All of Broadway’s theatre lights will dim for actor Gavin Creel after outcry
9 October 2024, 22:04
An online petition demanding all theatres participate was signed by more than 23,000 people.
All of Broadway’s marquees will dim to honour the life of Gavin Creel following an outcry by theatre fans when only a partial dimming was proposed after the 48-year-old Tony Award-winner’s death last month.
The Committee of Theatre Owners on Wednesday said all 41 Broadway venues would dim their lights on separate nights for Creel, Adrian Bailey and Dame Maggie Smith.
The committee also said it was “reviewing their current dimming policy and procedures”.
The death of Creel on September 30 put the spotlight on the practice of dimming marquee lights after a notable theatre figure has died.
While giants in the field get all of Broadway theatres dark for a minute, lesser figures may only have partial dimming.
Creel’s death prompted the Committee of Theatre Owners to decide that one theatre from every theatre owner would dim their lights.
An online petition demanding all theatres participate was signed by more than 23,000 people.
Actors’ Equity, which represents thousands of performers and stage managers, expressed their concern, saying “everyone who receives the tribute deserves the full tribute”.
Playwright Paula Vogel said not dimming all the lights was a “travesty to this brilliant actor who put money in pockets and joy in audiences”.
Creel was a Broadway musical theatre veteran who won a Tony for Hello, Dolly! opposite Bette Midler and earned nominations for Hair and Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Partial dimming in the past has been enacted for theatre producer Elizabeth Ireland McCann and Marin Mazzie. The decision on Mazzie was overturned to a full dimming after a similar outcry.
The date for the dimming tribute for Creel and Dame Maggie has yet to be announced. The tribute for Bailey, who appeared in 15 Broadway productions, is set for October 17.
