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GAVIN COFFING, director

Gavin received his MA from UCLA in Theatre and has written over 100 scripts for children of all ages. He founded the Willow Glen Children's Theatre in 1988. In 1992, Gavin reinvented the program, doing away with auditions and using the Theatre Connection Workshop as an incubator for the final production.

Beginning his work in the City of San Jose in 1968, Gavin has always been a proponent of providing arts programs for children in a community setting. Hired into the Parks and Recreation Department, he started the Junior Theatre and acted as Director for sixteen years. He lives in San Jose with his wife, Sandra Phipps MacDiarmid, and his dog Luc. Sandra is an artist specializing in landscape painting, monotype, and mixed-media art.

In 2004, Gavin retired from the City in order to devote more of his time to the WGCT. He is the resident director of the program and has authored several hundred plays. A true patriot of the arts, he has been recognized by the City of San Jose and former Mayor Ron Gonzales as an important figure in children's theatre. Gavin has taught thousands of children not only acting skills but also self confidence, leadership, time management and teamwork, all of which serve them well as they move on to college and their careers. In 2006, the City Council recognized Gavin for outstanding service to the City of San Jose. 

WGCT Staff