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June 7, 2009
Gavin Creel grew up in the small town of Findley, Ohio and spent his childhood studying classical music and listening to Top 40 radio. His heroes were Billy Joel, George Michael, and Harry Connick Jr.
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Mary Faber, DeQuina Moore, Gavin Creel, Anisha Nagarajan singing "Going Down" Hair photo
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After graduating from high school, he took his love of performing to the University of Michigan, majoring in musical theatre. He moved to New York in 1998 and soon debuted on Broadway as Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which he received his first Tony nomination as Best Actor in 2002.
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Photo of Gavin Creel with Wally, his rescued shelter dog
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Since then, he has appeared in a dozen musicals, usually as leading man. His credits include Bounce, La Cage, Mary Poppins, Godspell, Rock City & Other Destinations, Bat Boy, The Mystery Plays, Honk! and more. Creel starred with Julie Andrews in the television movies Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime.
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Gavin Creel nearly shirtless in vest photo from Hair
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Gavin Creel in vintage T-shirt photo
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Gavin Creel in jeans on steps photo by Sophatography.comThe program bio for Hair, in which he currently stars in his Tony nominated role as Claude, says: “GAVIN CREEL is a total Aries and has a groovy rescue dog named Wally. Gavin had glasses, braces and bad skin growing up and thanks God for all of those things. He loves his parents a lot and dreams of having a family of his own someday. Gavin has no patience for people who perpetuate inequality in the guise of ‘religious belief,’ and is grateful for HGTV. If you’re happy and you know it, join the tribe.”
Gavin Creel as Bert in Mary Poppins photoGavin’s audio recordings include cast albums for Bright Lights Big City, Thoroughly Modern Millie, It's Only Life, The Actors' Fund Benefit recording of Hair, Fine and Dandy, and Fame, as well as his debut pop CD, GOODTIMENATION, which you can purchase for $15.00 on his website here.
Photo of shirtless Gavin Creel I remember seeing the first production of
Hair, in 1969 San Francisco. It was thrilling to watch the original rock and roll musical, about a group of hippies struggling for meaning in their lives and dealing with the Vietnam War, drugs and teenage pregnancy. The classical score included "Let the Sunshine In," "Aquarius," and "Good Morning Starshine. " All that and the cast got naked at the end! In the Broadway revival, they still do that, but Creel opted out, saying it was out of character for the confused Claude, whom he plays. Damn! I guess you can’t have everything!.
Gavin Creel 5-6-09 photoShow Business Weekly raved about him, saying, "Creel’s a born showman. His ultra hip stage presence and sleek sexiness barely contain the kind of star quality that other singers can only dream of possessing. His ‘watchability’ factor is stratospheric!” Here’s a link to Gavin’s official website/blog.
Gavin Creel (right) with writing partner Robbie Roth (left) photo
Unlike many fly-by-night musical acts today, Gavin Creel is a multi-talented performer who just happens to be gay, approaches life on his own terms, and is destined to become a living legend in the entertainment world.. +and+cast+of+Hair+photo.jpg)
Gavin Creel (center) and cast of Hair photo
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Gavin Creel (center) and cast of Hair photo
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Don’t forget to watch him tonight on the CBS Tony Awards at 8:00 ET/PT, where Gavin’s role as Claude in Hair is nominated for Best Lead Actor. Whatever the outcome, it should be a great show, as it’s hosted by our own Neil Patrick Harris of How I Met Your Mother.
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Photo of Flame Calla Lily zantedeschia from the author's free flower photo website http://www.freefishcaretips.com/photos126
Also visit http://www.galechesterwhittington.com/ for free short stories, poems, and book excerpts from the award-winning gay author
==copyright 2009==
1 comment:
It's FINDLAY, OHIO..with an A. Gavin has always been extremely talented and all around great guy. I hope he continues in his success.
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