Janus Theatre Company closes its 27th season with William Shakespeare’s compelling drama The Merchant of Venice at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division Street (8th floor, accessible by elevator) in downtown Elgin, IL, October 24-November 9, 2025.

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.

Tickets: The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare Tickets, Wed, Sep 17, 2025 at 9:00 PM | Eventbrite

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

The cast of Janus Theatre Company core members features Jennifer Reeves Wilson, Tiffany Jasinksi, Aaron Hoge, Benedict L. Slabik II, along with Susan P. Anderson, Paul Anderson, Matt Johnson, Matt Hellyer, Stephen Pickering, Alexander Wisniewski, Dan Stromquist, Dustin Ayers and Tessa Dougherty.

Janus Theatre Company’s season is sponsored, in part, by the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission and the City of Elgin.