Will Guilford Steals the Show

By Julie Horner

Will Guilford, beloved sports coach and drama instructor closes the book on a 32 year teaching career with San Lorenzo Valley schools and retires this month. Guilford initiated the school drama programs at SLV High School and SLV Middle School and ran summer drama programs throughout his tenure. He also co-founded the youth theater company Hooked on Theater with Dustin Center over 20 years ago. He decided early on with his role at the school district, “We’re doing musicals. Kids need musicals…Gershwin, some of the oldies.”

From Ducktails and BobbySox to Chicago, High School Edition (Guilford’s 107th production), Guilford was driven by an intrinsic need to nurture each child’s individual gift, introducing many of them to personal expression for the first time. “It’s different for kids now. They spend all their time on social media.” The best part, he said, was the last dress rehearsal. “When you watch the auditions and you see all this transformation…”

Guilford had his favorites. “West Side Story was monumental,” he said. “We had a 17-piece orchestra!” The gunshot scene was especially memorable, he recalled. The sound effects were accidentally switched and instead of a gunshot sound, the audience heard a doorbell sound. Another favorite was Mama Mia. “We had people dancing in the aisles.” The production of Grease “sold out every night,” he recalled. And definitely Chicago, which couldn’t complete its run because of the health crisis. He said those fortunate to attend the first several performances repeatedly told him, “I can’t believe it’s a high school show!”

Scott Kravitz and Tara McMilin are in the wings to help keep the drama programs vibrant when schools reopen. As the curtain falls on decades of public service, Will Guilford’s calling now takes him home to family and exciting projects yet to be dreamed.