Singer, songwriter, Tony Award winner Gavin Creel closes out MIAC Live season
The Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture ends its 2023-24 MIAC Live season on a high note with a special one-night-only concert by Tony Award winner Gavin Creel on Wednesday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. in Mercyhurst University’s Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.
Creel earned a Tony Award for his performance as Cornelius Hackl in the Broadway revival of “Hello, Dolly!,” starring Bette Midler. He made his Broadway debut in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” earning his first Tony nomination, and went on to star in the Broadway productions of “La Cage aux Folles,” “Hair” (Tony nomination), “The Book of Mormon,” “She Loves Me,” “Waitress,” and “Into the Woods,” with which he also toured the country. Creel received an Olivier Award for his portrayal of Elder Price in the London production of “The Book of Mormon” and also appeared on the West End in “Mary Poppins,” “Hair,” and “Waitress.”
In November 2023, MCC Theater presented the world premiere of Creel’s “Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice.” Developed and initially presented at The O’Neill National Musical Theatre Conference, the work was inspired by Creel's time wandering the collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which commissioned the work. The musical features 17 original songs written by Creel, who made his theatrical songwriting debut with the production.
On television, he performed a solo PBS concert special with “Stars on Stage,” starred in the premiere episodes of Ryan Murphy's anthology series “American Horror Stories,” and charmed audiences as Bill alongside Julie Andrews in “Eloise at the Plaza” and “Eloise at Christmastime.”
As a songwriter, he has released three original albums, “GoodTimeNation,” “Quiet,” and “Get Out.”
A native of Findlay, Ohio, Creel is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance; a recipient of a Hermitage Artist Retreat Writing Fellowship; and, with “Walk on Through,” a 2022 featured composer at The O'Neill National Musical Theatre Conference.
In addition to his public concert, Creel will offer a master class on Wednesday, May 1, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. in Taylor Little Theatre. The master class is free and open to the public; no tickets required.
Concert tickets, priced $25-$50, can be purchased online at miac.universitytickets.com, over the phone at 814-824-3000, or in person at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center box office (Tues.-Thurs., noon-5 p.m.). Each order is subject to a $4 per ticket processing fee, regardless of purchase or payment method.
This performance is sponsored by Robert Martin, and the 2023-24 MIAC Live season is sponsored by Scott Enterprises, Aetna, Alan & Patti Schaal, the Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, and the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority.