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Janus Theatre Company continues its 27th season with David Ives’ comedy The School for Lies at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division Street in downtown Elgin, August 15-31, 2025.
Tickets HERE.
The School for Lies transforms Molière’s 17th-century classic The Misanthrope into a groovy satire written in witty couplets with physical comedy, creating a contemporary comedy of manners filled with contemporary slang – and a dance filled soundtrack.
In a world of gossip, glitz and scandal the story focuses on Frank, a man who despises hypocrisy and doesn’t mind telling everybody. Frank creates chaos in a world of ridiculous suitors and romantic ladies, launching insults and praise with equality while he competes against a team of admirers for his beloved Celimene.
As dishonesty and deceit continue to dominate the news, The School for Lies is as relevant as ever. And with David Ives’ piercing wit, this revealing satire is perfect summertime entertainment for audiences.
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, Aug 15-31. No performance on Sunday, August 17. Additional performance on Thursday, August 28 at 8pm.
The School for Lies is produced and directed by Sean Hargadon, stage-managed by Elizabeth Dawson with costumes by Tiffany Jasinski, and choreographed by Jennifer Reeves Wilson.
The cast of Janus regulars features Aaron Hoge, Julie Bayer, Heidi Swarthout, Benedict Slabik II, Jennifer Reeves Wilson, Matt Johnson, Matt Hellyer along with newcomers Stephen Pickering and Alexander Wisniewski.
Janus Theatre’s season is sponsored, in part, by the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission and the City of Elgin.
ACTOR BIOS
Aaron Hoge (Frank) This is his fourth production with Janus Theatre Company and he is so very honored to once again be working with such a talented ensemble. He has performed in several theaters across the western suburbs, including Wheaton Drama, Bard in the Burbs and The Riverfront Playhouse. Aaron's latest appearance was as George Tessman in Hedda Gabler as part of The Ibsen Project by Janus Theatre Company. He is ever grateful for the love, support and eternal patience of his wife, Denise, and hopes you all enjoy this show as much as he has enjoyed being part of it!
Julie Bayer (Celimene) Julie is glad to return to Janus Theatre. She has recently been seen this season in Hedda Gabler (Thea), as well as previous productions of The Maids, Beowulf, Shakespeare’s Sister, On The Verge, Main Street, Henry V, Midsommer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, The Tempest, and Circle Mirror Transformation. Other credits include The Lyric Opera Chorus; Sweeney Todd (Paramount Theatre); Drood (Fox Valley Repertory); Baby, The Mousetrap, It Runs in the Family (Citadel
Theatre); Persuasion (Chamber Opera Chicago: UK, Chicago, NYC tours); Dial M for Murder, A Christmas
Carol (Metropolis PAC); Jekyll and Hyde, Promises, Promises, Noises Off!, The Dinner Party (Brightside
Theatre); The 39 Steps, This Random World, Me and Jezebel, The Odd Couple, Silent Sky, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Steel Beam Theatre). Enjoy this groovy production!
Heidi Swarthout (Eliante) thinks it's "out of sight" to be performing alongside this "dy-no-mite" cast and crew! Her most recent Janus appearances include The Ibsen Project: Hedda (Hedda), The Revolutionists (Marie Antoinette), and Life Sucks (Ella). At The Riverfront Playhouse, she appeared in The Half-Life of Marie Curie (Marie), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Maureen) and The Moors (Huldey - Lou Award winner). Other favorite past performances include August: Osage County (Karen) at Wheaton Drama, The Tin Woman
(Joy - Lou Award nominated) at Elgin Theatre Company, Me and Jezebel (Liz) at Steel Beam Theatre, Skylight (Kyra - Lou Award winner) at Gallery Theatre, and her ongoing work with Janus’s Elgin Shakespeare Project. She received her BA in Theatre and English from Marietta College. Theatre is her second love, the first being her incomparable husband, Johnny, and their beloved dogs, Gibb and Sonny. Miss you, Mom.
Benedict L. Slabik II (Philinte) - Benedict is honored to be working with Janus 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 Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, 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 (Arsinoe) earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theater degree from Missouri State University. Companies she has worked with include NightBlue Performing Arts Co, Lifeline Theatre, Riverfront Playhouse, Janus Theatre Company, Steel Beam Theatre and Wheaton Drama. She has enjoyed working with The Elgin Shakespeare Project on exploring the "Unrehearsed" and “Original Pronunciation” techniques to the plays of William Shakespeare. She has performed in ESP’s productions of The Tempest, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, MacBeth, Henry V,
Twelfth Night and Romeo & Juliet. She appeared in Wheaton Drama’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. She was thrilled to be the Movement Director for Janus Theatre’s production of Men on Boats and has performed in Janus Theatre’s acclaimed productions of The Maids, Life Sucks, The
Revolutionists and Hedda Gabler.
Stephen Pickering (Clitander) is digging his Janus debut! Some dyn-o-mite 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 credits include She’s Having a Baby, The Grey Girl, Love Language, A Working Man; TV credits include Greatest Prison Escapes. Stephen would like to thank Sean, Elizabeth, Tara, and Tiffany; his groovy castmates; Amy, Kyleen, Will, and Simon; Madeline, Julie, Jennifer, and the Effervescence of Elizabeths. https://linktr.ee/StephenPickering.
Matt Johnson (Oronte) After a recent Jeff nomination for best ensemble in a play for Peter and the Starcatcher at the Paramount Theatre, Matt is stoked to the max to boogie down with this groovy, and extremely talented crew. Other recent roles include Porter (Macbeth), Lady Bracknell (Earnest), and Michele (Filumena). He thanks his lucky stars, his friends for their kind support, and his dad for always believing in the dream.
Matt Hellyer (Acaste) is elated to be elevated back to the eighth floor and to stand aside such an ensemble as this. While he found his footing in improv, he soon fell into scripts and stagework and hasn't gotten up since. Notable roles he's wrestled to the mat include Jack (The Tin Woman), Jack/"Stephanie" (Leading Ladies), and Petruchio (Taming of the Shrew) and most recently Pride and Prejudice at Parker Players. Filling the rest of his time with films and podcasting, Matt is just delighted you're here to support these creative efforts. And to a certain, special girl out there- Martini Room after curtain?
Alexander Wisniewski (Basque/DuBois) Alexander is so excited to be making his Janus debut! 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) with Buffalo Theatre Ensemble. When he’s not in a show, Alexander teaches for the Geneva Park District, directs at Playhouse 38, and works as a barista. He hopes you enjoy this groovy show, yo!
PRODUCTION & ARTISTIC STAFF
Artistic Director/Producer - Sean Hargadon
Stage Manager - Elizabeth Dawson
Marketing Manager - Heidi Swarthout
Costume Design - Tiffany Jasinski
Choreography - Jennifer Reeves Wilson
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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