Gavin Creel Deserves to Be Inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame This Year
by Chris Peterson
Next week brings the annual announcement of the American Theater Hall of Fame’s new class. The induction follows each November at the Gershwin Theatre. It’s a special moment when the theater world pauses to celebrate the artists who helped shape its legacy. This year offers a powerful opportunity to do something even more meaningful. This year, the Hall should induct Gavin Creel.
Yes, the standard requirement is twenty-five years of contribution to the American theater and at least five Broadway credits. Gavin appeared in eight Broadway shows, including the original casts of six of them. His Broadway career lasted twenty years, beginning with his debut in Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002 and ending with his performance in Into the Woods in 2022. With that, he falls just short of the official benchmark. But his influence, his impact, and his artistry tower over that technicality. This is not a time to stick to rules for rules’ sake. This is the time to make an exception and get it right.
Gavin Creel was the very definition of a Broadway star. His resume is filled with unforgettable roles and standout performances. He earned Tony nominations for Thoroughly Modern Millie and Hair, and won a Tony Award for Hello, Dolly!. He dazzled in La Cage aux Folles, brought wit and warmth to She Loves Me, brought heart to Waitress, and delivered aching beauty in Into the Woods. He won an Olivier Award in London and a Grammy back home. He performed in some of the most iconic musicals of the 21st century and left each one better than he found it.
But the case for honoring Gavin goes far beyond his credits. He co-founded Broadway Impact, helping unite the theater community in the fight for marriage equality. He gave time, energy, and heart to causes that mattered. He mentored young actors and used his platform to speak up for inclusion, access, and visibility. And just this year, the American Theatre Wing launched the Gavin Creel Fellowship to support emerging artists and carry forward his values of mentorship and generosity.
His legacy continues to unfold.
When Gavin passed away in September, the outpouring of love was instant and overwhelming. The theater community was stunned, heartbroken, and unified in its grief. The lights of Broadway were dimmed in his honor. A public memorial was held in New York City. But beyond the formal tributes, it was the stories people told—about his kindness, his humor, his brilliance—that said the most.
His colleagues, his collaborators, his students, his fans—they all spoke about how Gavin made their lives richer. They talked about how he could light up a rehearsal room, how he lifted up everyone around him, how he made people feel seen. The tributes this year have been extraordinary, and they continue to show just how loved and missed he is.
The Hall of Fame exists to recognize artists whose work and legacy shaped American theater. Gavin Creel has already done that. The committee has the power to make exceptions in extraordinary cases. This is one of those cases.
To honor Gavin now would be more than symbolic. It would be meaningful. It would affirm that the Hall values substance over schedule. That we can respond to the moment, and to the memory, with thoughtfulness and heart. That we know legacy isn’t only measured in years, but in depth, generosity, and impact.
Gavin’s absence is still fresh. His name is still being spoken with love and gratitude. His presence is still felt on Broadway stages and in rehearsal rooms and classrooms around the country. Let this year’s Hall of Fame class reflect the reality of his legacy, not just the math of his resume.
Because Gavin Creel was the kind of artist we dream about. Because the tributes this year have been stunning in their depth and sincerity. Because we miss him terribly.