Gavin Creel Talks Being Out and Proud in His Career

Broadway actor Gavin Creel, one of the founders of Broadway Impact, spoke this week about what it means to be out for himself and for his career.

Gavin Creel most recently appeared in the role of Claude in Hair on Broadway (Tony® nomination), in the 2004 Broadway Revival of La Cage Aux Folles, and in the 2002 production of Thoroughly Modern Millie (Tony Award nomination). He was also seen in The Goodman Theatre/Kennedy Center production of Bounce, as well as Hair and Mary Poppins on London's West End. As an independent musician, Creel released a debut pop album entitled, "Goodtimenation" in 2006, and recently followed it up with a six song EP of original acoustic tunes called "Quiet," which in its first week broke onto the Billboard Heatseekers Album Chart.

Creel is a respected advocate for the LGBT community, and was honored as one of OUT Magazine's OUT 100 in 2009 for his work as co-founder of Broadway Impact, a grassroots organization of the theatre community fighting for marriage equality. Through his advocacy, Creel has gained national attention performing and speaking at events and rallies including the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) national dinner alongside Lady Gaga and keynote speaker President Obama; The Cyndi Lauper True Colors Cabaret series featuring Jason Mraz, Rufus Wainwright, and Sara Bareilles; and on the Capitol lawn at the 2009 National Equality March with such speakers as MILK screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, actress Cynthia Nixon, and organizer of the march and AIDS Memorial Quilt conceiver, Cleve Jones.

He tells the Miami Herald that once he publicly came out - because he acknowledges that "you're not out until you say it in the press" - he wished he had done it "10 years earlier". He says that he admires anyone who's willing to be open about who they are, "people like Cheyenne [Jackson] and me, people who are willing to do it, who stand in front of you and make women hot and guys confused."

Creel refuses to let the possibility that he may limit his casting options keep him from being open, saying, "If I never play a heterosexual again, bring it on!"

In addition, he also discussed the kinds of musicals he appreciates ("I'm not turned on by, and don't get off on, musical theater that doesn't have guts"), learning about the classics ("edited, Googleized, I want it now, I want it fast"), and the type of music he's been writing for his solo shows: "It's a little bit of a departure for me. We're going to do some covers on guitar, very intimate. Guitars and voice. And a little Broadway section, songs I can't stop singing."

Read the full Miami Herald article and find out about Gavin Creel's upcoming shows in Miami here.

Photo Credit: Emily Sopha