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.