After an outcry, all theater lights on Broadway are dimmed for actor Gavin Creel

NEW YORK – All marquees on Broadway will be darkened in honor of the life of Gavin Creel, after theater fans were outraged when only partial darkening was proposed following the 48-year-old Tony Award winner’s death last month.

The theater owners’ committee said Wednesday that all 41 Broadway theaters would dim their lights on different nights for Creel, Adrian Bailey and Maggie Smith. The committee also said it is “reviewing your current dimming policies and procedures.”

Creel’s death on September 30 brought into the spotlight the practice of dimming marquee lights after the death of a notable theater figure. While giants in this field darken all Broadway theaters for a minute, smaller figures can only be partially darkened.

Creel’s death led the theater owners’ committee to decide that one theater from each theater owner would dim the lights. An online petition calling on all theaters to take part has been signed by over 23,000 people.

Actors’ Equity, which represents thousands of artists and stage managers, expressed concern, saying: “Anyone who receives the honor deserves the full honor.” Playwright Paula Vogel said it was a “travesty for this brilliant actor who made money “invested” not to dim all the lights in the pockets and joy in the audience.”

Creel was a veteran of Broadway musical theater who won a Tony for “Hello, Dolly!” alongside Bette Midler and received nominations for “Hair” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”

A partial blackout has been performed in the past for theater producers Elizabeth Ireland McCann and Marin Mazzie. The decision on Mazzie was overturned and completely watered down after a similar outcry.

The date for the dimming tribute to Creel and Smith has yet to be announced. The tribute to Bailey, who appeared in 15 Broadway productions, is scheduled for October 17.