Gavin Creel has passed away- Page 5

[Bwayornoway]

Posted: 10/2/24 at 3:34pm

peace, love, and strength to all of Gavin's family, friends, and the theater community.  A true reminder of how special life is.  The stars will forever be brighter above.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/2/24 at 3:35pm

I remember Charlotte St.Martin arguing that dimmings should be rare, and if everybody got one they would lose their specialness. A-Listers only. Also that she would not be bullied by social media into doing it their way. I think the Joan Rivers dimming changed course.

Anyway, Gavin Creel… how could anybody argue with that?

 

[all_that_jazz]

Posted: 10/2/24 at 3:55pm

Mirvish productions just announced they will be dimming the marquees of the Princess of Wales and Royal Alexandria Theaters in Toronto tonight in honor of Gavin.   

Updated On: 10/2/24 at 03:55 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/2/24 at 4:09pm

Very few people lived and breathed their love of theater like Gavin did. Hell, this is one case I even say he should have a theater somewhere renamed for him.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/2/24 at 4:42pm

Jay Lerner-Z said: "I remember Charlotte St.Martin arguing that dimmings should be rare, and if everybody got one they would lose their specialness. A-Listers only. Also that she would not be bullied by social media into doing it their way. I think the Joan Rivers dimming changed course. Anyway, Gavin Creel… how could anybody argue with that?"

There is no process of standardization and the League has been historically weird about it and has gone back and forth throughout the years. But now St. Martin is gone.

A partial dimming (one from each owner) is somewhat common now for lesser known artists and allows people to congregate in front of select houses. (I wish they'd just do 44th or 45th between 7 & 8 for the select dimmings so all the houses in that area are out, but that's just me)

If Adrian Bailey (who appeared in 15 Bway shows but never originated a lead role) is getting a partial dimming, then it seems clear to me that Gavin Creel would get a full dimming (he appeared in 8 shows in principal roles, won a Tony & was a 2x nominee, and was recently active on Bway). The grey area is someone like Ken Page: maybe he's partial, maybe he's full.

Determining the "worth" of a given person isn't a job that anyone should want to have 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/2/24 at 8:20pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Very few people lived and breathed their love of theater like Gavin did. Hell, this is one case I even say he should have a theater somewhere renamed for him."

I MISREAD THIS THE FIRST TIME...read right through 'somewhere'.  I agree with that.  The rest of my post was originally based on a Broadway theatre, remembering when people thought a Broadway theatre should be named after Anne Reinking, which made no sense to me. 

I disagree emphatically with this, when Tennessee Williams and…and…and…do t have a theatre named after them.  I do think inclusion in the Theatre Hall of Fame is appropriate, given the number of productions in which he appeared and the consistent quality of his performances, not to mention all the great personal qualities he apparently had.

in any event, his woefully premature passing was just tragic by any definition.  

Updated On: 10/3/24 at 08:20 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/2/24 at 9:15pm

Anything is possible with the right amount of money!

If someone wanted to donate 7-8 figures to his Alma mater or to a nonprofit in exchange for naming a venue after him, I’m sure it would be an easy yes.

[UnwoundFantasies]

Posted: 10/2/24 at 9:15pm

Does anyone know if any shows said anything at their curtain calls this week in his remembrance? I could see the theaters of his prominent shows saying something, the Al Hirschfeld for example. 


I second what Jordan said. I’d love something to be named after him. I was thinking something with BCEFA maybe. 

[qafgenius122]

Posted: 10/2/24 at 10:13pm

I work in a theater office and when one person found out, the news swept the office and everyone was just gathered around computer screens and the room fell silent, which on a Monday morning is not typical.

I can't really say why this loss hits me so hard, but I just think he was one of the kindest, most talented performers to ever do it. His voice was smooth as butter, and to lose him so young, and SO FAST! It's crushing.

I was lucky enough to see him in every NY stage role he did from 2009 on (Hair (2x), She Loves Me, The Book of Mormon, Hello Dolly (3x), Waitress, Into the Woods (at City Center and on Bway) and Walk on Through at MCC, which ended up being one of my favorite things I think I've ever seen. Shame it didn't at least get an album. I specifically saw BOM and Waitress BECAUSE he was in it at the time.

It's been a couple days, and multiple times throughout each day I just find myself realizing (almost in real time) over and over again that he's gone. I am going to cherish the few brief opportunities I had to meet him at Stage Doors over the years, and the photos I luckily took with him. There won't be another person like him ever. At least we'll always have his music. 

[Miss10036]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 12:10am

I've also had a tough time processing this one.  I was just thinking about Walk on Through over the weekend when I was at the Met.  I had only gone there once in my life before WOT and now visit pretty regularly after his show admittedly inspired me to get out and see more art.  I enjoy the recognition whenever I spot pieces he sang about in the show and this Sunday, I was working through European Paintings when I spotted Judith.  And I remembered how that painting had spoken to him, and I hoped that whatever he was up to, he was still refining WOT so that more people could experience it and hear that incredible score.

I saw the show last fall on a night when he did a talkback with his director Linda Goodrich (also one of his college teachers), and his family and a number of his friends were in the audience.  I remember how the man was just radiating energy, talking about his process of creating after jumping around the stage for an hour and a half.  It felt so special to be in that room the two times I saw WOT and to watch him get vulnerable and tap into his powers.  I'd known he was talented, obviously, but I didn't realize he could do all that.  It made me think how lucky we are as theatre lovers to have people like him who devote themselves to theatre and who we can follow as they grow and show new parts of themselves over the years.  I couldn't wait to see what else he'd do.  A treat in any show he performed in and a gifted storyteller, composer, and lyricist who had so much more to give...  RIP, his portamento will always be my favorite.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 4:28am

Miss10036 said: "I've also had a tough time processing this one. I was just thinking about Walk on Through over the weekend when I was at the Met. I had only gone there once in my life before WOT and now visit pretty regularly after his show admittedly inspired me to get out and see more art. I enjoy the recognition whenever I spot pieces he sang about in the show and this Sunday, I was working through European Paintings when I spotted Judith. And I remembered how that painting had spoken to him, and I hoped that whatever he was up to, he was still refining WOT so that more people could experience it and hear that incredible score.

I saw the show last fall on a night when he did a talkback with his director Linda Goodrich (also one of his college teachers), and his family and a number of his friends were in the audience. I remember how the man was just radiating energy, talking about his process of creating after jumping around the stage for an hour and a half. It felt so special to be in that room the two times I saw WOT and to watch him get vulnerable and tap into his powers. I'd known he was talented, obviously, but I didn't realize he could do allthat. It made me think how lucky we are as theatre lovers to have people like him who devote themselves to theatre and who we can follow as they grow and show new parts of themselves over the years. I couldn't wait to see what else he'd do. A treat in any show he performed in and a gifted storyteller, composer, and lyricist who had so much more to give... RIP, his portamento will always be my favorite."

I wonder if this’ll have more of a life now - like a Tick Tick Boom. This was beautiful music and I’d like his legacy to live on through it.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 11:15am

Theaters will be dimming lights in honor of Creel on a date/time tbd... but not all theaters will be dimmed, which feels.. a little insulting?

"To honor his memory, the Committee of Theatre Owners will dim the lights of one theater from every Theater Owner on Broadway, including 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 theatres at a date and time to be coordinated with the family at their request"

Updated On: 10/4/24 at 11:15 AM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 11:17am

Partial dimming, same as they’re doing for Adrian Bailey. Gotta save that money, them union electricians are expensive.

[sorano916]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 11:26am

Kad said: "Theaters will be dimming lights in honor of Creel on a date/time tbd... but not all theaters will be dimmed, which feels.. a little insulting?

"To honor his memory, the Committee of Theatre Owners will dim the lights of one theater from every Theater Owner on Broadway, including 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 theatres at a date and time to be coordinated with the family at their request""

If there were going to pick and choose, they could have just gone with just those on 44th/45th Street or include more theaters he performed in like Hirschfeld, Horne, O'Neill.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 11:28am

It is still disrespectful for them to "partially" dim the lights. When we lose a valued member of this community, we dim ALL the lights! I really hope the West End does the same thing, as he was very loved here, too!

[sorano916]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 11:53am

Dylan Smith4 said: "It is still disrespectful for them to "partially" dim the lights. When we lose a valued member of this community, we dim ALL the lights! I really hope the West End does the same thing, as he was very loved here, too!"

According to this latest Whatsonstage article:

There are currently no plans to dim the West End lights for Creel. However, Marisha Wallace and the Actor’s Church will host a candlelight vigil to commemorate award-winning stage star. The vigil will take place on Sunday 6 October at the Actor’s Church at 6.30pm, lasting an hour.

Wallace said in a statement: “London was Gavin’s second home and he did four shows in the West End. The Book of Mormon, Hair, Waitress and Mary Poppins. We will get together and share our beautiful memories of our friend. Fellow castmates, crew, friends and fans please come.”

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 12:05pm

Those who feel mad about this might be better off channeling that into activism as a way of honoring Creel –– fighting for democracy and LGBTQ+ rights –– which by all accounts Creel himself might feel is a better use of time than yelling about a lightswitch.

As with funerals, these are really things for the living to help them process and honor the deceased, and it surely won't be the only memorial for him. I can't get mad about a partial-dimming for ~95% of Broadway deaths, but that's just me.

Once again proposing an annual Broadway Memorial Celebration (in a Broadway house + streamed) for all those who passed within a given year, that can have speeches and performances honoring everyone from stagehands to actors to producers to authors and everyone in between, followed by a full dimming/moment of silence for all in the community. AND for the Broadway League to implement standardization guidelines for individual dimmings (and publish those rules), which would probably be based on number of weeks employed on Broadway contracts, awards, and stature within respective unions/guilds. As it stands now, individual dimmings favor those who had front-facing roles, disincentivizing those who might have spent 30 years backstage or in an office or contributed millions to fund shows.

Updated On: 10/4/24 at 12:05 PM

[Huss417]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 12:47pm

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.

https://deadline.com/2024/10/gavin-creel-broadway-lights-dimming-1236107552/

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 1:08pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Those who feel mad about this might be better off channeling that into activism as a way of honoring Creel –– fighting for democracy and LGBTQ+ rights ––which by all accounts Creel himself might feel is a better use of time than yelling about a lightswitch.

As with funerals, these are really things for the living to help them process and honor the deceased, and it surely won't be the only memorial for him.I can't get mad about a partial-dimming for ~95% of Broadway deaths, but that's just me.

Once again proposing an annual Broadway Memorial Celebration (in a Broadway house + streamed) for all those who passed within a given year, that can have speeches and performances honoring everyone from stagehands to actors to producers to authors and everyone in between, followed by a full dimming/moment of silence for all in the community. AND for the Broadway League to implement standardization guidelines for individual dimmings (and publish those rules), which would probably be based on number of weeks employed on Broadway contracts, awards, and stature within respectiveunions/guilds. As it stands now, individual dimmings favor those who had front-facing roles, disincentivizingthose who might have spent 30 years backstage or in an office or contributedmillions to fund shows."

 

Sure... by all means lets "regulate" this once meaningful and time honored tradition even more -- so that it turns into a chore/obligation rather than something meaningful from the heart.  Also do you really think that even if they do an "Annual Memorial" (which they already do on the Tonys), there won't be people left out and there won't be faux outrage from those "fans" who seem to feel it's all about them in the first place (you know who you are).?

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 1:17pm

Standardization and regulation merely offers a level of transparency and cuts down on conversations surrounding who gets what. Those operating in bad faith or looking for an excuse to be angry at people in power will, naturally, never be happy.

Important to remember that anything involving the theatre owners will never be done purely out of altruism so they might as well regulate it.

But I'm also of the belief that for 95% of people, dimming a single theatre might be more impactful than spreading it out to one from each owner. Maybe the theatre where they made their Broadway debut or had their most recent appearance. idk.

Updated On: 10/4/24 at 01:17 PM

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 1:19pm

Not to take away from the wonderful discussions and stories about Gavin - but I wonder if these new partial dimmings are the result of all these new LED marquees that seem to be taking over the theatre district, maybe causing it to be more difficult to just “flip a switch” than it used to be?

in any case, I hope his memory is honored in the highest regards because he truly was the best of the best and I do hope they do all 41 theatres.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 1:23pm

The decision to dim lights is probably one of the most public things the League does, and to the general population it is deeply meaningful and appears to be low-effort and low-cost, which makes the League's continued missteps around this tradition even more grating and baffling.

The League has a  reputation for being out of touch and tone deaf and an instance like this, in which a truly beloved industry figure dies tragically young and whose death has deeply affected and upset all corners of the industry and yet the League's theatre owners arbitrarily decide he is not worthy of the full honor, certainly doesn't help.

[binau]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 1:38pm

Here we go again. Look, all I’ll say is what I said last time when they didn’t dim the lights for Marin Mazzie - it’s highly offensive that they should even have to make us have to ask or beg to dim all the lights. F*CK them. 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 1:42pm

Mentioned this in the other thread, but instead of all or nothing, how about just at the theatres they performed in? I think that carries a bit more significance than fighting about it.

[smidge]

Posted: 10/4/24 at 1:45pm

Huss417 said: "SelectBroadwaytheaters will dim their lights for the lateGavin Creelat a date and time being coordinated with his family, the Broadway League said today.

https://deadline.com/2024/10/gavin-creel-broadway-lights-dimming-1236107552/"

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