The McGill family poses in costume for ‘Guys and Dolls.’

Frank McGill took a huge risk.
Years ago he gambled the opportunity to fly jumbo jets for much
higher pay for another pilot position that paid less but allowed
him to spend much more time with his family.
By Dorie S. Sandow

Special to The Dispatch

Frank McGill took a huge risk.

Years ago he gambled the opportunity to fly jumbo jets for much higher pay for another pilot position that paid less but allowed him to spend much more time with his family.

Now the entire Gilroy family is involved with South Valley Civic Theatre in Morgan Hill.

Frank McGill started with SVCT five years ago. The first three years were spent on the board of directors. Two years ago he started producing plays, the first of which was “Gypsy.”

Now his wife, Del, and their three children, Deanna, 12, Michael, 10, and Kathryn, 9, all particpate. They first joined for the “Gypsy” production and all have supporting roles in the play “Guys and Dolls,” as well.

McGill got into the theater first, and his oldest child Deanna followed suit. Michael and Kathryn saw that “Deanna was having too much fun,” so they joined in.

Recently, his wife, a flight attendant, took a leave of absence to join the rest of her faimily.

“The rewards, in so many ways, far outweigh what you put in,” Frank McGill said. “I grew up in community theater thinking I was just having fun, not realizing I was learning about life.”

Did the kids really sign up on their own? Deanna said that she loves it so much she will be taking further studies in theatre. Yes, the kids definitely signed up for this project.

To say these risks paid off is an understatement. Deanna, at 12 years old, is delightful. She is pretty, confident, smart and mature. Comfortable with her age, Deanna is not in a hurry to grow up.

“There’s plenty of time to grow up, I want to enjoy myself before life gets tough,” she said.

An honor student at St. Mary School, Deanna loves to dance, act, sing and play the trumpet. Her advice for young people who want to get into theater: “Audition if you like theater. You have to like it to enjoy it. Be energetic. If you are not chosen, keep trying.”

Michael, at 10 years old, has a charming smile, and said he likes to act, play guitar and sports.

His favorite activity, however, is “eating.” Also an honor student at St. Mary’s, Michael enjoys the opportunity to meet a lot of people and taking the role of different characters. Does he know yet what he wants to be?

“I’ll wait ’til 7th grade”, he said confidently. “There’s plenty of time.”

Nine-year-old Kathryn sat on a stool, her feet going through dance steps as she ate her lunch. She appeared very comfortable, natural and confident. The third honor student at St. Mary School, she loves to dance, act, play softball and read. Her advice to other young actors: “Listen to the director and have fun. You just really need to have fun”, she said emphatically, as if she has lived 90 years instead of nine.

When Frank McGill first started with SVCT, he worked as a technician and was involved in 12 plays, “Snow White,” “Follow That Rabbit,” “Sugar,” “Peter Pan” and “Charlotte’s Web” to name just a few.

He co-produced “Guys and Dolls” because board members are encouraged to produce and the play was the first play he got involved in as a technician, when he was in high school.

He loves this play, and hopes to run into another play that moves him to co-produce.

“When this opportunity came up, all of us were excited because doing ‘Gypsy’ was so much fun and we got a lot out of it,” he said.

Simply watching “Guys and Dolls” makes it easy to see why the McGills made a decision to dedicate so much time and energy into the play.

Among the audience was Linn Kovach, who has known the McGills for 12 years. She said the McGills are for real.

“They are very close, they do a lot together,” she said. “Frank and Del have totally focused on what is best for the kids and it has worked.”

Deanna’s comment said it all.

“It’s nice to know you are loved.”

‘Guys and Dolls’

When: 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, May 28 and 29.

Where: Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, 17090 Monterey Road.

Cost: $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors.

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