Name: The Alchemist - a comedy by Ben Jonson adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
Start: 2026-03-13T20:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-03-29T16:00:00-05:00
Location: 18 Villa Ct

The Alchemist - a comedy by Ben Jonson adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher

A new version of Jonson’s rowdy classic comedy comes to a new theater space in downtown Elgin.
About this Event

Janus Theatre Company opens its 28th season featuring Ben Jonson's comedy The Alchemist adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Artistic Director Sean Hargadon.

When a wealthy gentleman flees to the country, his trusted servant opens his house to a pair of con artists and sets up a den of criminal capitalism. Claiming alchemical powers, the quick-witted trio dupe the neighbors with their virtuosic ability to improvise amidst increasingly frantic comings and goings. It’s comic gold with dupes, double-dupes, duels, disguises, and a lucky flea named “Lewis."

This production is part of this year’s Greed is Good: A Season of Corruption 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.

The Alchemist is produced and directed by Sean Hargadon, stage-managed by Elizabeth Dawson with costumes by Tiffany Jasinski, intimacy coordination by Toria Hollyn and fight direction by Stetson Cross. The cast features Janus Theatre Company core members Julie Bayer, Benedict L. Slabik II, Aaron Hoge, along with Matt Johnson, Stephen Pickering, Dan Stromquist, Dustin Ayers, Tessa Dougherty, Steve Connell and Zach Flax. Understudies include Danielle Spence, Tiffany Jasinski, Richard Ismonger, Dustin Ayers, Matt Johnson.

Running Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm, March 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 along with a Thursday understudy performance on March 26 at 8pm. Performances take place at the New Elgin Art Showcase, 18 Villa Court, downtown Elgin, IL. Tickets are $25.

ABOUT JANUS THEATRE COMPANY
Janus Theatre Company has produced more than 115 productions and is an award-winning 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization of trained 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 raises questions. Janus is about developing people. Since we started, we’ve always been interested in helping our artists grow while sharing the gift of performance with our audiences. We explore, create, question, and pursue new forms of theater and found spaces for all audiences. Learn more: https://janusplays.com/.