All of Broadway to dim lights for actor Gavin Creel after outcry
NEW YORK -- All Broadway theaters will dim their lights to honor late actor Gavin Creel, who died last month at the age of 48.
The 41 theaters will also dim their lights for Maggie Smith and Adrian Bailey. The dates for Creel and Smith have not been announced, but the tribute to Bailey will be held on Thursday, Oct 17.
Creel was a Broadway musical theater veteran who earned a Tony Award for "Hello, Dolly!" opposite Bette Midler and nominations for "Hair" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie." He died on Sept. 30 at his Manhattan home of the rare form of cancer metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma.
His death put a spotlight on the practice of dimming marquee lights after notable theater figures die. While the biggest stars are honored with all of Broadway's theaters going dark for a minute, smaller names may only have a partial dimming, in which one theater from every owner dims its lights.
The Committee of Theatre Owners said Wednesday it was "reviewing their current dimming policy and procedures."
An online petition demanding all theaters dim their lights for Creel was signed by more than 23,000 people.
"Everyone who receives the tribute deserves the full tribute," said Actors' Equity, which represents thousands of performers and stage managers.
Creel made his Broadway debut in 2002 and dedicated more than two decades to the stage. He won a Tony Award in 2017 for his role in "Hello Dolly," opposite Bette Midler.
"He played Cornelius Hackl to my Dolly in 'Hello Dolly' and I looked forward to working with him every single night," Middler posted on social media after his death. "He was fantastic. I can't believe he's gone. What a loss."
Other stars, from Idina Menzel to Lin-Manuel Miranda, also mourned his loss and shared their memories.