Lavina Jadhwani

Lavina Jadhwani is a Chicago-based playwright, director, and activist. Popular adaptations include A CHRISTMAS CAROL (annual productions at Guthrie Theater, Penobscot Theatre Company, Baystown Little Theatre), THE SITAYANA (East West Players/EnActe Arts/Hypokrit Productions, Sanguine Theatre Company, The Tank, CAATA ConFest), and SHAKUNTALA (Goodman Theatre, Oregon Shakes, American Theatre Company). Commissions include Indianapolis Shakes, Cincinnati Shakes, the Hypocrites, Jackalope Theatre, and DePaul University. She also has four 90 minute versions of Chekhov plays available. Her critical writing has been featured on HowlRound and Rescripted and is regularly circulated in classrooms across the country.

Directing credits include Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Guthrie, Mixed Blood...

Lavina Jadhwani is a Chicago-based playwright, director, and activist. Popular adaptations include A CHRISTMAS CAROL (annual productions at Guthrie Theater, Penobscot Theatre Company, Baystown Little Theatre), THE SITAYANA (East West Players/EnActe Arts/Hypokrit Productions, Sanguine Theatre Company, The Tank, CAATA ConFest), and SHAKUNTALA (Goodman Theatre, Oregon Shakes, American Theatre Company). Commissions include Indianapolis Shakes, Cincinnati Shakes, the Hypocrites, Jackalope Theatre, and DePaul University. She also has four 90 minute versions of Chekhov plays available. Her critical writing has been featured on HowlRound and Rescripted and is regularly circulated in classrooms across the country.

Directing credits include Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Guthrie, Mixed Blood, PlayMakers Rep, the Rep of St. Louis, Asolo Rep, the Gift Theatre, the Neo-Futurists, Silk Road Rising, Teatro Vista, and Rasaka Theatre Company, where she served as Artistic Director for 7 years. Her theatre training includes a well-rounded education (BFA in Scenic Design and MA in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon; MFA in Directing from The Theatre School at DePaul University), numerous fellowships (OSF's Phil Killian Directing Fellowship, the O’Neill/NNPN's National Directors Fellowship, the Drama League's Classical Directing Fellowship, SDCF, Old Globe, Victory Gardens), and more than two decades of professional experience.

Lavina serves on the boards of the National New Play Network and the Chicago Inclusion Project. She is a proud alum of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, where she received the show choir's Bob Fosse Choreography Award and the drama club's "lifetime achievement" award.

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Scripts

Ado

by Lavina Jadhwani

1
Cast Size
4
Genre
adaptation,
comedy,
romantic comedy

Hero is falsely accused of infidelity by her fiance, publicly shamed by her father, and left at the altar on her wedding day. And just when she thinks it can't get worse, her companion Margaret reveals her own role in the events. Will Hero forgive Margaret, and can she even consider forgiving the men who wronged her? And what is this contract of marriage all about, anyway? Inspired by Shakespeare's Much Ado...

Hero is falsely accused of infidelity by her fiance, publicly shamed by her father, and left at the altar on her wedding day. And just when she thinks it can't get worse, her companion Margaret reveals her own role in the events. Will Hero forgive Margaret, and can she even consider forgiving the men who wronged her? And what is this contract of marriage all about, anyway? Inspired by Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, this new comedy offers a fresh take on an old tale.

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Persuasion

by Lavina Jadhwani

Cast Size
10—12
Genre
adaptation,
period,
romantic comedy

Eight years ago, Anne Elliot turned down the penniless sailor Frederick Wentworth, and has regretted it every moment since. When Frederick returns to town looking to marry, he is quickly taken with the charming Louisa Musgrove and Anne is soon after wooed by the wealthy William Elliot. Will this journey end in lovers meeting? Come find out in this fresh-yet-faithful adaptation of Jane Austen's last novel.

Eight years ago, Anne Elliot turned down the penniless sailor Frederick Wentworth, and has regretted it every moment since. When Frederick returns to town looking to marry, he is quickly taken with the charming Louisa Musgrove and Anne is soon after wooed by the wealthy William Elliot. Will this journey end in lovers meeting? Come find out in this fresh-yet-faithful adaptation of Jane Austen's last novel.

The Mystery of the Blue Train

by Lavina Jadhwani

Cast Size
9
Genre
adaptation,
dark comedy,
melodrama,
mystery/thriller,
period

Ruth Kettering, an American heiress in an unhappy marriage, boards an overnight train from London to the French Riviera. In the morning, she is found bludgeoned to death and the famous Heart of Fire ruby is missing from her compartment. Was this a crime of passion? Or of opportunity? Thankfully, Hercule Poirot is aboard to help solve The Mystery of the Blue Train. A murder mystery with a dash of rom com, adapted...

Ruth Kettering, an American heiress in an unhappy marriage, boards an overnight train from London to the French Riviera. In the morning, she is found bludgeoned to death and the famous Heart of Fire ruby is missing from her compartment. Was this a crime of passion? Or of opportunity? Thankfully, Hercule Poirot is aboard to help solve The Mystery of the Blue Train. A murder mystery with a dash of rom com, adapted from Agatha Christie.

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A Christmas Carol

by Lavina Jadhwani

1
Cast Size
12—25
Genre
adaptation,
holiday,
period,
young audiences

A nimble Dickensian adaptation, written to be performed by as few at 12 (or as many as you'd like). Inclusive casting required.
Premiered at the Guthrie in Minneapolis in 2021 under the direction of Joseph Haj.

A nimble Dickensian adaptation, written to be performed by as few at 12 (or as many as you'd like). Inclusive casting required.
Premiered at the Guthrie in Minneapolis in 2021 under the direction of Joseph Haj.

The Secret Garden

by Lavina Jadhwani

Cast Size
8—16
Genre
adaptation,
drama,
period,
young audiences

A nimble, movement-friendly adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel that re-imagines the Craven and Lennox families as Indian. When young Mary is orphaned in India, she's sent to Yorkshire to live with her Uncle Archibald at Misselthwaite Manor, where mysteries abound. When she finally meets her cousin Colin, she begins to understand who she is, by getting closer to their shared roots in the Secret Garden.

A nimble, movement-friendly adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel that re-imagines the Craven and Lennox families as Indian. When young Mary is orphaned in India, she's sent to Yorkshire to live with her Uncle Archibald at Misselthwaite Manor, where mysteries abound. When she finally meets her cousin Colin, she begins to understand who she is, by getting closer to their shared roots in the Secret Garden.

The Sitayana (or "How to Make an Exit")

by Lavina Jadhwani

3
Cast Size
1
Genre
adaptation,
drama,
fable/folktale

The young princess Sita follows her new husband Ram to his kingdom in Ayodhya - only to learn that he has been banished to the forest! Refusing to abandon her partner, she joins him in exile, but finds her loyalty tested to surprising lengths. A solo piece written for a South Asian woman, The Sitayana is part Hindu epic, part coming of age story, and, ultimately, a break up play. Adapted from the Sanskrit epic...

The young princess Sita follows her new husband Ram to his kingdom in Ayodhya - only to learn that he has been banished to the forest! Refusing to abandon her partner, she joins him in exile, but finds her loyalty tested to surprising lengths. A solo piece written for a South Asian woman, The Sitayana is part Hindu epic, part coming of age story, and, ultimately, a break up play. Adapted from the Sanskrit epic poem, The Ramayana.

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Kaikeyi, Mother of Kings

by Lavina Jadhwani

Cast Size
7—14
Genre
adaptation,
fable/folktale,
movement/physical,
young audiences

Kaikeyi, a young princess with warrior skills, wins the heart and favor of King Dasharatha after she saves his life in battle. Years later, she calls in those favors in order to make her son Bharat king. When the popular Prince Ram is banished as a result, Kaikeyi loses her family and her voice in the kingdom. Will she ever recover? A play about motherhood, sacrifice, and forgiveness; can play solo or as a...

Kaikeyi, a young princess with warrior skills, wins the heart and favor of King Dasharatha after she saves his life in battle. Years later, she calls in those favors in order to make her son Bharat king. When the popular Prince Ram is banished as a result, Kaikeyi loses her family and her voice in the kingdom. Will she ever recover? A play about motherhood, sacrifice, and forgiveness; can play solo or as a companion piece to THE SITAYANA.

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The Seagull

by Lavina Jadhwani

Cast Size
10—11
Genre
adaptation,
comedy,
drama,
period,
tragedy

A contemporary, heightened language version of Chekhov's classic. Written to be played without intermission (90-95 min).

Commissioned by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.

A contemporary, heightened language version of Chekhov's classic. Written to be played without intermission (90-95 min).

Commissioned by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.

The Cherry Orchard

by Lavina Jadhwani

1
Cast Size
10—14
Genre
adaptation,
comedy,
drama,
period,
political,
romantic comedy

A contemporary, heightened language version of Chekhov's classic. Written to be played without intermission.

A contemporary, heightened language version of Chekhov's classic. Written to be played without intermission.

Three Sisters

by Lavina Jadhwani

Cast Size
10—14
Genre
adaptation,
comedy,
drama,
period,
romantic comedy

A contemporary, heightened language version of Chekhov's classic. Plays around 90-95 minutes.

A contemporary, heightened language version of Chekhov's classic. Plays around 90-95 minutes.

Uncle Vanya

by Lavina Jadhwani

Cast Size
8—9
Genre
adaptation,
comedy,
drama,
romantic comedy,
tragedy

A streamlined, heightened language version of Chekhov's classic. Intermission optional.

A streamlined, heightened language version of Chekhov's classic. Intermission optional.

VANYA or "That's Life!"

by Lavina Jadhwani

1
Cast Size
7
Genre
adaptation,
comedy,
romantic comedy,
translation

In this hilarious and sharp reinvention of UNCLE VANYA, there is great providence in the shattering of a teacup, time moves backwards, and our bored, sad Chekhovian friends have a tendency to lapse into singing American Indie Folk tunes. What could be more Russian? Or American?

In this hilarious and sharp reinvention of UNCLE VANYA, there is great providence in the shattering of a teacup, time moves backwards, and our bored, sad Chekhovian friends have a tendency to lapse into singing American Indie Folk tunes. What could be more Russian? Or American?

Shakuntala, freely adapted from Kalidasa

by Lavina Jadhwani

2
Cast Size
8—9
Genre
adaptation,
adventure,
comedy,
fable/folktale,
musical,
political,
romantic comedy,
young audiences

A modern adaptation of Kalidasa’s Sanskrit drama, infused with contemporary Bollywood music.

A modern adaptation of Kalidasa’s Sanskrit drama, infused with contemporary Bollywood music.

Birbal and Akbar: Tales of Wit and Wisdom from India

by Lavina Jadhwani

Cast Size
8—12
Genre
adaptation,
comedy,
fable/folktale,
movement/physical,
musical,
translation,
young audiences

King Akbar rules wisely and fairly with the help of his famously witty courtier Birbal. Stories of their friendship are woven together with classic Indian folk tales about community, honesty, and fairness. This nimble script invites clever movement and prop design and is aimed for audiences of all ages.

King Akbar rules wisely and fairly with the help of his famously witty courtier Birbal. Stories of their friendship are woven together with classic Indian folk tales about community, honesty, and fairness. This nimble script invites clever movement and prop design and is aimed for audiences of all ages.

Juliet and Reese

by Lavina Jadhwani

2
Cast Size
2
Genre
period,
political,
romantic comedy,
tragedy

A pair of star crossed lovers are forced to grow up too soon when their are confronted with violent events in their community. This 10 minute play that spans four centuries, including two shootings in Dallas (1963 and 2016) with a little Shakespeare mixed in.

Written for Jackalope Theatre Company's Living Newspaper Festival.

A pair of star crossed lovers are forced to grow up too soon when their are confronted with violent events in their community. This 10 minute play that spans four centuries, including two shootings in Dallas (1963 and 2016) with a little Shakespeare mixed in.

Written for Jackalope Theatre Company's Living Newspaper Festival.