she appeared in the premiere of the nicky silver play "the lyons" at the off-broadway vineyard theatre, beginning in september 2011, through november 11. ben brantley, "the new york times" reviewer, commented: "watching ms. lavin, i found myself thinking of nora from ibsen's "doll's house" – well, a pursed-lipped, lemony-sour, older nora in pseudo-chanel, one who's never at a loss for what to say and when to say it. rita may be a little behind schedule in discovering herself, but no one can fault the hair-trigger timing of the actress playing her or the surprising dimensions she finds within one-liners." she reprised her role in the broadway production, which opened at the cort theatre on april 23, 2012 and closed on july 1, 2012.