For Sam Weaks, being on the stage has and always will be his passion.
Whether he’s acting, playing the piano, singing or recording music, the senior at Permian and New Tech has been versatile when it comes to performing in front of an audience and has been for almost his entire life.
The musician and thespian has been no stranger to the arts in the Permian Basin and has graced the stage many times at Permian Playhouse.
But this month will be his last performance at Permian Playhouse before graduating in May when he plays the role of Templeton in the show “Charlotte’s Web.”
“Being able to do all that I can through the community arts has been a privilege and it’s very bitter sweet knowing that I’ve left it all on the stage over the years in every capacity that I can, essentially every opportunity that’s popped up to do,” Weaks said. “Theater, music, perform on stage, off stage, anything that I can, I’m there. It’s definitely bittersweet knowing that I’m going to leave knowing that I’ve done absolutely everything and there have been some of the best influences here.”
Not to worry. He’ll still be involved in the theater one way or another.
He’s still undecided on where he’ll go to college but he’s narrowed his choices down.
“I might have a decision by (April 1),” Weaks said. “I’m waiting to hear back from the last colleges.”
He was recently accepted into the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., which is one of the most prestigious performing arts academies in the nation.
“That’s a dream for any musician,” Weaks said. “To be able to travel to Boston and audition for them, getting that acceptance letter and a scholarship was a smack in the face experience. Words can’t describe that feeling when I got to open that letter and learn that I had just been given such a high honor.”
Weaks has done more than 30 plays at Permian Playhouse. His involvement with the community theater in Odessa began as soon as his family moved to Odessa from Kansas City, Mo. in 2014.
By then, Weaks, who was 10 years old at the time, had been involved with local theater in Missouri but he immediately fell in love with Permian Playhouse the minute he moved to Odessa.
“I believe about a day after arriving to town, I was here (at Permian Playhouse),” Weaks said. “Almost immediately, there was something special about the community that I stepped into and I had already been doing theater throughout my childhood.”
It was a year later when he received his first lead role, playing the role of Tom the schoolteacher in Schoolhouse Rock.
It was a role that Weaks said he never forgot.
“When I stepped out onto that stage and that grand curtain rose and delivered the opening scene and just to have a sold out house, there’s nothing like it,” Weaks said. “I realized right then and there that I never wanted to stop performing.”
Weaks has gotten to step into many different roles throughout the years, from playing Captain Hook in “Peter Pan” to playing the “goofy bus driver” in Judy B. Jones. He was also the “crazy music teacher” in another performance of Judy B. Jones. He’s loved playing every one of them.
“I also got to be the music director when we did ‘Glee: The Musical’ and I got to be the assistant director when we did ‘Shrek’” Weaks said. “Truly, every single moment, I’ve tried to do something different on stage. We’ve done tons of showcases that I’ve gotten to work with a lot of my friends. We did ‘Elephant’s Graveyard’ which is a classic story about the elephant hanging and I got to be the preacher of the town. I wouldn’t take back any of them.”
It’s not just acting that Weaks specializes in as he plays and records his own music.
He’s classically trained in piano but Weaks said he also tries to mess around with all sorts of instruments including guitar and drums and “anything else I can pick up.”
Weaks’ parents (Dawn and Joe Weaks) are pastors at Connection Christian Church.
Being a pastors’ kid has meant that Weaks has stayed involved with his church’s praise band, playing the keyboards and singing.
“I think I was around 8-years-old when I played my first church service,” Weaks said. “I’ve grown up in the church as a double pastor kid. So getting to grow up in that setting is awesome because the church is so music-filled.”
He’s done music full time for Connection Christian Church for about three years now.
“It is an absolute joy getting to work with other musicians and be a part of that process every week,” Weaks said.
When Weaks isn’t on stage acting or at church singing and playing, he’ll be performing around the area for several events including office parties as well as being in the Permian pop vocal and instrument ensemble known as “Black Magic.”
He’s also played the piano in the lobby at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.
“Pretty much everything that there’s a musical need for, I’ll take the call,” Weaks said. “It’s an absolute joy to get to be the go-to entertainment in the area. … There’s never a time where I’m not performing somewhere with someone.”
Weaks has had many people who helped influence him both as a musician and a thespian.
“My parents, from day one, have always been my biggest supporters,” Weaks said. “My sister (Arwen Weaks) is my best friend and is literally there with me before, during and after everything I do. Here at the playhouse, I’ve had a multitude of teachers, counselors and people who have guided me. At Odessa College, I get to study under Gayle Bizell the piano instructor there and she is one of my greatest supporters. Members of my church and leaders have always pushed me to be my best self, no matter where I am. I will always be indebted to those people that have pushed me since day one.”
As Weaks reflects back on all the plays and all the musicals performances over the years, he says he’s always seen himself as being as creative as possible.
“People have told me since I was young that there were a lot of things that you can be passionate about in life, but it’s rare that someone gets to figure out very young that there’s a specific thing that they can’t live without doing and that’s what the arts are for me,” Weaks said. “I don’t think there’s a version of my future self where I don’t wake up in the morning and go to help make music or put on a performance or to be creative in that sort of capacity and connect with audiences. I don’t know on a specific level what the future holds for me. But I’m just excited to get out and see what the world can offer me.”
If you go
- What: Charlotte’s Web.
- Where: Permian Playhouse.
- When: 7:30 p.m. April 22; 7:30 p.m. April 23; 2:30 p.m. April 24; 7:30 p.m. April 24; 7:30 p.m. April 29; 7:30 p.m. April 30; 2:30 p.m. May 1.
