Jeff Janisheski has numerous accomplishments to boast about, one being the first American to run the acting department of Australia’s famed National Institute of Dramatic Art. Yet, it’s the little things that he is most proud of.
One such moment came when Janisheski was acting as the associate artistic director for the Classic Stage Company (CSC) in New York City. He, along with CSC artistic director Brian Kulick, saw a need for the arts in the underserved high schools of the city’s four boroughs. Together they arranged for actors who had graduated from Columbia University, Janisheski’s alma mater, to come to the CSC, direct short versions of Shakespeare plays and perform them at local high schools. Those actors would then volunteer as teachers at the schools, giving students a taste of theater they may never have experienced otherwise.
Janisheski wants to continue reaching out to the community while at CSULB. One of his future projects is a way to bring the theater to the community. This endeavor would involve a bus or van, retrofitted to become its own stage upon which to perform classic and contemporary plays throughout Long Beach and Los Angeles.
This idea of engaging the community has a two-fold affect—not only is it a way for the community to be able to tell its stories, but also a way for Janisheski to discover and nurture new playwrights and plays, which he says is extremely important.
When Janisheski was working with the CSC, he began offering theater space to local emerging playwrights and directors in the summers when the theater was not in use. One such director was fellow Columbia graduate, Rachel Chavkin, who has since gone on to become an award-winning director, an accomplishment Janisheski is proud to have had a hand in.
Of course, he brings his international experience to CSULB as well, having taught and directed in Australia, Russia, the United Kingdom and Korea. He also spent three years studying under Kazuo Ohno, the Japanese dancer who became a guru and inspirational figure in the dance form known as Butoh. Because of his varied experiences, Janisheski wants to increase the department’s study abroad options, as well.
In addition, Janisheski wants to bring that worldly perspective to students at CSULB through international guest directors, artists, teachers and workshop leaders. He will also keep this in mind when choosing the plays for the 2017-18 seasons.
Most important of all to Janisheski, though, is to continue grooming new theater talent in his position as department chair, because they are the future of theater.