NEXT!

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Janus Theatre Company closes its 27th season with William Shakespeare's compelling The Merchant of Venice at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division Street in downtown Elgin, October 24-November 9, 2025.

Purchase Tix: HERE

This version of The Merchant of Venice is a streamlined production running 90 minutes with no intermission. Director Sean Hargadon and company reimagine Shakespeare’s comic-drama through a modern lens that question our own prejudices today. Featuring Susan P. Anderson as Shylock.

This production is part of this year’s Season of Outsiders – and features classic stories from the past brought to life for today’s audience. The production is sponsored in part by the City of Elgin and Elgin Cultural Arts Commission.

Running Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm, Oct 24-Nov 9. Performance on Saturday, October 25 at 2pm.

The Merchant of Venice is produced, adapted and directed by Sean Hargadon, stage-managed by Tricia Miller Hewson with costumes by Tiffany Jasinski.

The Company

Antonio………………Dustin Ayers
Solanio……………….Alex Wisniewski
Salarino………………Dan Stromquist
Lorenzo………………Matt Hellyer
Bassanio……………...Aaron Hoge
Gratiano………………Benedict L. Slabik II
Portia………………….Jennifer Reeves Wilson
Nerissa………………..Tiffany Jasinski
Shylock……………….Susan P. Anderson
Jessica…………………Tessa Dougherty
Lancelot Gobbo….……Matt Johnson
Tubal…………………..Paul Anderson
Duke…………………..Stephen Pickering

ACTOR BIOS
Dustin Ayers (Antonio) is very excited to be a part of The Merchant of Venice with Janus Theatre. He recently worked with Yellow Rose Theater in The Seven Year Glitch. He has also worked with Buffalo Theatre Ensemble as an understudy in The Outsider, The Outgoing Tide, Andy Warhol’s Tomato and Clybourne Park. Dustin studied Performance Theater at the Conservatory at Roosevelt University.

Alexander Wisniewski (Solanio) is thrilled to be working with Janus again! His favorite credits include: The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (Professor Hidgens), Arsenic and Old Lace (Mortimer Brewster), and Andy Warhol’s Tomato (Andy Warhol) at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble. When not onstage, Alexander also works as a teacher, director, and a barista. He hopes you enjoy this beautiful and imaginative portrayal of The Merchant of Venice!

Dan Stromquist (Salarino) is grateful to be returning to Janus Theatre. He previously appeared in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelth Night Unrehearsed. Dan has also worked with Riverfront Playhouse (Da), Shakespeare at the Centre (Love's Labour's Lost), and has been an understudy for Buffalo Theatre Ensemble.

Matt Hellyer (Lorenzo) is delighted to join Janus Theatre and this incredible cast for one more go around on the eighth floor and has loved adding another show to his slow-growing shelf of Shakespeare. Having performed up and down the Fox River Valley, some of Matt's favorite roles include Petruchio (Taming of the Shrew), Prof. Plum (Clue), and Jack (The Tin Woman). The biggest thanks to his family for their endless support, and immeasurable sighs for his sweet, dreamy, scene partner on and off the stage. 

Aaron Hoge (Bassanio) is working his fourth consecutive show with Sean Hargadon as his director. The year started with Aaron playing John in "Still Alice" at Wheaton Drama, then continued with him portraying Tessman in Hedda Gabler and Frank in School for Lies with Janus Theatre Company.  Aaron is incredibly excited for this growing partnership to continue!  You can catch him next as Ebenezer Scrooge in The Riverfront Playhouse's annual production of A Christmas Carol coming soon this holiday season.  Aaron is ever grateful for the love, support and patience of his wife Denise.

Benedict L. Slabik II (Gratiano) is honored to be working with Janus and Gratiano again alongside some of his favorite people. Some recent credits include: Every Brilliant Thing (Himself) with Janus, Young Frankenstein (Frederick Frankenstein) with WDI, Miss Bennett (Bingley) with BTE, Multiple roles with Janus’ Shakespeare Project, The 39 Steps (Hannay) with SBT, and more. Benedict has completed the improv program with Chicago's Io Theater and is also a member of VTG as a representative of their play reading committee. Benedict would like to thank everyone in his life for their unrelenting support both on and off stage. This is dedicated, as always, to Nicole.

Jennifer Reeves Wilson (Portia) studied at Missouri State University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. She has appeared in several productions with Janus Theatre and is a core company member. You may have seen her work in School for Lies (Arsinoe), The Revolutionists (Olympe DeGouge), The Maids (Solange), Beowulf (Beowulf) and the one-woman show On the Exhale.  Her choreography was featured in Janus’ productions of Men on Boats and School for Lies. Other theatre credits include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night (Siobhan) at Wheaton Drama, The Moors (Marjory/Mallory) at Riverfront Playhouse, Agnes of God (Dr. Livingston) at Steel Beam Theatre, Cabaret (Sally Bowles) and Miss Saigon (Ellen) at NightBlue Performing Arts Company, as well as The Tempest, MacBeth, Henry V and Julius Caesar with Elgin Shakespeare Project.

Tiffany Jasinski (Nerissa) is so excited and grateful to be sharing the stage with such an incredibly talented ensemble. She is immensely thankful for Sean, the cast and the crew for making this process unforgettable, powerful and exhilarating. In 2024, you may have seen Tiffany as Charlotte in The Revolutionists, Sonia in Life Sucks or as a Witch in Macbeth with Janus. Some other past credits include Paula in D.O.A, Darla/Nurse in Tin Woman, Charlotte in These Shining Lives, Jack in The Importance of Being Ernest, Catherine in In the Next Room, Gayle in Sunday on the Rocks, etc. She is also a proud member of Janus Theatre Company and the Elgin Shakespeare Project. Tiffany would like to thank her friends and family, especially her Mama (you are my rock, my comfort and my whole heart), for always being patient during her chaos; and for supporting her dreams and her utter ridiculousness. Enjoy the show! 

Susan P. Anderson (Shylock) is excited to join the ensemble for Merchant of Venice!  Previous Janus Theatre experience includes Men in Boats and MacBeth at the Moonlight Theater in St. Charles. Susan has also appeared with iambe Theatre in Wake Up, Mrs. Moore and in Steel Beam productions of The Ultimate Christmas Carol, This Random World and Vanya,Sonya,Masha and Spike.
I thank Janus for their courage and this ensemble for making it real.

Tessa Dougherty (Jessica) is completely elated to be a part of this production of The Merchant of Venice. Past theatre credits include: MACBETH (Lady M, and a Witch) TAMING OF THE SHREW (Kate), THE TEMPEST (Ariel), AS YOU LIKE IT (Rosalind), CLUE (Scarlet), and NOW AND THEN (Abby). Thank you to her parents for their constant support, her sisters, her Matty, the best scene partner, the moon shines bright but you shine brighter. She dedicates all of her performances to the memory of her late grandmother, Nanny, a lover of the arts. A very Special thanks to Sean. A brilliant director for helping her chase her dreams and giving her the opportunity to work with him and this wonderful cast. 

Matt Johnson (Lancelot Gobbo) says there is nothing better than creating art that challenges the viewer, that dares them to sit with their thoughts, and can still make them laugh, all while working with a kind, compassionate, and talented crew. O rare fortune! Previous fools Matt has played are the Porter in Macbeth, Feste in Twelfth Night, and most importantly, himself. He endlessly thanks his greatest fool, I mean, supporter, his dad, for all of his love and wisdom!

Paul Anderson (Tubal) is thrilled to be a part of Merchant. Last seen at Steel Beam Theatre as Scrooge in The Ultimate Christmas Carol, Paul was in last season’s MacBeth at the Moonlight Theatre with Janus. Other Janus shows include DOA at Steel Beam, and Circle Mirror Transformation at the Art Center. When not acting Paul is in a band, The Keystrings, and has been studying classical piano. Excited to be acting with wife Susan again. Thanks, Sean!

Stephen Pickering (Duke) is excited to return to Janus, after playing Clitander in School for Lies! Other area stage appearances include A Bit ‘o the Bard, A Bit o’ the Bard: Something Wicked (Woodstock Shakespeare Players); Legally Blonde, Metamorphoses, Present Laughter (MCC Black Box Theatre); It’s a Wonderful Life (Improv Playhouse); Much Ado About Nothing (Silverstage Theatre); The Second-to-Last Exit (Village Theatre Guild); Spider’s Web, 12 Angry Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Parker Players);  Groundhog Day, Puffs, Noises Off (Lou Award) (Theatre 121); Film — She’s Having a Baby, The Grey Girl, Love Language, A Working Man;  TV – Monster: The Ed Gein Story, Greatest Prison Escapes.  Stephen would like to thank Sean, Trish, and and the entire production team; his incredible castmates; Amy, Kyleen, Will, and Simon; Madeline, Julie, Jennifer, and the Effervescence of Elizabeths. https://linktr.ee/StephenPickering

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This production is part of this year’s Season of Outsiders – and features classic stories from the past brought to life for today’s audience. The production is sponsored in part by the City of Elgin and Elgin Cultural Arts Commission.

PRODUCTION & ARTISTIC STAFF

Artistic Director/Producer - Sean Hargadon
Stage Manager - Tricia Miller Hewson
Costume Design - Tiffany Jasinski
Marketing Manager - Heidi Swarthout
Set/Light Design - Sean Hargadon

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ABOUT JANUS THEATRE COMPANY
Janus Theatre Company is an award-winning organization that has produced more than 115 productions since 1999. The company calls Elgin home, but has performed in Chicago, New York City and internationally. The company focuses on producing classic and contemporary works while exploring the actor/audience relationship inside unique spaces. The company is also an active Shakespeare producer and explores original practices by presenting them to contemporary audiences.

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Finding a Shared Space

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