There I sat in the last row of a dark theater. The energy that flows through the room is quite papable and fills me with a lot of anticipation. When the curtain opened and the stage lights danced across the colorful sets, a group of talented young actors took to the stage with the fervor of seasoned professionals. He was immersed in what can only be described as a kind of movement, a revolution if you will in a polished new children’s musical theater.
It was just the third day of a ten-day technical rehearsal with the cast and crew, and after the first few numbers and musical scenes, he spoke from the dark with such a commanding presence that I knew he had to be the director of the show. Trevor Weaver.
I had heard many wonderful compliments of Trevor Weaver’s work in children’s theater, but never realized the level of professionalism he was able to get from so many students ranging in age from 6 to 17 years old.
Trevor began his own career at the ripe age of six months on the hit 1960 television series Adam 12. He would later work on many popular television shows and commercials, including Eight Is Enough, Little House on The Praire, Kid’s Incorporated and 21 Jump Street.
Trevor left his lucrative Hollywood career to live in the Bay Area in 1997 and it is here that he formed his acting school, Kids Take The Stage. By the time he and I had the pleasure of meeting, he had produced over a hundred productions in Alameda, San Ramón, and Fremont and had worked with more than 5,000 students. I immediately realized why he had managed to create such a worthwhile organization and empower so many children in the Bay Area.
Sadly, in 2010, the company that Trevor had spent his work with for more than a decade was forced to close days before the opening of a big summer show. It was one of the most heartbreaking decisions of Trevor’s otherwise illustrious career and one that pained him to have had to make.
In giving the negative press about the closure of the company, Trevor gave only one journalist the opportunity to interview him and I was honored when he shared these words with me. “No one will ever understand the immense pain, sadness and difficulty it has been to close a show days before its premiere with so many young actors crushed for not being able to act. I tried so hard to keep the doors open with donations from my own pocket. The problems were too deep and come too fast to do anything else, but close our doors. I thank all the wonderful parents, students and staff that I have worked with over the last two decades and I pray for nothing but wonderful things to do! Her future! “
After some time off to search for his soul, Trevor is now doing what he does best, which is writing and directing. He is currently the Managing Director of the company, Play and Profundity and continues to be a guiding light for a new group of children and adults alike.
This journalist thanks you for all that you gave to the Bay Area children’s theater scene and we will miss you more than you will ever know.