Tall tales in tiny places, Janus Theatre Company is a group of theatre professionals who strive to present work that is classic and contemporary, bringing the actor and audience closer together. Our work is fun, challenging and will leave you with questions.
Productions
2023 SEASON - 25TH ANNIVERSARY
ELGIN ART SHOWCASE
Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde by Moise Kaufman
The Maids by Jean Genet
The Half-Life of Marie Curie by Lauren Gunderson (Chicago-area premiere)
2022 SEASON
BOWES CREEK WOODS
Beowulf by Anonymous
ELGIN SHAKESPEARE PROJECT
Romeo/Juliet (Original Pronunciation) by William Shakespeare
2021 SEASON (Working in a pandemic)
BOWES CREEK WOODS
On The Verge (Pandemic) after Eric Overmeyer
LORDS PARK
Shakespeare Sister by Virginia Woolf
THEATRE ON THE PRAIRIE
Main Street by Sinclair Lewis adapted by Craig Wright
On The Verge (Pandemic) after Eric Overmeyer
ELGIN SHAKESPEARE PROJECT
Henry V (Old School) by Willaim Shakespeare
2020 SEASON (Adapting to a pandemic)
Shelter in Place Theater
The Imago Sessions
Pandemic Playhouse
2019 SEASON
AL’S CAFE THEATER
The Long Christmas Dinner by Thornton Wilder
WALKABOUT: THEATER ON YOUR FEET
Tales of Horror - In the Shadows
READ NOT DEAD
Life Sucks by Aaron Posner after Chekov
Stupid Fucking Bird by Aaron Posner after Chekov
ELGIN SHAKESPEARE PROJECT
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Unrehearsed) by William Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice (Unrehearsed) By William Shakespeare
Macbeth (Unrehearsed/Old School) By William Shakespeare
2018 SEASON
Spinning into Butter by Rebecca Gilman
On The Exhale by Martin Zimmerman
Natural Shocks by Lauren Gunderson
ELGIN SHAKESPEARE PROJECT
The Tempest (Unrehearsed) by William Shakespeare
Julius Caesar (Unrehearsed) By William Shakespeare
UNDERPLAYED: THE MARGO JONES THEATRE PROJECT
‘Night Mother by Marsha Norman
Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker
Sunday on the Rocks by Theresa Rebeck
2017 SEASON
Art by Yasmina Reza
2016 SEASON
An Iliad by Denis O’Hare and Denise Peterson
ELGIN 400 SHAKESPEARE PROJECT
The Tragical History of Hamlet with Janus Theatre
William Shakespeare Lives with Nathan Wonder
Walkabout: Shakes, Beer, Shots with Janus Theatre
Bard in the Barn workshop with Bill Kincaid
The Comedy of Errors with the Unrehearsed Shakespeare Company
Walkabout: Tales from Poe II - Into the Dark
That Holiday Show
2015 SEASON
PINEY FORKS THEATER FESTIVAL, NEW YORK CITY
Thinking of Him Made Him Think of Her by Jack Helbig
ELGIN FRINGE FESTIVAL
I Dream Before I Takes the Stand by Arlene Hutton
King of Shadows by Roberta Aguirre Sacasa
That Holiday Show
2014 SEASON
Walkabout: Bases Loaded
ELGIN SUMMER SHAKES
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
ELGIN FRINGE FESTIVAL
Thinking of Him Made Him Think of Her by Jack Helbig
2013 SEASON
Walkabout: Jumpers, Thieves, Cops & Spies
ELGIN SUMMER SHAKES
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare
2012 SEASON
WALKABOUT: TALES FROM POE
SUMMER REP FEST: PRIDE & PREJUDICE AND TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
SANTALAND DIARIES
2011 SEASON
ELGIN SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL: DAVID IVES
WALKABOUT: THEATER ON YOUR FEET “THE ART OF FRIENDSHIP”
SUMMER REPERTORY FESTIVAL – THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST & TWELFTH NIGHT
2010 SEASON
ELGIN SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL: THERESA REBECK, 1992-2005
WALKABOUT: THEATER "HIDDEN SPACES, FOUND PLACES" (Best in Show)
THE GUYS BY ANNE NELSON
MACBETH BY SHAKESPEARE
2009 SEASON
OEDIPUS REX (walkabout version) by Sophocles
MISS JULIE ON A MIDSUMMER NIGHT by August Strindberg
WALKABOUT: THEATER ON YOUR FEET
REPETE W/MADELINE by Hurt McDermott
ROMEO & JULIET (all female version) by Shakespeare
2007-2008 SEASON
THE MISANTHROPE by Moliere
THE HOLIDAY REVIEW
THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE by Marivaux
The GREATEST STORY EBERTOLT: A BRECHT REVIEW
WALKABOUT: THEATER ON YOUR FEET
2007 SHORT SEASON (February – August)
LIFE X 3 by Yasmina Reza
MURDERING MARLOWE by Charles Marowitz
MEASURE FOR MEASURE by William Shakespeare
2006 SEASON
THE LARAMIE PROJECT by Moises Kaufman
LAUNDRY AND BOURBON by James McLure
2005 SEASON
THE LESSON by Eugene Ionesco
LUNACY IN LOVE II: eclectic boogaloo
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES by Eve Ensler
SQUIRRELS by David Mamet
WE ONLY HAVE IVES FOR YOU: A DAVID IVES REVIEW
THE SANTALAND DIARIES
2004 SEASON (Impresario Award, London Fringe)
LUNACY IN LOVE: THE BEST FROM THE OFFBEAT THE THREESOME by Labiche
KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN WHEN YOU KISS (LONDON FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL)
VISITING MR. GREEN by Jeff Baron
THE SANTALAND DIARIES
2003 SEASON
BABY WITH THE BATHWATER by Christopher Durang
CHANGES OF HEART by Marivaux
THE SANTALAND DIARIES
STAGE TRAFFIC: A FESTIVAL OF AMERICAN THEATRE
OLEANNA by David Mamet
TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard
THE WOOLGATHERER by William Mastrosimone
2002 SEASON
STANDING ON MY KNEES by John Olive
BAD HABITS by Terrence McNally
STANDING ON MY KNEES (Remount)
THE SANTALAND DIARIES
2001 SEASON (Best Play of the Year, Pioneer Press)
FEYDEAU’S FOLLY (Remount)
FRENCH TICKLES OFF THE TONGUE: A BENEFIT SHOW
THE GAME OF LOVE AND CHANCE by Pierre Marivaux
(Best Play of the Year, Pioneer Press)
THE UNSEEN HAND; A DIRECTOR’S SHOWCASE, (8 Directors)
THE SANTALAND DIARIES
2000 SEASON (Top Ten List: Most Interesting Places To See Theater, Daily Herald)
FEYDEAU’S FOLLY by Georges Feydeau
HIPPOLYTUS by Euripides
INTIMATE EXCHANGES (Humana 10-minute play Festival)
THE SANTALAND DIARIES by David Sedaris (Annually)
1999 SEASON (Best New Theatre Group, Pioneer Press)
THE PRIVATE EAR & THE PUBLIC EYE by Peter Shaffer
THE GOLDEN FLEECE by A.R. Gurney
THE SURE THING & THE PHILADELPHIA by David Ives
THE 4-H CLUB by Sam Shepard
THE LOVELIEST AFTERNOON OF THE YEAR by John Guare
POISON by Elliot Hayes