Celebrating Gavin Creel

As the Broadway community gathers tomorrow to celebrate the extraordinary life of our dear friend and Honorary Board Member, Gavin Creel, our founder, Mary-Mitchell Campbell, shares a heartfelt reflection on their cherished friendship, his profound impact on the arts, and the enduring legacy he leaves behind.

One of my favorite memories of Gavin Creel was in his hometown of Findlay, Ohio. It was 2006, and we were doing a concert there celebrating his already impressive career and featuring his beloved high school show choir, the Findlay First Edition. Gavin was given the key to the city by the Mayor. We visited Wilson’s Sandwich Shop. I met his high school teachers, his neighbors, and all the lovely people who supported him through his midwestern upbringing. 

Post concert, we headed over to Denny’s for a midnight snack and had a long conversation with our waitress. Her name was Julie. Gavin always wanted to know everyone’s name. She had never heard of Gavin Creel or Broadway shows, but she was telling us about raising her two kids and moving to Findlay as a single mom. In typical form, Gavin asked lots of questions and was curious to know how welcoming his hometown had been. He suggested places for her to find more community in the area. As we were getting the bill, he looked at me with his signature mischievous grin and said….“let’s leave her a REALLY big tip.” We put down a $100 bill and scampered out of the restaurant to hear her joyful scream from the parking lot. Gavin was thrilled we had made her day so much better. That was Gavin……he made everything better. 

When I first had the idea of starting Arts Ignite (formerly ASTEP) back in 2005, Gavin was the first person to say “this is important- how can I help?” He became a member of our Honorary Board and was always willing to show up and perform for fundraising concerts, lead masterclasses, make videos for students or donors, or just listen to me talk about the challenges of running a nonprofit. 

Gavin led with kindness at all times. He was the best travel partner on a long road trip. He was always full of energy and optimism. He checked in on his friends when they were going through hard things. His voice was smooth, powerful, and always sounded effortless in a way beyond his brilliant training. He could talk to anyone, and he loved talking to students. In his multiple Broadway and West End productions, he demonstrated his incredible gifts as a performer, but they were equally matched by his gifts as a teacher. He used that powerful voice to help young people find their own. 

Above all, Gavin was passionate about things he believed in. The people, the places, and the causes. He started his own organization, Broadway Impact, which mobilized the Broadway community in pursuit of marriage equality. And he LOVED the power of the arts to bring people together. We talked about it all the time: the way heartbeats will align in a theater, the way people can go through a huge change of perspective, and the importance of sharing physical space and sharing an artistic experience. Creating community. Sparking imagination. Dreaming bigger. Giving permission to create something that wasn’t there before. Gavin encouraged all of these gifts in others.

As the Broadway community gathers to celebrate Gavin tomorrow, be inspired to live up to his legacy. Lead with kindness. Laugh loudly and dance boldly. Learn everyone’s name. Support things you are passionate about. Create. Dream. And make someone’s day better. 

“It is an investment in a more beautiful world. I feel that the arts have an impact in a way that just makes the world more beautiful.”  
– Gavin Creel, 1976-2024

With love,
Mary-Mitchell