Lee and Nanette Weaver’s eclectic St. Augustine home provides a snapshot of their artistic passion, and a conversation with the couple offers authentication of their deep sense of morality and humanitarian values. Native New Yorkers by way of Summit, New Jersey, Lee and Nanette have grown together through their ventures in and out of the entertainment industry. “I’ve been on stage since I was a kid, whether in church or in college productions,” reminisces Lee. “I began writing my own plays in 1983.”
It hasn’t always been about show biz for Lee and Nan. “I was a weekly auctioneer in New Jersey for eleven years. Nan ran the auction house cafe,” says Lee. “I still do auctions for St. Augustine Yacht Club, The Center for Spiritual Living, Habitat for Humanity, and The Wildflower Clinic.” His offstage history includes being a racquetball champion and trainer at Yogi Bera’s New Jersey racquetball club. Among Nanette’s off-stage career credentials are Antique and Contemporary Furniture Dealer and Office Manager for the company that built The Meadowlands in New Jersey.
In entertainment, Lee is an accomplished singer and actor who has appeared onstage as Don Quixote in Limelight Theatre’s production of ‘Man of La Mancha’ as well as a standup comedian. Nanette’s entertainment resume includes her work as a Playboy Bunny at the New York Playboy Club and more recently, a published poet. “I hosted a local cable television show for more than ten years,” explains Lee. “Nan and I even had our own morning radio show in the mid 90’s, called ‘Dreamweavers’. We were opposite Imus and Howard Stern,” he laughs. “So I’m not sure anyone was listening to us.”
After moving to St. Augustine in 2001, Lee and Nanette began sharing their own brand of entertainment to audiences at the Limelight Theatre and The Corazon Cinema and Cafe among other local venues. Written by Lee and edited by Nanette, their Special OPS (One Person Shows) include their six-play ‘Redemption Series’ designed to promote social, moral, and political awareness by presenting their audiences with the most pressing issues of our time, such as climate change, civil rights, and gun violence in America. The plays feature historically accurate events with fictitious main characters. “We feel it is our moral and social responsibility to shine light on these critical issues,” says Nanette.
When they are not writing and performing at home, the Weavers bring their performances to various US cities. “We don’t have much of a home life but we have a great car life,” jokes Lee. Throughout the series, Lee is always center stage while Nanette interviews his characters and presents powerpoints from behind the scenes, making special appearances in select performances. In today’s increasingly complex social climate, the Weavers’ lifelong passions are a welcome addition to the St. Augustine arts community.
Learn more about Lee and Nanette’s work by visiting www.facebook.com/LeeWeaverSpecialOPS. Written by Robert Waldner. Photography by Kate Gardiner.