FAMILY BIO

Susan J. Rotkovitz has been a high school teacher and administrator, businesswoman, dancer, dance teacher, choreographer and director for a number of community organizations, and has performed at Spotlighters Theatre, Theatre Hopkins, Towson State University, Touchstone Theatre, and Theatre Project. She has also done commercials and film work.

Susan graduated from Western High School and the Hebrew High School of the Baltimore Hebrew College. She trained in ballet and pointe (from the age of 3 1/2 years) at the Ellen Gniasdowski School of Ballet, and also studied and taught (ballet, jazz, and tap) at the Peggy Lynne Dance Studio in Randallstown. After earning her first Bachelor's degree (in English and foreign languages) and teaching certificate from University of Maryland, College Park, she taught English, Hebrew, and Spanish at Northwestern Senior High School. It was there she first caught the acting bug, while co-sponsoring the NW Thespian Society.

In 1992, Susan returned to school to pursue a second Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts at Towson State University. There she performed as Lady Bountiful in the Mainstage production of The Beaux' Stratagem, and she co-directed the Studio Theatre production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with Dr. Ralph Blasting. While still attending school full time, Susan also originated the role of Connie in the world premiere of Maravene Loeschke's play "5" at the Baltimore Theatre Project. She graduated in May 1995 with her degree in Theatre and a 4.0 GPA.

Susan completed her Master of Fine Arts in Theatre at Towson University. During her first semester in the program, Susan served as dramaturg for the Mainstage production of Etta Jenks and performed in a cutting of The Ghost Sonata. Next, she joined an ensemble for The Baltimore Project, a performance piece created by students in the MFA program, in conjunction with Touchstone Theatre of Bethlehem, PA. This piece was performed at both the Baltimore Theatre Project and Touchstone Theatre in Pennsylvania. At the same time, Susan helped to produce the Mid-Atlantic Movement Theatre Festival, which was hosted by TSU. Susan served on the Board of MAMTF, and helped coordinate the Festival, for the five years. Following the Festival and the tour of The Baltimore Project, Susan appeared again at The Baltimore Theatre Project, under the auspices of The Women's Project at Theatre Project, which featured her original one-person piece, Transitions, along with new works from several other local artists.

Susan and her husband Ivan have been married for more than 30 years. Ivan, a pharmacist, is most supportive of her theatrical endeavors. (In fact, many years ago, he was the one who forced her into her first audition -- and she won a featured role in Othello at Spotlighters Theatre as a result!)

Ivan and Susan have two daughters, Miri and Shani. Miri began her college career at Towson State studying theatre, and was instrumental in encouraging Susan to return to school. Miri graduated from Brandeis University in 1996. She performed in a number of shows at Towson State, Brandeis, in the Boston area, and off-Broadway. Her credits include The Good Woman of Setzuan, Antigone, The Bacchae, A Few Good Men, G-d of Isaac, Cloud Nine, The King and I, Man of LaMancha, The Skin of Our Teeth, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Golem, The Cherry Orchard, Reefer Madness, and Much Ado About Nothing. Miri, with her husband, fellow actor and clinical psychologist, Dan, now reside in New York, where Miri attended NYU and received her Masters in Food Studies and Nutrition. Miri, formerly an RD at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, writes for the James Beard Foundation and its James Beard Magazine, and is a featured contributor in other food studies texts, including Culinary Tourism. Shani graduated from Emerson College in Boston, where she was a Film and Radio Production major. She now resides in Los Angeles, where she is working freelance, having graduated as a Producing Fellow with a Masters of Fine Arts from American Film Institute. Shani has also performed in several TV commercials, was an extra in the Barry Levinson movie, Avalon, and has done featured roles in several school plays, including Fiddler on the Roof and The Mouse That Roared.

Susan has been an active member of the Baltimore community for most of her life. She and her daughters are Life Members of Hadassah; Ivan is an Associate. In past years Susan has taught at several private Jewish day schools in the area and has served on many boards of directors, including Sinai Hospital Auxiliary, the Women's Division of the Associated, and Hillel of Greater Baltimore. In addition, she used to direct local Jewish youth in community theatre productions at schools and the Jewish Community Center. She is a founding member of the Baltimore Theatre Alliance, and served as its secretary for seven years. She now sits on its advisory board. Susan has been a board member of Young Audiences of Maryland, and continues to serve on several professional task forces for arts in education.

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Last Updated: Friday, February 16, 2007