Lifeline Theatre Names Lavina Jadhwani as Casting Director

Lifeline Theatre welcomes Lavina Jadhwani as Casting Director beginning February 2 marking the transition of the role from a volunteer position to a salaried member of the administrative staff. Reporting directly to Artistic Director Dorothy Milne and Managing Director Allison Cain, Jadhwani will be responsible for overseeing the audition processes for the company, collaborating closely with directors to fulfill the casting needs for Lifeline's three MainStage and three KidSeries productions every season. Jadhwani succeeds artistic ensemble member and Marketing Director Robert Kauzlaric, who served as Casting Director in a volunteer capacity since 2006. Kauzlaric and Milne will provide support and continuity, as needed, for Jadhwani as she develops this newly independent role for the organization and turns her attentions to Lifeline's forthcoming 33rd season. Meanwhile, Lifeline's 2014-15 season continues with the world premiere MainStage production "One Came Home" (running February 13-April 5, 2015) and the world premiere KidSeries production "The One And Only Ivan" (running March 21-April 26, 2015).

Lavina Jadhwani was recently named Time Out Chicago's "Best Next Generation Stage Director." She is an Artistic Associate at Silk Road Rising (Ching Chong Chinaman, Gold Boy/Emerald Girl) and Oak Park Festival Theatre (Hamlet, Twelfth Night). She also served as the Artistic Director of Rasaka Theatre Company from 2007-2013, where she directed Much Ado About Nothing, the Chicago premiere of Gruesome Playground Injuries, and directed and curated the Chicago premiere of Yoni Ki Baat (2009 & 2010) and culture/clash: the nation's first fully-produced South Asian short play festival. She is a recipient of the Drama League's Classical Directing Fellowship, an SDCF Observership, an Illinois Board of Higher Education Fellowship, and an LMDA Residency Award. Jadhwani is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University (BFA, Scenic Design; Masters, Arts Management) and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy; she will complete an MFA in Directing at The Theatre School at DePaul University in June 2015.

"I am an artist who is passionate about community building, great literature, and developing new work, and I'm thrilled to join the Lifeline family, who shares these passions," said Jadhwani. "We also share a commitment to diversity, authenticity of voice, and nurturing emerging artists. I learned this in 2007 when Dorothy invited me to join Lifeline's production of The Piano Tuner as the dramaturg. I'm honored to return to the company in a permanent position and am excited by the conversations that this creative collaboration will spark about representation in literature and in the Chicago theatrical community."

In addition to Cain and Milne, Lifeline Theatre is led by an active group of 27 artistic ensemble members, including Aly Renee Amidei, Patrick Blashill, Christina Calvit, Heather Currie, Victoria DeIorio, Amanda Delheimer Dimond, Alan Donahue, Kevin D. Gawley, Peter Greenberg, James E. Grote, Chris Hainsworth, John Hildreth, Paul S. Holmquist, Elise Kauzlaric, Robert Kauzlaric, Frances Limoncelli, Amanda Link, Katie McLean Hainsworth, Shole Milos, Sandy Snyder Pietz, Suzanne Plunkett, Maren Robinson, Phil Timberlake, Jenifer Tyler, Christopher M. Walsh, and Elizabeth Powell Wislar.

Now in its 32nd season, Lifeline Theatre is driven by a passion for story. Our ensemble process supports writers in the development of literary adaptations and new work, and our theatrical and educational programs foster a lifelong engagement with literature and the arts. A cultural anchor of Rogers Park, we are committed to deepening our connection to an ever-growing family of artists and audiences, both near and far.