Trevor Weaver: a life in perspective

There I sat in the last row of a dark theater. The energy flowing through the room was quite papal and filled me with much anticipation. As the curtain opened and stage lights danced across the colorful sets, a group of talented young actors took to the stage with the fervor of seasoned professionals! I was in the midst of what can only be described as a kind of movement, a revolution if you will of a new, highly polished children’s musical theatre.

It was only the third day of a ten-day technical rehearsal with the cast and crew, and after the first few musical numbers and scenes, he spoke from the darkness with such a commanding presence that I knew he had to be the director of the show. Trevor Weaver.

I had heard so many wonderful things about Trevor Weaver’s work at Children’s Theatre, but I never realized the level of professionalism he was able to get from so many students ranging in age from 6 to 17.

Trevor began his own career at the ripe old age of six months old 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 Prairie, 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. When he and I had the pleasure of meeting, he had produced over a hundred productions in Alameda, San Ramon, and Fremont and had worked with over 5,000 students. I immediately realized why he had been able to create such a valuable organization and empower so many children in the Bay Area.

Sadly, in 2010, the company Trevor had worked for for over a decade was forced to close days before the opening of a major summer show. It was one of the most heartbreaking decisions of Trevor’s illustrious career and one that pained him to have had to make.

Giving negative press about the company’s closure, 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 opening with so many young actors crushed from not being able to perform. I tried very hard to keep the doors open with donations from my own pocket. The problems they were too deep and came to us too fast to do anything else but let’s close our doors I thank all the wonderful parents, students and team I have worked with over the last two decades and pray for nothing but wonderful things for your future!”

After some time off for soul searching, Trevor is now doing what he does best, which is writing and directing. He is currently the CEO of the company Play and Depth and continues to be a guiding light to a new group of children and adults alike.

This journalist thanks you for all you gave to the Bay Area children’s theater scene and we will miss you more than you will ever know.