An engaging conversation with Chicago-based director, adaptor, and advocate Lavina Jadwani about:
- Dismantling anti-black language in Shakespeare
- Identity Conscious Casting
- Challenging the idea that Shakespeare is accessible to only certain people and claiming the label "Professional Shakespeare Nerd"
- Bringing text to life vs "getting it right" in plays with heightened language
- The awareness that needs to go into how stories are told on stage.

Unapologetically Original is a weekly interview series that highlights inspiring individuals from the Theatre, Film, and TV world who have been agents of change in their own lives and in the lives of others. Tune in live on Instagram @priyankashettyactor every Thursday at 11 AM EST to get to know these amazing individuals and their incredible contributions as artists and leaders!

Lavina Jadhwani creates work that is well-crafted, rigorously researched, compassionately curated, and radically inclusive. As a second-generation immigrant, Lavina constantly investigates the question, “What does it mean to be an American?” and through her work, she strives to expand the definition of that word to include more minority voices.

Lavina’s directing credits include work at Actors Theatre of Louisville, American Conservatory Theater, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Guthrie Theater, Mixed Blood Theatre Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Phoenix Theatre Indianapolis, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Teatro Vista, Writers Theatre, and Rasaka Theatre Company (where she served as Artistic Director for 6 years). In 2013, Time Out Chicago named her their “Best Next Generation Stage Director.”

Lavina is a proud graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University (MFA, Directing), Carnegie Mellon University (BFA, Scenic Design; Masters, Arts Management), and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. www.lavinajadhwani.com