Gavin Creel, the Tony Award-winning luminary of Broadway hits such as "Hello, Dolly!" and "Hair," whose life was cut short in September at the tender age of 48, was eulogized on Monday as an artist brimming with passion and an activist driven by conviction. The emotive memorial service, resounding with music and steeped in nostalgia, drew a significant portion of New York City's closely knit theater community into its fold.
"Tonight, we gather amidst both joy and sorrow," expressed Heather Creel, Gavin's sister, her voice tinged with emotion. "It will be a tapestry of tears and laughter, excitement intertwined with quiet reflection." Indeed, the nearly two-hour ceremony encapsulated an array of humor, heart-wrenching moments, star-studded tributes, and profound grief.
Creel, who succumbed to an aggressive cancer, was remembered fondly by his partner, Alex Temple Ward, and cherished former co-stars like Sara Bareilles and Celia Keenan-Bolger. Broadway legends such as Kelli O’Hara, Phillipa Soo, and Joshua Henry performed songs like "How Glory Goes," "Sunday," and "Children Will Listen," each holding a special place in Creel's heart. The service culminated in a stirring rendition of "Let the Sunshine In," a tune that Creel had belted out during the 2009 revival of "Hair."
Amidst the poignant tributes, lighter anecdotes emerged—stories of Creel's gadget-loving antics, his fascination with Pixar films, his prowess in pancake-making, his impulse dog adoptions, his unexpected on-stage flatulence, and his signature "long arms" and soaring vocals. These moments brought levity to the proceedings.
Friends and colleagues hailed Creel's advocacy for marriage equality and his dedication to organizations like Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Ward recalled the immense "radical acceptance" Creel embraced as he faced his terminal diagnosis. "I beheld a spirit of fortitude in him that surpassed anything I've ever witnessed," he recounted, his voice thick with emotion.
The memorial service unfolded at Broadway's historic St. James Theatre, where Creel had shone as a vain prince in the 2022 revival of "Into the Woods," earning the praise that was his hallmark for his comic prowess. Bareilles joked that some of the hundreds in attendance had mistakenly come expecting a matinee of "Sunset Blvd."
"Into the Woods" was but one of the many highlights in Creel's career that garnered accolades and awards. Over two decades, he had established himself as a formidable presence on stage. In 2017, he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for "Hello, Dolly!"; prior to that, he was nominated in 2009 for "Hair" and in 2002 for "Thoroughly Modern Millie." He also garnered a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album as part of the "Into the Woods" cast. His credits further included revivals of "She Loves Me" and "La Cage aux Folles," as well as roles in the replacement casts of "The Book of Mormon" and "Waitress." Beyond his stage endeavors, Creel penned the musical "Walk On Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice," which premiered Off-Broadway in 2023.
Numerous eulogists highlighted Creel's personal attributes with equal fervor to his undeniable prowess on the theatrical stage. Bareilles, who endearingly dubbed him "perfectly imperfect," extolled his "wandering, childlike wonder" and "optimism," but also acknowledged his honesty about the occasional darkness he navigated. This transparency transformed him into a vital pillar of support, casting "the radiant glow of his love like a great supernova across countless lives," she expressed. Keenan-Bolger, a former Michigan University classmate, reminisced about their early days sharing a Lower East Side apartment with a kitchen-adjacent shower and their joint adventures to France and Italy when their careers were just budding. She also recounted Creel's courageous demeanor in his final days, where he bravely faced his pain. "I have no regrets," Keenan-Bolger recalled Creel's poignant words. "I did everything I wanted to do. It was an extraordinary life—I only wish I had more time."
A photograph of Creel, beaming with a radiant smile, adorned the LED marquee of the St. James Theatre on Monday afternoon. By 3:15 PM, the queue of mourners stretched the entire length of West 44th Street, curling gracefully onto 7th Avenue. Among the Broadway luminaries spotted in the line were Tony Award winners such as Jonathan Groff, Stephanie J. Block, and Ben Platt, alongside agents, press representatives, and other key industry figures.
"He possesses an unparalleled light and heart," said Groff with reverence. "He was genuinely present in all our lives," echoed fellow performer and former Equity president Kate Shindle. "He was everyone's beloved," stated Jessica Ward, a former front-of-house staff member at two Broadway theaters where Creel had performed. "He made everyone feel incredibly special."
A Playbill distributed to the attendees featured a collage of Creel's life photos, accompanied by a heartfelt note from the Creel family. "His light continues to shine, reflected in each of us," the note read in part. As the memorial service commenced, the gathering hushed in reverence as a recording of Creel performing "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" from "Hello, Dolly!" echoed through the auditorium.
In addition to the memorial service, Creel will be honored on Tuesday when Broadway theaters unite to dim their lights in his memory. Initially, there was fierce backlash and a petition garnering 20,000 signatures, protesting that only select venues would participate in this tribute. Yielding to the overwhelming pressure, the Broadway League subsequently announced that every theater would dim their marquees in unison.
