Broadway To Dim Lights For Gavin Creel As Theater Community Continues To Reel From Shocking Death

Select Broadway theaters will dim their lights for the late Gavin Creel at a date and time being coordinated with his family, the Broadway League said today.

Creel’s death from a rare and aggressive cancer at age 48 on September 30 has prompted a massive and continuing outpouring on social media of love and heartbreak from the Broadway community. The death of the immensely popular musical theater actor caught many colleagues and fans by surprise, and has left the industry reeling.

“It is hard to fathom the loss of Gavin Creel,” said Jason Laks, Interim President of The Broadway League. “Not only was he an actor of the highest caliber, but he was also a committed activist and champion for so many causes both within and outside of our industry. Gavin gave of his whole self to our community, both in his performances and his charitable work. The Broadway community is lucky to have known him both as an actor and an individual, and to have benefited from the joy that he brought into so many people’s lives.”

The League’s Committee of Theatre Owners determines the specific plans for the light dimming tributes.

Creel had undergone treatment at New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering for metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma after being diagnosed in July. After his treatment at the hospital, he transitioned to hospice care at his home.

Once a date for the light-dimming has been determined, one theater from every theater owner on Broadway will participate in the traditional tribute, with venues to include the Circle in the Square, Helen Hayes, Marquis, New Amsterdam, Samuel J. Friedman, Shubert, Stephen Sondheim, St. James, Studio 54, Todd Haimes, and Vivian Beaumont theaters.

An Ohio native and graduate of the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, Creel’s professional stage career began in 1998 when he performed in the national tour of Fame. In 2002 he made his debut on a Broadway stage at the Marquis Theatre when he originated the role of Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which he received his first Tony Award nomination.

In all, Creel appeared in 11 Broadway and touring Broadway productions, starring in several revivals of acclaimed musicals including from his Tony-nominated portrayal of Claude in Hair, his memorable turn as Steven Kodaly in She Loves Me, and his Tony-winning performance as Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly!

Most recently, he performed in the wildly popular 2022 Broadway revival of Into The Woods, appearing in the dual roles of the Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince.

Other Broadway credits include La Cage aux Folles; The Book of Mormon and Waitress. Touring credits include Fame, The Book of Mormon and Into the Woods.

Creel also made significant contributions to the Broadway community through his charitable work and efforts as an activist. He co-founded the grassroots organization Broadway Impact, which focuses on amplifying support of marriage equality. In addition to his work with Broadway Impact, Creel was heavily involved with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.