Music at Memorial; Performer credits Stephenville Theatre Festival with helping him make decision on his music career

Stephenville -

After spending much of his adolescent life with the Stephenville Theatre Festival, Evan Smith believes being involved in the summer event made him realize what he wanted to do with his life.

Smith is this year into his fourth season with the festival and after completing high school in June he will be attending Memorial University of Newfoundland's School of Music in the fall, studying voice.

"I think I always wanted to make music a career, but when Eva (Moore) gave me the chance in 2007 to be part of a theatre company, that's when I realized I wanted to make music my career," he said.

He started out at 15 years of age and was hired that year to perform in a Robert Munsch show and be an "extra" in "Grease" but when one of the actors cancelled out he was bumped up to perform a main part.

That year he as well did piano in three shows and from there has been designated the festival's piano player.

Prior to getting on with the festival his only exposure to acting, singing or playing the piano was getting on stage and doing one number, then off.

"The feeling associated with being part of a cast and being on stage for several hours at a time is a whole lot better," Smith said.

He believes this year's festival is going to be a good one and said they are now halfway through rehearsals for "Little Shop of Horrors." Everyone with the cast feels it will come together and be a really good production.

In addition to being the voice for the man-eating plant in "Little Shop," he will be doing piano in the production and serve as its musical director. He will be doing piano for Jennifer Dawson-Hobbes' show "Jennifer Juniper" and doing his own show entitled "Putting on the Ritz 2," as well as performing in "Country Roadhouse 2" and "Woodstock."

Smith plans on continuing with the festival in the summers for as long as he can into the future.

"It's such a great opportunity as you get to work with really good people and do some great shows. The festival is something that once you get used to it, it's difficult to leave," he said.

Outside the festival, his performing career has been busy on a volunteer and work-related basis with Saturday night performances at the Holiday Inn and serving as organist and choir director for the 1st United Church.

He had a banner year at the Rotary Music Festival in the spring after being named the Rose Bowl winner for Best in Festival and collecting awards for Best Vocal and Best Piano, which he felt was a neat way to leave his mark in his senior year of school.

"I've been fortunate in that I've always had support from my family and I'm sure they will be supportive of me coming back to work in the summer," Smith said.

Stephenville Theatre Festival runs his year from July 11 to Aug. 22 kicking off with a 2 p.m. matinee of "A Sculpin Named Sam" on Sunday, July 11.

This year's main stage shows are "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Country Roadhouse 2"; while Stage 2 performances include "Proof," "Staircase," "Woodstock," and "A Sculpin Named Sam."