Age: 25 • Home: Cleveland Heights • Performs: Karamu House, Cleveland Public Theatre, Cain Park
By Sophie Farrar
Avery LaMar Pope’s theater roots date back to his days at Gearity Professional Development Elementary School in University Heights, performing in the risers with a choir for the high school’s musicals.
He continued doing musicals into middle school, and moved into performing in straight plays in addition to musicals in high school.
Now, Pope can be found performing on stage with a variety of local theaters and beyond, most recently in Cain Park’s production of “Hype Man” from July 12-21. He also performed in Karamu House productions “The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin” (2023) by Kirsten Childs and directed by Nina Domingue, and Langston Hughes’ “Black Nativity” (2023), directed by Tony F. Sias and Errin Weaver.
Acting is not where Pope’s artistry ends, as he finds himself wanting to be wherever the story is – whether on stage or as a playwright, musician or poet, he tells Canvas. Additionally, he has taught theater locally with The Dazzle Awards, Cleveland Public Theatre and Karamu House.
“Hype Man” at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights in July. Photo / Kierstan Kathleen Conway
“I just care about putting the story out,” Pope says. “Whether I’m singing, whether I’m writing it, I just want a good story to tell and I want it to be told well.”
However, Pope admits he prefers being on stage more than off in the wings. Notably, he was selected as a Room in the House Fellow in the 2023-2024 season at Karamu House, in which he received a financial award, performance space and additional resources.
“I think if I’m being honest with myself, I like being on stage more than not,” Pope says.
And Pope’s love for the stage does not stop him from taking on other roles and responsibilities in a production. For example, he taught adult acting in the Karamu Arts Academy in the spring.
Pope doesn’t find himself chasing after certain roles over others, he says. Instead, he finds himself recognizing the roles he should go for based on recognizing the kind of person he is, with his love for the story being at the center of it all.
“I don’t think there’s a role I pursue so much as a practice I maintain,” he says. “I’m usually a person who’s more willing to take on more responsibility than originally asked of them because of the fact that I care so much about the story.”
Looking ahead, Pope is planning on releasing an album, working on his poetry and resting, in addition to performing in the play “Judy’s Life’s Work” in Indianapolis this fall.
What’s next
• Pope will perform in “Judy’s Life’s Work” with Naptown African American Theatre Collective in Indianapolis from Oct. 18 to Nov. 3. For more information, visit naatcinc.org.
“Avery will be the rock of any cast he is a part of – he knows when to take center stage and when to become a supportive ensemble member. He is what I like to call a secret weapon. He is the actor you don’t expect to steal the show, but once you give him his moment onstage, he is taking it. You can teach someone how to act, but you can’t teach someone how to perform – that is a skill that you are born with, and Avery has it.”
Nina Domingue, associate artistic director, Karamu House
