1. Who are you?
My name is Tom Janecek, and when pronounced correctly, it sounds
something like “Ya-nah-check.”
2. What’s your background?
Being orphaned at an early age, I spent a lot of time in the imaginary worlds of literature and of my own making. Although I tried to be practical and resist the allure of theatre as I was going through school, I simply loved everything about it. I majored in it in college (CSUF) and taught it at Clovis High School before receiving a fellowship to continue on at the University of Illinois, where I received a M.A. and Ph.D. Since then, and all along the way, I have acted, directed, and taught in the field for a variety of schools and theatres. In the past few years, I have appeared locally in 45 Seconds from Broadway, Morning’s at Seven, and Bus Stop at Good Company Player’s 2nd Space Theatre and in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Roger Rocka’s. I also appeared in Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Woodward Shakespeare Festival and in The Tempest for the Actor’s Repertory Theatre.
3. What draws you to theatre?
I find the creative process of theatre personally compelling. It is a magical experience for me to see a whole world of people, ideas, and things brought into life on the stage from nothing more than mere words on a page. As an actor in this process, I strive to do everything I can to bring the character I am playing to life to the fullest possible extent that fulfills the playwright’s intentions and tells the story in a superior manner. The reward comes not with the applause, but in how close I have personally come to that kind of perfection.
4. What draws you to work with Theatre Ventoux?
I have wanted to work with Theatre Ventoux from the beginning, for their desire to do excellent theatre matches mine. They are providing needed opportunities for talented artists in the local community to practice their art, and they have gathered an outstanding company together.
5. What draws you to this production?
I didn’t get a chance to appear in a Theatre Ventoux production until A Muse of Fire at last year’s (2007) Rogue Festival. When Greg Taber asked me to be in King Lear, I jumped at the chance. Why? Are you kidding? King Lear is considered by many to be Shakespeare’s finest play.
6. Who do you play and what do you have to say about your character?
I play King Lear, an actor’s dream and nightmare all rolled into one character. It challenges with an astonishing range of emotions to be presented from the heights of passion to the depths of despair. I think about him all the time. But I don’t want to talk about him too much. I don’t think that you’ll be disappointed if you see the play. I’m going to give it all I have. I consider it to be the role of a lifetime.
