Robert Brustein is an American theatrical critic, producer, playwright, writer, and educator. He founded both the Yale Repertory Theatre in Connecticut, and the American Repertory Theatre in Massachusetts. He has supervised nearly 200 productions, as well as acted in and directed several performances.

Regionally produced works include Exposed (Virginia Wimberly Theatre), The King of Second Avenue (New Repertory), The Last Will and The English Channel (Abingdon Theatre), Mortal Terror (Modern Theatre), Sarah In Blunderland or the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, Nobody Dies on Friday, and Demons (American Repertory), and Spring Forward, Fall Back (Theater J).

Brustein has penned sixteen books on theatre and society, including The Theatre of Revolt: An Approach to Modern Drama, Making Scenes: A Personal History of the Turbulent Years at Yale, 1966–1979, Who Needs Theatre: Dramatic Opinions, and Doctor Hippocrates is Out: Please Leave a Message.