Typical of his selfless, altruistic nature, San Diego’s iconic theater director William “Bill” Virchis decided to forgo a typical celebration befitting an accomplished man’s 80th birthday, choosing instead to honor others at a gala event to benefit the company he co-founded, Teatro Máscara Mágica. The event will take place this Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Old Town.
And Chuck and Gail Ross, known for their contributions to revitalizing Old Town, proprietors of restaurants and the Cosmopolitan Hotel, have been extremely generous in their support of the arts and most significantly, Teatro Máscara Mágica. “At first, it was a shock. School was harder in Mexico,” Virchis said. “I didn’t speak any English, but I learned the language watching TV.”
With his master’s degree in hand, Virchis was well-armed and on a trajectory to do great things not only in theater, but as an inspiration to young people in the sports world as well as a wrestling coach at Chula Vista High School. One of his most famous students is actor Mario Lopez.