Earlier October 4, a partial marquee dimming ceremony for late Tony winner Gavin Creel was announced by the Broadway League. In the hours since, theatre fans outraged at the lack of a traditional, complete dimming of all 41 Broadway theatre marquees have been speaking out, especially in the Playbill Instagram comments.
Among the efforts to get the theatre owners and League to reverse their decision and give Creel a full dimming is an online petition, launched by theatre journalist Adam Feldman on Change.org.
"Gavin starred in eight Broadway musicals, as well as four in the West End; he earned a Tony and an Olivier for his performances," writes Feldman in the petition. "For younger fans in particular, he has been a key figure in the renaissance of musical theater in this century. His death at the age of 48 is a terrible loss. We understand that full dimming is meant to be a rare thing. But special circumstances should also be taken into account. The community’s sustained and profound outpouring of grief at his death—a testament not just to his youth but also to his character, his talent and his centrality in the Broadway world for the past 20 years—puts him in a different category."
Sign the petition at Change.org.
Currently, Roundabout Theatre Company is the sole theatre-owning entity in control of multiple theatres scheduled to dim all marquee lights, at their Stephen Sondheim, Studio 54, and Todd Haimes Theatres. Disney Theatricals, along with non-profits Circle in the Square, Second Stage, Manhattan Theatre Club, and Lincoln Center Theater, are all dimming lights at their sole Broadway theatres, along with the Shubert Organization's Shubert, Nederlander's Marquis, and Ambassador Theatre Group's Marquis and St. James Theatres. The date of the ceremony is to be announced.
Creel, a Tony winner for his performance in Hello, Dolly!, died September 30 following a battle with cancer. He was previously nominated for his Broadway debut performance in Thoroughly Modern Millie and the 2009 revival of Hair. His Broadway performances also include La Cage aux Folles, The Book of Mormon, She Loves Me, Waitress, and Into the Woods.
Marquee dimming is usually done by all Broadway theatres as organized by The Broadway League, though select theatres can elect to do an individual dimming in situations where the League is unable to secure the participation of all theatre owners.
The partial dimming is unusual but seems to be becoming increasingly frequent. A partial dimming was announced for The Wiz star Hinton Battle following his passing earlier this year, but became a full dimming after online outcry. A partial dimming was also recently announced for late Jelly's Last Jamand The Wild Party star Adrian Bailey.
