photo by Vicki Thompson

Acting Out: Almaden resident Gavin Coffing (center) volunteers his time directing 'Stages of the Moon,' a city-wide theater program offered through San Jose's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services department. He is surrounded by program leaders Chris Cardenas (left), Julia Weiland and Amy Shackelford, who grew up in the theater program as children.

Almaden Valley resident honored for longtime theater commitment
By Lisa Sibley

At 24, Amy Shackelford is bursting with enthusiasm and exuding confidence. But as a child she was an extremely quiet and shy 10-year-old. Gavin Coffing has a little something to do with that change.

Shackelford's mother found a community brochure for a theater program and enrolled her in it, and Shackelford performed in her first play at age 10. That was the end of her bashfulness, and how she met Coffing.

"Gavin has this way of drawing confidence out of people without being intimidating," she says. "He just knows what each kid needs to grow--to grow as a person, instead of an actor."

Coffing, who has lived in Almaden Valley for more than 25 years, is the director of "Stages of the Moon," a city-wide theater program offered through San Jose's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department. During the summer, he leads a four-week children's theater summer camp. Young adults such as Shackelford and Julia Weiland, who once participated as children, now staff the summer camp, using everything from leadership skills to their vocal chords.

"Gavin basically is the heart of this program," says 24-year-old Weiland.

The summer theater camp is held in Bramhall Park on Willow Street between Lincoln and Meridian avenues.

The culmination of the program is the presentation of an original play written by Coffing and performed in the park's outdoor, forest-like amphitheater for parents, family and friends.

San Jose City Council members recognized Coffing on June 27 with a commendation for more than 38 years of outstanding service to the city. He has more than 50 years of theatrical experience.

"It was really wonderful," Coffing says. "It was the support of parents and the community that made [the recognition] happen. I was really very grateful."

Coffing was asked to direct his first play at age 20 in Marin County with the Ross Valley Players.

In 1988, he began the Willow Glen Children's Theater Program, which has operated out of Markham Little Theater, now Willow Glen Middle School, and the Willows Senior Center. He has also worked as a youth services supervisor for Districts 1 and 6.

Although he retired in 2004, Coffing, 72, continues to direct the theater program year-round as a volunteer, touching thousands of local children in the process.

"I retired two years ago because they couldn't afford to keep me," Coffing says.

An added benefit of being a volunteer, Coffing says, is that he no longer has to submit time cards, staff reports or attend meetings.

"This is a very family-oriented program," Coffing says. "We get a kid, and then a couple years later we get their brother or sister."

url: http://www.svcn.com/archives/almadenresident/20060720/news3.shtml