‘So much heart and soul’: Elgin native brings world premiere of ‘The Years Between Us’ play to The Lodge in Elgin

Jonathan James says the cast of “The Years Between Us” is the best he has ever worked with.

“They are so committed and talented,” said James, who is the executive producer of the play. “This show is staged with so much heart and soul. The audience’s jaws will hit the floor when they see it.”

The production, which makes its world premiere Thursday and Friday, Oct. 15-16, and Sunday, Oct. 18, at The Lodge Performing Arts Center in Elgin, stars Kate Cvengros of Chicago, Julian Rus of Schaumburg and Michaela Horn of Wheaton.

In many ways, it feels like the parts were written with these young actors in mind, Elgin resident James said.

“Kate is a dancer like her character Lacey, and she takes care of kids, too. Liana (playwright Liana Sonenclar) said when she saw Julian’s audition for Josh it was like the part was written just for him. And Michaela is so bubbly and brings a lot of youth to the performance even though she is 24 playing a 15-year-old.”

The play centers around high school senior Josh, who has been accepted into Juilliard as a ballet dancer. Going to school to be a dancer doesn’t exactly make him one of the cool kids, and he is having a tough time finding a date for the senior prom. When he finds out his old babysitter, Lacey, is in town, he invites her over to babysit his younger sister, Tessa, who is 15 and doesn’t need a babysitter.

When Josh asks Lacey to prom, she, of course, says no because she is 25. Despite her rejection, Lacey and Josh rekindle their friendship, and he tells her she inspired him to be a dancer.

“Soon, all three realize they are dealing with personal issues. They lean on each other, and it shows that wisdom can come from both the young and the old,” James said. “It shows we are not alone in this world. We can rely on our friends and family to help us, and all perspectives are valid.”

Developed with New York Stage and Film, the play previously received a New York reading starring AnnaSophia Robb (“Bridge to Terabithia”), Gaten Matarazzo (“Stranger Things”) and Tony nominee Julia Lester (“Into the Woods”).

“I met Liana at a vegan restaurant in New York, which was her day job, and I had been trying for a number of years to get her to give me a play,” James said. “I first became enamored with Liana’s writing when I saw a recording of a staged reading of another one of her plays with Natalia Dyer from ‘Stranger Things.’ I really wanted to work with her.”

He said he wanted a play that appealed to younger audiences for the Youth Showcase at the Fringe Festival and she sent him “The Years Between Us.” While the showcase performance fell through at the last minute, James said he felt it was important to make sure the show still happened.

“I read this play, and by the end I was in tears,” he said. “But it also makes you laugh, even though it deals with some very heavy subjects. We want the audience to laugh. Humor can sometimes be the best escape from dark subjects in this life.”

James said Sonenclar will be at the shows in Elgin, and he can’t wait for audiences to see it, especially younger people.

“This is a heart-forward play,” James said. “Liana wanted to show we should always lead with empathy. There are so many people struggling in this world, whether emotionally, physically or financially. It is important to show those people some love and peace. There is so much turmoil in the world, why add to it?”

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“The Years Between Us”

When: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 15-16, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18

Where: The Lodge Performing Arts Center, 18 Villa Court, Elgin

Tickets: $20 and $15 for students and seniors at ticketstripe.com/yearsbetweenus or broadwayworld.com/