Master Class: Scene Study

Nick Bowling was the founding Artistic Director of TimeLine Theatre Company in 1997 and is now TimeLine’s Associate Artistic Director and a Company Member. He is the recipient of eight Jeff Awards for Outstanding Direction (THE HISTORY BOYS, THE NORMAL HEART, FIORELLO!, THIS HAPPY BREED and THE CRUCIBLE at TimeLine, RAGTIME at Marriott Theatre, SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM at Porchlight Music Theatre, and ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST at Eclipse Theatre) and also received Jeff Award nominations for OSLO, BLOOD AND GIFTS, THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION, HAUPTMANN and THE LION IN WINTER at TimeLine; CLOSER THAN EVER at Porchlight Music Theatre; and THE SOUND OF MUSIC, CITY OF ANGELS, THE KING AND I and MAN OF LA MANCHA at Marriott Theatre. Other recent credits at TimeLine include CAMPAIGNS, INC., MASTER CLASS, THE AUDIENCE, A DISAPPEARING NUMBER, THE LAST WIFE, DANNY CASOLARO DIED FOR YOU, JUNO, and BLOOD AND GIFTS. Other Chicago credits include OLIVER! and THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY (Marriott), A CHRISTMAS STORY (Paramount), GUYS AND DOLLS and CABARET (Northwestern University), A CATERED AFFAIR (Porchlight), BACH AT LEIPZIG (Writers) and TIME OF THE CUCKOO and FROZEN ASSETS (Shattered Globe). Raised in Sumner, Iowa, Nick earned a BM degree in Musical Theatre from Catholic University of America, and an MFA degree in Theatre Directing from DePaul University.

Lavina Jadhwani is a Chicago-based director, playwright, and activist. Directing credits include Guthrie Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, PlayMakers Rep, the Rep of St. Louis, Asolo Rep, Mixed Blood, the Neo-Futurists, the Gift, Teatro Vista, Silk Road Rising, and Rasaka Theatre Company, where she served as Artistic Director for seven years. As a playwright, she has worked with the Guthrie, the Goodman, Oregon Shakes, the Gift, East West Players, Cincinnati Shakes, Indianapolis Shakes, New Harmony Project, and more. Lavina serves on the boards of the National New Play Network and the Chicago Inclusion Project. She is a proud cancer survivor, dog mom, and child of immigrants. BFA/MA: Carnegie Mellon School of Drama; MFA: The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Terry Guest is a 3 time Jeff Award winning playwright, actor, director and teaching artist. His play The Magnolia Ballet had its National New Play Network (NNPN) rolling world premiere in 2022 and has since gone on to win two Jeff Awards (including Best Performer for Terry and Best Production), the NNPN Best New American Play Award, and was featured on NPR. Terry went on to direct his play Marie Antionette and the Magical Negros at the Story theater which won three Jeff Awards (Best Director, Best New Play for Terry and Best Ensemble). Other writing works include: At The Wake of a Dead Drag Queen, The Madness of Mary Todd (Goodman Playwrights Unit Commission), A Ghost in Satin (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Andy Warhol Presents the Cocaine Play and Michael Jackson and the Devil’s Book. As an actor Terry has worked at regional theaters including Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Alliance Theatre, About Face Theatre and Actors Express. Most recently Terry directed brother sister cyborg space at Raven Theatre.