A 10-year veteran of the theater world, Midway High School graduate Evander Pope is all too familiar with what goes into a performance.
Pope has been active in the theater community since he was young. His interest was sparked after attending a performance of The Little Mermaid Jr.
“My cousin was one of Ursula’s tentacles, and we went to watch her perform one evening,” Pope recalled. “My mom said whenever they had the next children’s show, she would sign me up, and it just happened to be the following summer.”
That first production was 101 Dalmatians. Once Pope got his foot in the door, he never looked back.
“I’ve done somewhere between 15 and 20 shows at Sampson Community Theatre at this point, I think,” Pope said. “Some of my favorite shows have been Mary Poppins, under the direction of Dr. Linda Jewell Carr, Elf Jr., under the direction of Mrs. Angela Martin, and then one of my recent favorites would be Clue. It was one of my all-time favorite productions to be a part of. It was such a fun show and a pleasure to work with the entire cast.”
When Pope first began learning what it takes to put on a theatrical production, he quickly discovered there was much more involved than he had realized.
“It was really fun, even as a young kid not knowing exactly everything that went into theater,” he explained. “Over the past few years, I’ve really tried to learn more about theater and improve my skills as an actor. I’ve had a great time in all the shows I’ve been in, getting to know people, learning and growing my talents, and building good relationships along the way.”
While many theatergoers focus on the biggest scenes and musical numbers, Pope has developed an appreciation for the smaller moments that help bring a production to life.
“I love being in musicals, but some of my favorite scenes are the ones where there isn’t much music,” he said. “Those moments with a good back-and-forth between actors, where you really get into the nitty-gritty details of the show.
“Musical numbers are great and they’re very necessary, but to make or break a show, you have to have those details that bring everything together,” Pope continued. “It’s not just the words you’re saying. It’s the emotion on people’s faces, the body language and all of those little details. That’s what truly makes a show, and it can take a production from great to stellar.”
During the production run of Clue, Sampson Community Theatre and its board members announced two scholarships for graduating seniors. Pope was selected as one of the recipients, receiving a $250 scholarship to assist with his educational journey.
Pope will attend Crown College in Powell, Tennessee.
“I have worked with Evander since he was a young boy,” said Angela Martin, a board member and one of the directors at Sampson Community Theatre. “One of the greatest experiences I’ve had was portraying Mrs. Banks when he played Michael Banks as a little boy in our production of Mary Poppins.
“This year, he became George Banks in the All-County musical that I produced at Clinton High School,” she continued. “That was a really special memory for me. I have so many memories of working with him. He’s been in numerous productions, and it’s been a joy watching him grow up. He started out as a young man who loved to sing but was a little shy. Now he’s a senior in high school who is self-assured and filled with talent.”
Pope took a moment to praise Martin and thank her for the confidence she has shown in him over the years.
“It really means the world to me,” he said. “To know that she thinks what I’m doing is good and worth continuing. To know she believes I’m on the right path and that I can continue to grow my passions means a lot. It means the world to know she sees me improving and trying to do better.”
As he prepares for college, Pope’s love of music and theater is leading him toward a new chapter. He plans to major in music at Crown College.
“Music has always been a huge part of my life,” he said. “Everything that will go into my degree, from conducting to reading and writing sheet music, is something that’s exciting to me. A lot of those areas are new to me, so I’m looking forward to those experiences and learning as much as I can while also building new friendships and relationships.”
According to Pope, his background in theater has helped prepare him for the challenges that come with studying music more extensively.
“One of the biggest reasons I’ve gotten to where I am with reading sheet music is because I’ve spent time following along during rehearsals,” he explained. “I’ve tried to pay attention to where the notes are going, whether they’re moving up or down, and continued practicing. It’s helped me get to the point where I can read music and follow along confidently.
“It’s also allowed me to help others when they don’t quite understand what the music is doing and guide them through those moments,” he added.
Another reason Pope feels comfortable making the transition into music studies is his longstanding involvement in church music.
“I’ve been involved in church music longer than I’ve been involved in theater,” Pope said. “That’s one of the things I’m hoping to continue. Part of my degree will involve learning how to write music, and being able to write church music and music that people can sing and perform in churches is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Pope envisions using his education to serve both his church, Charity Baptist Church, and the growing arts community throughout Sampson County.
“I want to use the skills and knowledge I gain in college to help grow that and make it even more visible throughout the county,” he emphasized.
Pope also reflected on the role faith has played throughout his life and how it has shaped his desire to serve others.
“I feel like my avenue of faith has always been trying to be a servant and help others,” he said. “Helping people learn and grow into the individuals they want to become, helping them become better citizens and better people overall.
“One thing I would encourage the community to do is make faith more of a part of daily life,” Pope continued. “For a long time, even for myself, church was something I did on Sundays. Once I left church, I didn’t think much about it throughout the rest of the week.
“I want people to know that church is more than just a place you go and more than something you do for an hour or two each week,” he added. “At the end of the day, it’s about Christ.”