalist, IUPUI Playwriting Contest
- 1984 Jacksonville University Playwriting competition for Off and Running
- 1981 U-M Flint, Playwriting competition .
- 1983 First prize, John Gassner Memorial Playwriting Competition for Going Up
- 1990 Individual Creative Artist Award, Michigan Council for the Arts for The Sentimental Father
- 1987 Individual Creative Artist Award, Michigan Council for the Arts for The Talking Cure
- 1984 Individual Creative Artist Award, Michigan Council for the Arts for Blueprints
- 1985 Michigan Council for the Humanities grant for Shtetl Tales
- 1985 F S Drama Award for Shtetl Tales
- 1999 Best Actress, The Ann Arbor News
- 1987 Attic Theatre Centre’s 5th Annual One Act Competition, for Luck of the Draw
Critical Reception:
Urist has had six commissions for plays, and sixty-five productions and readings of her plays in cities across the country. Thanks to her prize-winning work, she is a prominent Michigan playwright and artist.
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Most of Urist’s career has been centered in Ann Arbor. After receiving her Masters at the University of Michigan, Urist wrote and critiqued plays for local publications and theatres. In addition Urist is involved in Michigan Public Schools as a writer in residence.