Gavin Creel Photo by Matthew Murphy

A Timeline of Gavin Creel

  • April 18, 1976: Gavin Creel was the third child born to Nancy (Clemens) Creel and James William Creel in Findlay, Ohio joining sister Heather and Allyson

  • 1981 - 1988: Attended Jefferson Elementary School (Grades K-6) 

  • 1988 - 1991: Attended Donnell Junior High  (Grades 7-9)

  • 1991 - 1994: Attended Findlay High School  (Grades 10-12)

  • 1994 - 1998: Attended University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre 

  • 1997: Appeared at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, CHESS, CINDERELLA, KISS ME, KATE

  • 1998: Appeared at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera in GIGI, ON THE TOWN, CAMELOT and PHANTOM

  • 1998 - 2000: Starred as Nick Piazza in the FAME National Tour

  • February - March 2000: Starred as Ugly in the U.S. Premiere of HONK! at Nyack, NY’s Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center

  • March 23, 1999: FAME 1999 Original American Cast Recording is released

  • June - July 2000: Starred as Ugly in HONK! at Beverly, MA’s North Shore Music Theatre

  • July 17 - 23, 2000: Portrayed Hero in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM at Sacramento, CA’s Sacramento Music Circus, a role he portrayed at Beverly, MA’s North Shore Music Theatre in 1998

  • 2000: Starred in the workshop of a musical version of the 1985 film MASK 

  • 2001: Portrayed Melchior in workshop of SPRING AWAKENING 

  • March 2001:  Portrayed Boq opposite Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda and Idina Menzel as Elphaba in a workshop of WICKED

  • May 3 - 7, 2001: Cast as a Member of the Tribe in New York City Center’s production of HAIR

  • May 17 - 27, 2001: Portrayed Raleigh in THE FLOOD with Off-Broadway’s Prospect Theatre Company in New York, NY

  • 2001: Participated in a workshop of HAIRSPRAY

  • 2001: Joined the Off-Broadway company of BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL portraying Rick/Dillon/Lorraine and Pan/Bud/Daisy

  • Mar 19, 2002 - Apr 27, 2003: Made Broadway debut as Jimmy Smith in the 2002 Tony Award winning musical THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE opposite Sutton Foster. 

  • May 6, 2002: Nominated for his first Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his role as Jimmy Smith in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE

  • June 11, 2002: THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Original Broadway Cast Album is released and Grammy nominated

  • October 14, 21, 28, 2002: Gavin performed first solo concerts titled PULLIN’ AWAY in the city with David Cook and guest Shayna Steele at Fez in New York, NY

  • February 2003: Played Prince Eric in a workshop of the musical adaptation of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID opposite Kerry Butler

  • April 27, 2003: “Eloise at the Plaza” aired on ABC with Gavin portraying singing waiter Bill opposite Dame Julie Andrews and Sofia Vassilieva

  • June 20 - August 10, 2003: Portrayed Hollis Bessemer in the World Premiere of BOUNCE opposite Richard Kind, Howard McGillin and Michele Pawk at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre

  • September 14 - 15, 2003: Gavin portrayed Michael in the musical adaptation of the film BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY at the Guggenheim Museum as part of their Works & Process series 

  • October 30, 2003 - November 16, 2003: Portrayed Hollis Bessemer once again in BOUNCE in Washington D.C. at Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theatre 

  • November 22, 2003: “Eloise at Christmastime” aired on ABC with Gavin returning to his role as Bill opposite Dame Julie Andrews and Sofia Vassilieva

  • 2004 - Participated in a workshop of ON THE RECORD opposite Ashley Brown, Carolee Carmello and Rebecca Luker

  • January 25, 2004: Gavin appeared in a musical reading of EASTER RISING opposite Michael Arden, Shoshana Bean and Eden Espinosa at Makor

  • March 8, 2004: Guest starred at Celia Keenan-Bolger’s Ars Nova Broadway Spotlight Concert in New York, NY

  • March 15, 2004: Played Sebastian in a benefit of the musical ILLYRIA at Prospect Theatre Company  in New York, NY

  • April 30 - May 22, 2004: Portrayed Joe Manning & Others in the World Premiere of THE MYSTERY PLAYS at New Haven, CT’s Yale Repertory Theatre

  • May 25, 2004: Studio recording of FINE AND DANDY is released

  • June 28 - July 10, 2004: Returned to his role as Joe Manning & Others in New York, NY’s Second Stage Uptown’s presentation of THE MYSTERY PLAYS

  • July 11, 2004 - Sailed and performed on inaugural R Family Vacations Cruise

  • August 19 - 20, 2004: Portrayed Charles Darnay in a workshop of the musical adaptation of A TALE OF TWO CITIES

  • September 20, 2004: Participated in The Actors Fund’s Benefit Concert of HAIR singing “Going Down” held at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York, NY

  • December 9, 2004 - June 26, 2005: Returned to Broadway in the first revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES as Jean-Michel opposite Gary Beach and Daniel Davis

  • January 17, 2005: Kevin Cahoon, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Gavin Creel took over New York, NY’s Irving Plaza for SHOW PEOPLE Magazine In Concert

  • March 7, 2005: GAVIN CREEL: PROM KING is held at Second Stage Theatre with guests Robbie Roth, Shoshana Bean and Michael Benjamin Washington

  • June 16, 2005: HAIR Actors Fund Benefit Cast Album released

  • June 21, 2005: BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY studio recording is released

  • July 10, 2005: Sailed and performed on second R Family Vacations Cruise

  • November 7 and 14, 2005: Gavin Creel and Robbie Roth perform at Arlene’s Grocery to celebrate the release of his forthcoming debut solo album goodtimenation

  • March 6, 2006: goodtimenation album is released

  • July 26, 2006 - November 2, 2007: Made West End debut as Bert in MARY POPPINS

  • May 30, 2006: IT’S ONLY LIFE: A MUSICAL REVUE album is released with music by John Bucchino

  • March 15, 2008: Sailed and performed on R Family Vacations Cruise

  • November 6, 2008: Gavin Creel and Shayna Steele appear in concert at the Zipper Factory Theater

  • February 23, 2009:  Creel founded Broadway Impact alongside co-founders Jenny Kanelos and Rory O’Malley and participated in their first event DEFYING INEQUALITY at Broadway’s Gershwin Theatre with a letter writing campaign to support the New York Marriage Equality Bill

  • March 6, 2009 - March 7, 2010: Portrayed Claude Hooper Bukowski in the Broadway revival of HAIR opposite Will Swenson and Caissie Levy

  • April 21, 2009: Nominated for the Distinguished Performance Award at the 2009 Drama League Awards 

  • May 5, 2009: Nominated for his second Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his role as Claude in the Broadway revival of HAIR

  • May 17, 2009: Broadway Impact held a Marriage Equality Rally in New York, NY with the company of HAIR and guest speakers Audra McDonald, Cynthia Nixon and David Hyde Pierce

  • June 23, 2009: HAIR New Broadway Cast Album is released and Grammy nominated

  • July 27, 2009: Performed at Joe’s Pub with Robbie Roth

  • October 11, 2009: Broadway Impact organized buses sponsored by Broadway’s brightest stars to transport volunteers and supporters to Washington D.C.’s National Equality March on a day, where in unprecedented fashion, the Broadway revival of HAIR canceled their performance to attend and perform at the event

  • October 12, 2009: Performed a concert at Ars Nova with Robbie Roth

  • October 26, 2009: Headlined the True Colors Cabaret with Sara Bareilles at  New York, NY’s Feinstein’s at Loews Regency to benefit True Colors Fund and Broadway Impact

  • November 16, 2009: Made OUT100 List on Out Magazine

  • December 7, 2009: Hosted concert with Robbie Roth at New York, NY’s Symphony Space

  • December 21, 2009: Performed with Jason Mraz as part of the True Colors Cabaret at New York, NY’s Feinstein’s at Loews Regency to benefit True Colors Fund and Broadway Impact

  • March 13, 2010: Gavin and the HAIR Broadway company received a Special Recognition Award at the GLAAD Media Awards for their support of LGBTQ Equality

  • May 5, 2010: Nominated for his second Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Claude in Broadway’s HAIR

  • April 1, 2010 - September 1, 2010: Brought his Tony nominated portrayal of Claude to the West End with his Broadway castmates to the West End’s Gielgud Theatre

  • May 4, 2010: Robbie Roth and Steel Burkhardt joined Gavin at London’s Ronnie Scott’s for a concert following a performance of HAIR

  • June 21, 2010 - Quiet EP is released and reached number 44 on Billboard's list of Top Heatseekers

  • June 25, 2010: Held a concert at London’s The Pigalle Club to promote Quiet

  • October 19, 2010: Held a concert at Brighton’s Komedia to promote Quiet

  • October 20, 2010: Held a concert at London’s Jazz Cafe to promote Quiet

  • October 21, 2010: Held a concert at Manchester’s The Deaf Institute to promote Quiet

  • November 1, 8, and 15, 2010: Weekly concert residency at New York, NY’s Birdland Jazz Club in support of Quiet with guests Steel Burkhardt and Caissie Levy

  • November 7, 2010: Performed at the Black Tie Dinner in Dallas, TX alongside the Turtle Creek Chorale at the largest LGBTQ+ Fundraising dinner for over four decades

  • November 28, 2010: Held concert at The Factory Theatre in Toronto alongside Robbie Roth in support of Quiet

  • December 4, 2010: Held concert at Ryles Jazz Club in Boston, MA in support of Quiet

  • January 11, 2011: Portrayed King George in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s THE HAMILTON MIXTAPE at Lincoln Center’s American Songbook Series in New York, NY’s The Allen Room of Jazz at Lincoln Center

  • January 21 - 22, 2011: Performed two concerts at Prelude by Barton G in Miami, FL as part of a series at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts alongside Robbie Roth

  • February 25 - April 11, 2011: Starred in the World Premiere of PROMETHEUS BOUND at American Repertory Theatre in Boston, MA as Prometheus opposite Uzo Aduba and Lea DeLaria

  • April 6, 2011: Performed in concert with Robbie Roth at Evanston SPACE in Evanston, IL

  • April 13, 2011: Performed two concerts with Robbie Roth at Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor, MI

  • June 7, 2011: The League of Broadway Super Friends, Kelli O’Hara, Lindsay Mendez, Greg Naughton, Sherie Rene Scott and Gavin performed in a benefit to raise funds for pancreatic cancer at New York, NY’s Le Poisson Rouge

  • June 8, 2011: Performed in concert at House Of Blues in Chicago, IL

  • July 2011: Joined R Family Vacations at Club Med in Sandpiper, FL to perform with Robbie Roth

  • July 25, 2011: Performed in Broadway Stands Up For Freedom in New York, NY

  • December 5, 2011: Portrayed Steven Kodaly in a one night only Roundabout Theatre Company benefit production of SHE LOVES ME opposite Jane Krakowski in New York, NY

  • December 7, 2011: Released single “Noise” with co-writer Robbie Roth and 100% of the proceeds raised through the sale of the single benefitted Broadway Impact

  • 2012: Gavin portrayed Nick Hurley in a reading of the musical adaptation of the film FLASHDANCE with music written by frequent collaborator Robbie Roth

  • February 5, 2012: Performed in concert with Stephen Oremus as part of the American Songbook series at New York, NY’s Lincoln Center’s Allen Room of Jazz at Lincoln Center

  • February 12, 2012: Released “Whitney Houston” as a single ahead of Get Out album following the death of the music superstar

  • March 19, 2012:  Held two sold-out concerts at New York, NY’s Joe’s Pub to support the release of second album Get Out

  • March 20, 2012: Get Out album is released

  • April - May 2012: Gavin read the role of Ted Olson and participated in post show talkbacks of Dustin Lance Black’s play 8 at theaters across the country to raise awareness of a constitutional amendment vote in North Carolina

  • August 14, 2012 - December 27, 2012: Starred as Elder Price in the First National Tour of THE BOOK OF MORMON opposite Jared Gertner

  • September 18, 2012: FUGITIVE SONGS: A SONG CYCLE album is released

  • 2013: Appeared as Nick Hurley on the FLASHDANCE Studio Cast Album

  • February 25, 2013 - July 26, 2014: Reprised his role as Elder Price in the West End premiere of THE BOOK OF MORMON opposite Jared Gertner

  • December 6, 2013: Gavin is nominated for a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Elder Price in THE BOOK OF MORMON

  • February 23, 2014: Gavin won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor In A Musical for his portrayal of Elder Price in THE BOOK OF MORMON

  • March 10, 2014: Gavin is nominated for Best Actor in a Musical Olivier Award for his portrayal of Elder Price in THE BOOK OF MORMON

  • April 13, 2014: Gavin won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Elder Price in THE BOOK OF MORMON

  • September 5, 2014: Performed in concert as part of Broadway at The Art House in Provincetown, MA

  • 2015: Joined the Board of Trustees for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS

  • January 6, 2015 - January 3, 2016: Gavin brought his Olivier Award winning performance as Elder Price to Broadway’s THE BOOK OF MORMON opposite Christopher John O'Neill

  • February 19, 2016 - July 10, 2016: Gavin returned to the role of Steven Kodaly for Roundabout Theatre Company’s Broadway revival of SHE LOVES ME opposite Jane Krakowski

  • April 4, 2016: Appeared in MCC’s MISCAST benefit in New York, NY performing SUNSET BOULEVARD’s “As If We Never Said Goodbye” and RENT’s “Take Me Or Leave Me” with Aaron Tveit

  • May 16, 2016: Performed alongside University of Michigan alumni in MAIZE & BLUE ON BROADWAY at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre celebrating the Musical Theatre Department and honoring program chair Brent Wagner

  • July 29, 2016: SHE LOVES ME 2016 Broadway Cast Album released

  • August 26 - 27, 2016: Performed in concert at Broadway at The Art House in Provincetown, MA

  • March 15, 2017 - August 25, 2018: Starred as Cornelius Hackl opposite Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce in Broadway’s HELLO, DOLLY!

  • April 25, 2017: Nominated for the Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Outer Critics Circle Award for his role as Cornelius Hackl in Broadway’s HELLO, DOLLY!

  • April 27, 2017: Nominated for the Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Drama Desk Award for his role as Cornelius Hackl in Broadway’s HELLO, DOLLY!

  • May 1, 2017: Returned to Findlay, OH’s Marathon Performing Arts Center for a homecoming concert, COMING HOME TO YOU

  • May 2, 2017: Nominated for his third Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Cornelius Hackl in Broadway’s HELLO, DOLLY!

  • May 8, 2017: Won the Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Outer Critics Circle Award for his role as Cornelius Hackl in Broadway’s HELLO, DOLLY!

  • May 12, 2017: HELLO, DOLLY!’s Grammy nominated 2017 Broadway Cast Album released

  • June 4, 2017: Won the Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Drama Desk Award for his role as Cornelius Hackl in Broadway’s HELLO, DOLLY!

  • June 11, 2017: Won his first Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Cornelius Hackl in Broadway’s HELLO, DOLLY!

  • February 12, 2018: Returned to his role as Jimmy Smith in the 15th Anniversary The Actors Fund benefit presentation of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE

  • October 14, 2018: Gavin joined Jason Robert Brown as a special guest at Brown’s monthly SubCulture residency in New York, NY

  • November 12, 2018: Reunited with THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE co-star Sutton Foster for a one-night-only Roundabout Theatre Company benefit in New York, NY of the musical MY ONE AND ONLY as Captain Billy Buck Chandler

  • 2019: Voiced Matthews in four episodes of Disney’s Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure

  • January 2019: Received commission from The Met Museum’s MetLiveArts Department to create a theatrical piece inspired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • January 7 - February 3, 2019: Joined Sara Bareilles for a limited run as Dr. Pomatter in Broadway’s WAITRESS

  • February 8, 2019: THREE POINTS OF CONTACT concept album is released

  • March 11, 2019: Joined Andrew Rannells for BC/EFA’s BROADWAY BACKWARDS Benefit in New York, NY to perform KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN’S “Where You Are”

  • April 1, 2019: Performed in MCC’s MISCAST Benefit in New York, NY performing FLORA, THE RED MENACE’s “A Quiet Thing” and GYPSY’s “You Gotta Get A Gimmick” with Andy Karl and Jason Tam

  • April 15, 2019: THE MAN IN THE CEILING World Premiere Recording is released

  • June 17, 2019: Performed two concerts at 92nd Street Y with special guest Sara Bareilles

  • June 30, 2019: Performed in concert at The Cabaret in Indianapolis, IN

  • July 5 and 6, 2019: Performed at Broadway at The Art House in Provincetown, MA

  • September 26, 2019: Performed in concert at Sinfonia Gulf Coast in Miramar, FL

  • October 3, 2019: Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center Theater and Renée Fleming VOICES presented Gavin in concert

  • November 1, 2019: Held concert at Cabaret at Club T at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in Greenville, NY

  • November 4, 2019: Performed in CELEBRATING 25 MAGICAL YEARS OF DISNEY ON BROADWAY at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre singing THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME’S “Out There”

  • November 5, 2019: Headlined New York, NY’s ELSIE FEST alongside Darren Criss, Ariana DeBose and Cynthia Erivo

  • January 5, 2020 - Performed in concert at Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, Aventura, FL

  • January 6 - 7, 2020 - Performed two concerts in Delray Beach, FL at Old School Square Crest Theatre

  • January 10, 2020 - R&H Goes Pop released Gavin’s reimagining of THE KING AND I’s “Something Wonderful” with a music video

  • January 27 - March 14, 2020: Returned to the West End opposite Sara Bareilles for a limited engagement in WAITRESS as Dr. Pomatter

  • 2021: Filmed two television episodes as Troy Winslow opposite Matt Bomer and Aaron Tveit in Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Stories”

  • 2021: Voiced Young Hank Zevansky in animated Central Park episode “The Shadow”

  • February 27, 2021: Performed surprise concert as part of NY PopsUp Series alongside Shoshana Bean and Ximone Rose in New York, NY

  • May 16, 2021: Performed JEKYLL & HYDE’S “In His Eyes” with Aaron Tveit in virtual MISCAST benefit 

  • July 2021: Writing retreat held at innovative Two Bridge space in Irvington, NY for WALK ON THROUGH

  • August 29, 2021: Sang “As Long As You’re Mine” with Ali Stroker in TV special “Wicked in Concert: A Musical Celebration of the Iconic Score” for PBS

  • September 1, 2021: Headlined solo Stars on Stage concert at Westport County Playhouse which was filmed and aired across the country on PBS

  • October 25, 2021: Premiere concert presentations of WALK ON THROUGH are held at The Met Museum in New York, NY

  • December 13, 2021: Guest starred at Shoshana Bean’s SING YOUR HALLELUJAH holiday concert at New York, NY’s Apollo Theater

  • January 2022: Gavin received writing fellowship at Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood, FL to develop WALK ON THROUGH

  • February 11-12, 2022: Performed in the star-studded 50 YEARS OF BROADWAY concert at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center

  • May 4 - 15, 2022: Portrayed Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf in New York City Center’s production of INTO THE WOODS opposite Sara Bareilles, Neil Patrick Harris and Heather Headley

  • July - August 2022: WALK ON THROUGH was one of three musicals selected to participate in the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s 2022 National Music Theater Conference receiving a residency and developmental workshop

  • December 12, 2022: Two industry showcases introduced WALK ON THROUGH to leading producers, investors and influencers at Signature Center Theatre

  • June 28, 2022 - January 8, 2023: Reprised role as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf in the Broadway revival of INTO THE WOODS opposite Sara Bareilles, Brian D’Arcy James and Patina Miller

  • September 30, 2022: INTO THE WOODS’ Grammy winning 2022 Broadway Cast Album released

  • October 23, 2022: Performed in I PUT A SPELL ON YOU benefit at New York, NY’s Sony Hall

  • February 18, 2023 - July 30, 2023: Joined members of the Broadway company reprising his role of Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf on the national tour of the critically acclaimed Broadway production opposite Stephanie J. Block, Sebastian Arcelus and Montego Glover

  • May 8, 2023: Won Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Visiting Performance in a Musical for his role of Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf on the national tour of INTO THE WOODS

  • May 9, 2023: Performed in concert with Madeline Benson and Chris Peters at Chicago, IL’s City Winery previewing songs from WALK ON THROUGH plus Broadway and pop favorites

  • July 24, 2023: Performed two sold out concerts at Los Angeles, CA’s Hotel Cafe previewing songs from WALK ON THROUGH plus Broadway and pop favorites

  • August 31, 2023: Performed concert at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center Terrace Theatre previewing songs from WALK ON THROUGH plus Broadway and pop favorites

  • September 18, 2023: Performed two concerts at Hunters Nightclub in Wilton Manors, FL

  • September 23, 2023: Guest starred at Cheyenne Jackson’s 54 Below concert in New York, NY

  • November 13, 2023 - January 6, 2024: WALK ON THROUGH had a twice extended sold-out run at New York, NY’s MCC Theater

  • January - February 2024: Gavin along with musical collaborators Madeline Benson and Chris Peters work with students at University of Michigan on a second new musical he wrote entitled LOUD NITE

  • April 15, 2024: Madeline Benson, Chris Peters and Gavin performed an ABBA medley at MCC’s MISCAST Benefit in New York, NY - Gavin sang MAMMA MIA’s “The Winner Takes It All” then Benson and Peters joined for “Mamma Mia” and “Dancing Queen”

  • May 1, 2024: Gavin Creel performed in concert at Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture in Erie, PA

  • May 10 - 11, 2024: Performed final two concerts at The Cabaret in Indianapolis, IN

  • July - August 2024: Diagnosed with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma and began receiving treatment

  • September 30, 2024: Passed away in hospice at home in New York, NY