Janus Theatre revives 'Walkabout: Theater on Your Feet'
Janus Theatre Company will bring back "Walkabout: Theater on Your Feet" for its eighth season this year when it presents a Shakespeare-inspired lineup. The theme for this year's event will feature short scenes from Shakespeare's Italian comedies and is part of the Elgin 400 Shakespeare Project. "Walkabout 2016: Shakes, Beer, Shots" will run in downtown Elgin on Friday to Sunday, Aug. 5-7.
This year will feature evening and matinee performances throughout the weekend. Tour guides will lead groups of people to downtown locations where they will see the plays performed. The event is sponsored by the Janus Theatre Company, Elgin Cultural Arts Commission, Elgin Art Showcase and the Elgin Public House, Side Studio Arts, Al's Café and Blue Box Café. For information, go to www.janusplays.com.
WHAT'S NEW THIS YEAR?
"All the short scenes for this year's Walkabout come from Shakespeare Italian comedies and are quite famous," said Walkabout creator and Janus Theatre artistic director Sean Hargadon. "Some of the plays represented are 'Taming of the Shrew,' 'Merchant of Venice' and 'Two Gentlemen of Verona.' And as the title suggests, we're encouraging people to grab a malted at Al's Cafe, have a beer at Elgin Public House and down a shot - that's a shot of espresso from Blue Box Cafe," added Hargadon.
WHAT'S COMING BACK THIS YEAR?
Janus Theatre Company will perform all of the plays at the various spaces this year. Elgin Public House will be Walkabout Headquarters, acting as the starting spot for all tours with beers of all kinds will on sale. Al's Café will be the final destination of Walkabout this year, where they will once again provide complimentary mini-malts, which has become an annual Walkabout tradition. Blue Box Café will serve as an in between spot offering complimentary espresso shots to Walkabout patrons. There also will be a very limited amount of Walkabout T-shirts for purchase to people who attend the event. Free water will be available as well.
WHEN AND WHERE
"Walkabout: Shakes, Beer, Shots" evening tours run Friday and Saturday, Aug. 5 and 6, starting at 7 p.m. (tours approximately every 15 minutes until 8 p.m.). Daylight tours will run Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 6 and 7, starting at 2 p.m. (tours approximately every 15 minutes until 8 p.m.).
Tickets are $16 and can be purchased online at www.janusplays.com or www.elginealkabout2016.eventbrite.com.
This production is part of Janus Theatre's Elgin 400 Shakespeare Festival and is generously sponsored by the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission, City of Elgin and Elgin Art Showcase.