Dark Monday • Gavin Creel

I try to dedicate my Monday nights to theater, as a nod to the years I spent working behind the scenes in Off-Broadway shows. Now I have given Gavin Creel some room on this blog talking about the Pop recordings he has made as an indie singer/songwriter. OF course, there is no reason NOT to talk about Creel. I mean, the man is gorgeous to look at, but there is so much more. His voice is amazing, so pure and sweet, with a richness of tone. Well, he is also quite the talented actor, having earned two Tony nominations since his debut in 2002. And Gavin has been out and proud, and was one of the founders of Broadway Impact, an organization fighting for equality and the LBGT community. Wow, that is one busy man. For a little rest and relaxation, I guess, Gavin has performed on Rosie O'Donnell's RFamilyVacations cruises. Here is a clip of Gavin singing with Broadway authority Seth Rudetsky, giving an outstanding performance of "Corner of the Sky" from the musical Pippin. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Pippin debuted on Broadway in 1972, directed and choreographed by the great Bob Fosse. I am sure both would give a bit thumbs-up for this performance.



Once again, Gavin accompanied Rudetsky on "Something's Coming" from West Side Story. I mean, how can you go wrong with this gorgeous man singing a song with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim? The musical, which debuted on Broadway in 1957, may be 55 years old, but still sounds fresh in the hands of an excellent artist like Gavin.



In 2002, Gavin made his Broadway debut in the show Thoroughly Modern Millie. The show was based on the 1967 film starring Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore and Carol Channing. With music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by Dick Scanlan, the Broadway show was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, and took home six of them. Among those nominated was Gavin, in the category of Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. The following clip is Gavin singing "What Do I Need With Love", his big number from the first act.



Gavin originated the role of Claude in the 2009 revival of Hair. The original production, with book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot, opened on Broadway in 1967. The revival immediately became a sensation, with standout performances from both Creel and co-star Will Swenson. In fact, both were nominated for Tony Awards, Gavin for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, and Swenson for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. And both men also went with the show to London in 2010. Here is Gavin singing "Where Do I Go", the song that closed the first act, and gave Creel the opportunity to bring down the house night after night.



For more about Gavin Creel, you can visit his official website. You can find the 2010 EP, Quiet, available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon. You can also find his 2012 album, Get Out, on both iTunes and Amazon.