All Broadway Theaters to Dim Lights for Tony-Winning Star Gavin Creel After Backlash

All Broadway theaters will dim their lights for Gavin Creel, the much-loved Tony Award-winning actor, who died at 48 on Sept. 30, after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma in July. The lights-dimming will take place at 6.45pm on Dec. 3, the day after an afternoon public memorial celebration for Creel at the St. James Theatre. The Broadway League had initially planned a partial dimming of lights, though changed course after a public outcry—including a petition of over 20,000 signatures. After his death, fulsome and heartfelt tributes were paid to Creel by the likes of Bette Midler, Alex Edelman, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bernadette Peters, Casey Likes, Harvey Fierstein, Michael Urie, and many others within the theater community. The actor won multiple awards—including a Tony—for his portrayal of Cornelius Hackl in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly!, starring Midler. Donations in Creel’s memory are suggested to be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.