Gavin Creel's WALK ON THROUGH at MCC Theater

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/13/23 at 1:38pm

https://www.playbill.com/article/gavin-creel-musical-walk-on-through-gets-final-extension-as-previews-begin-off-broadway-november-13

MCC Theater's world premiere run of Gavin Creel's Walk On Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice begins at the Off-Broadway company's Susan & Ronald Frankel Theater November 13. A new and "final" extension will see performances continue through January 7, 2024. Opening night is November 27.

Developed and previously presented at The O’Neill National Musical Theatre Conference, the work is inspired by Creel's time wandering the collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which commissioned the work. The musical features 17 original songs written by Creel, who makes his theatrical songwriting debut with the production. Creel has previously released albums featuring his pop songwriting, including 2006's Goodtimenation and 2012's Get Out.

Creel is also starring in the musical, alongside Sasha Allen (Camp, Hair), Madeline Benson (SIX), Chris Peters, Ryan Vasquez (The Wrong Man), and Scott Wasserman (Hamilton). Casting is by The Telsey Company's Rachel Hoffman.

Linda Goodrich is directing the world premiere, leading a creative team that includes scenic designer I. Javier Ameijeiras, costume designer Jeff Mahshie, lighting designer Jiyoun Chang, sound designer Alex Neumann, and projection designer David Bengali. The score features orchestrations and arrangements by Madeline Benson, Chris Peters, and Scott Wasserman; Benson is also music director, and Wasserman is the electronic music designer. Laura Hirschberg is production stage manager, with Nicole Johnson of Harriet Tubman Effect serving as diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant.

[Ptero2]

Posted: 11/13/23 at 3:49pm

Saw this on TodayTix rush this morning and managed to get one. Didn't even realize it was the opening. Pretty excited!

Updated On: 11/13/23 at 03:49 PM

[etimer13]

Posted: 11/13/23 at 11:06pm

Saw this tonight after a day at The Met and thought it was fantastic. Sasha Allen was tremendous in her showstopping number! Unfortunately, she fell trying to come off the piano, but she bounced up and said to the crowd, “we’ll learn from this”.  Ryan Vasquez was also very good and Gavin was full of energy and emotion. 

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 11/14/23 at 2:31am

Can you tell us the running length of the performance?  Thanks!

[etimer13]

Posted: 11/14/23 at 9:16am

1 hour 45 minutes. No intermission. 

[Ptero2]

Posted: 11/14/23 at 10:03am

This was phenomenal. Go see it ASAP if you can find a ticket.

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/19/23 at 6:04pm

Seeing it tonight! (TT Rush was surprisingly easy for me - Orchestra F16) - Will report back

I actually ran into Gavin coming in on my way out of the theatre to grab some coffee. He’s so nice!

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/19/23 at 10:01pm

Oh. My. God.

 

When I tell you that what I just witnessed was an utterly life-giving, life-affirming, life-changing experience, I am not giving myself over to hyperbole here.

 

Not knowing what to expect going in, and knowing Creel to be primarily a musical comedy performer, I figured this was going to be a tongue-in-cheek look at a trip through the museum with some emotional depth thrown in for balance. What I saw was Gavin Creel at full throttle as actor, singer, composer, performer and poet. Yes, there are plenty of musical comedy moments (including an entire number dedicated to sexualizing nude statues), but Creel also shows how his trip to the Met turned into how he saw art and the influence of it on his life, including dealing with religious trauma, failed relationships, and his internal struggle to want to be “remarkable”. 

 

Ryan Vasquez is also fantastic as a multitude of characters, including a remarkably horny Jackson Pollock. Even in smaller parts, he has crackling chemistry with Gavin and definitely shows his versatility well here.

 

My only two quibbles:

1. The sound design for the first few songs needs some fine tuning because the band (while they sound fantastic) does tend to overpower Gavin at times and that caused me some initial worry because the space is small and can do harm with such little acoustic space.
2. Sasha Allen ATE IT UP…but for one song, as one character, in what is otherwise a glorified cameo. To be honest, whatever purpose she served in the show, I honestly couldn’t tell you and I thought it ground the flow to a halt. Talented as she is, her part should be cut.

 

Overall - GO NOW OR FOREVER WISH YOU HAD!

 

[Dan6]

Posted: 11/19/23 at 10:06pm

Is front row too close?

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/19/23 at 11:23pm

Dan6 said: "Is front row too close?"

It’s an 8 row raked orchestra seating arrangement. Front row is the very first row on the floor (which has wheelchair accessible spaces).

Gavin bounces all over the place, but to be at eye level with him for this journey would be probably quite the experience 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/20/23 at 12:45am

Honestly Sasha Allen just being in the building is enough for me. Purchasing. 

[Sytwix]

Posted: 11/22/23 at 9:31am

FYI, there are tickets available for Nov 22, 25, 26 shows at the pre-extension prices ($104, $144).

[barcelona20]

Posted: 11/22/23 at 12:32pm

quizking101 said: "Oh. My. God.

When I tell you that what I just witnessed was an utterly life-giving, life-affirming, life-changing experience, I am not giving myself over to hyperbole here.

Not knowing what to expect going in, and knowing Creel to be primarily a musical comedy performer, I figured this was going to be a tongue-in-cheek look at a trip through the museum with some emotional depth thrown in for balance. What I saw was Gavin Creel at full throttle as actor, singer, composer, performer and poet. Yes, there are plenty of musical comedy moments (including an entire number dedicated to sexualizing nude statues), but Creel also shows how his trip to the Met turned into how he saw art and the influence of it on his life, including dealing with religious trauma, failed relationships, and his internal struggle to want to be “remarkable”.

Ryan Vasquez is also fantastic as a multitude of characters, including a remarkably horny Jackson Pollock. Even in smaller parts, he has crackling chemistry with Gavin and definitely shows his versatility well here.

My only two quibbles:

1. The sound design for the first few songs needs some fine tuning because the band (while they sound fantastic) does tend to overpower Gavin at times and that caused me some initial worry because the space is small and can do harm with such little acoustic space.
2. Sasha Allen ATE IT UP…but for one song, as one character, in what is otherwise a glorified cameo. To be honest, whatever purpose she served in the show, I honestly couldn’t tell you and I thought it ground the flow to a halt. Talented as she is, her part should be cut.

Overall - GO NOW OR FOREVER WISH YOU HAD!

"

 

If it's as good as you say, then can we expect it to have more life somewhere?

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/22/23 at 12:51pm

I mean, it’s really hard to gauge something like that. The way the show is set up might make a transfer to a traditional Broadway house a challenge without losing the intimate charm.

The only real place I can imagine this working without too much compromise to the production design would be the Booth, since their mezzanine isn’t a million miles away and there is potentially space for Creel to do his crowd work bits.

Also, while the off-Broadway run is in heavy demand, that doesn’t always translate to the Main Stem. He is easily selling out a 150-200 seat theatre, but tripling that (and by extension, increasing prices) may make this more likely a money pit (unless they want to license it - which I could TOTALLY see happening)

[barcelona20]

Posted: 11/22/23 at 12:57pm

If only the tickets weren't so expensive!

[mikem]

Posted: 11/23/23 at 12:26pm

sytwix, thank you for the heads-up about tickets being released for this weekend!  I was able to snag one.  The prices for the extension are crazy ($164 is the cheapest non-rush non-cancellation ticket, with the rest being $204!)  

[B212323]

Posted: 11/26/23 at 11:03pm

quizking101 said: "I mean, it’s really hard to gauge something like that. The way the show is set up might make a transfer to a traditional Broadway house a challenge without losing the intimate charm.

The only real place I can imagine this working without too much compromise to the production design would be the Booth, since their mezzanine isn’t a million miles away and there is potentially space for Creel to do his crowd work bits.

Also, while the off-Broadway run is in heavy demand, that doesn’t always translate to the Main Stem. He is easily selling out a 150-200 seat theatre, but tripling that (and by extension, increasing prices) may make this more likely a money pit (unless they want to license it - which I could TOTALLY see happening)"

I could see it do a limited run at CITS which only has 689 seats (and can be adjusted for each production) 

 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 10:19am

Opening Night is tonight and I'm curious what the critical response will look like! Break legs, Gavin and company!

[twbrqr]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 10:53am

Absolutely loved this show. Wishing them a happy opening. Go see this!!

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 11/29/23 at 6:31am

Any idea when we’ll see the crtitics’ take on this?  It opened two days ago (27th), and so far, I’ve seen nothing. 

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 11/29/23 at 8:05am

buzz on the boards seem great which is so encouraging   So happy for Gavin.

curious on critical reception before plunking down dollars as these seats are not exactly inexpensive. I am sure worthy but will wait until some more buzz and reviews break

[Dan6]

Posted: 11/29/23 at 2:13pm

According to Playbill, opening night is December 4.  

https://playbill.com/article/gavin-creel-musical-walk-on-through-gets-final-extension-as-previews-begin-off-broadway-november-13

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 11/30/23 at 9:12am

Saw this last night and loved, loved, loved it. Would happily see it 10 more times if I could. Fingers crossed that there's an album, as I'd love to listen to these songs again and again.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 12/2/23 at 12:01pm

Shows are cancelled today as Gavin has strep. He said he has medicine and will go on tomorrow. Hope he feels better!

[sondheim94]

Posted: 12/2/23 at 1:18pm

Had tickets for this afternoon... am pretty devastated to miss this one.