Trey Evans has been finding himself in creative spaces for as long as he can remember. The Dallas, Texas native began his theatre journey in Oak Cliff, where his teacher encouraged him to embrace his natural stage presence in the classroom. “We didn’t do plays, but we worked on scenes and watched a lot of theater,” he recalled.
His first formal introduction to the stage came when his family moved to Garland, Texas. There, Evans joined his middle school theatre class to learn more about how the theatrical process takes shape. Though still unsure of his talent, his performances were met with praise, which lead him to continue to act in high school.
However, it wasn't until his sophomore year that he began to take acting seriously: "I was always late with memorizing lines. But my teachers pushed me, telling me I was cheating myself by not taking it seriously." By his senior year, his commitment paid off, leading him to compete in UIL One Act Play Competition and ultimately apply to Texas Tech.
While Evans was originally a BA student, he was interested in pursuing a spot in the BFA acting program: “I missed the deadline to audition for the BFA, but my professor Dean Nolen encouraged me to try again next year.” After re-auditioning, he was accepted into the BFA program, and by his junior year, he started building a network of friends and collaborators within the department.
When reflecting on his time as Red Raider, Evans described many different skills he has learned both in the classroom and on productions. He credits the School for fostering in him a deeper understanding of what it means to be an actor, especially definining the importance of physicality: "I didn’t have many lines in As You Like It (2022), but I got so many compliments on my physical movement, helping me to further recognize and understand its importance in the realm of acting.” This discovery helped him to further refine his approach as an actor and continues to play a key role in the way he builds characters for the stage.
Currently, Evans is in rehearsal for the The Antelope Party: "It's a small cast, so the rehearsal process moves quickly. We’re always laughing and having fun, but we still stay focused.” Under the direction of Dr. Bill Gelber, Evans and the rest of the cast have been working hard to tackle challenging material using Gelber’s specific manner of directing, inspired by Brecht: "It’s a new way of working for me, but I’m excited about the process and, especially, the costumes.”
As he heads into his senior year, Evans is excited to learn more during his final semesters at Tech: “I’m ready to get started with my career, but I’m also learning to cherish these last moments here,” he said with a smile. During his final year, he’s focusing on making lasting connections, continuing to grow as an actor, and, of course, encouraging audiences to see his latest performance if, for no other reason, he jokes, “to see my pants!”
Catch Evans in The Antelope Party this semester before he says goodbye to Texas Tech in the spring! The Antelope Party is on stage October 10-20 in The CH Foundation The Legacy of Christine DeVitt Black Box Theatre. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the School of Theatre and Dance website or call (806) 742-3603.