Findlay dedicates weekend to Gavin Creel

FINDLAY — The community of Findlay will have a chance to honor a local legend with a weekend-long tribute for Gavin Creel. Programs will take place from March 14-16, put on by Findlay High School Creative & Performing Arts along with the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts. Local businesses and restaurants also plan to find ways to pay tribute to the Broadway legend. In September 2024, Creel passed away suddenly after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive sarcoma, a form of cancer. A native of Findlay, Creel attended Findlay Schools and later attended the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Making his Broadway debut in the role of Jimmy Smith in "Thoroughly Modern Millie," Creel went on to star in several Broadway productions, such as "La Cage Aux Folles," "She Loves Me," "The Book of Mormon," and "Waitress." In 2017, Creel received a Tony Award for his part as Cornelius Hackl in "Hello, Dolly!" Findlay First Edition Director David Coolidge was a friend of Creel's, and a fellow FFE member. "Gavin's a hometown hero. Beyond the worldwide acclaim that he experienced in his life, he still really felt like Findlay's hometown boy. He was such an inspiration to so many people," said Coolidge. "When we got the tragic news, we knew that there were going to be celebrations around the country. "The celebration in New York was gorgeous and a beautiful outpouring of love and support for Gavin that the whole world knew. It just felt like our own community needed an opportunity to honor the life and memory of our hometown friend and also a chance for the community to come together and grieve. I don't think a lot of us have had a chance to totally come to grips with the fact that that he's gone." Findlay High School Creative and Performing Arts will perform "Hello, Dolly!", which, for Creel, garnered him his Tony Award. The Marathon Center for the Performing Arts will be hosting its Youtheatre performances over the March 14-16 weekend. Findlay Schools Theatre's Andy Cantrell chose "Hello, Dolly!" as a way to honor Creel's impact in Findlay. "Most of us remember how exciting it was when he was on Broadway and Hello, Dolly! and what that whole experience was and what that meant to Findlay," said Coolidge. "I think it's a small way to be able to honor him in that way as well." Creel made an impact on not just the Findlay community, but on many other people's lives. Coolidge said not only was he a Broadway star with an amazing career, but an extremely kind individual. "The thing that I go back to time and time again, the recurring theme through all of the conversations about him, is kindness. That was something that came up in New York, and with every conversation I've had with anyone about Gavin," said Coolidge. "We all know about his accolades, we all know how talented he was, but he was truly a kind person." No matter how famous he was, he always made time for others, especially those from Findlay. "He was always so gracious with his time and wanted to make sure that you felt welcome. He just always made everybody feel so special," said Coolidge. "Kevin Manley had taken FFE out to New York and (Creel) kind of rolled out the red carpet for them. They were able to see his shows and he would do master classes with them. He did several things for Ohio Northern University as well. He really continued to give back to his roots." Even students who never knew Creel personally felt the impact he had on Findlay Schools. "I had a couple of students coming to my office after we received the news who were emotional and said, 'I didn't even know him, I don't know why I'm emotional, but I am. I feel like I know him even though I didn't,' and I think that he is woven into the fabric of this community. Even for those students who hadn't had the opportunity to meet him, I think they all kind of felt like they knew Gavin," said Coolidge. "I think even just the idea that it's possible for someone from Findlay, Ohio to reach that kind of status is incredibly inspirational for young people." Coolidge said the event is not just about remembering Creel, but to continue to carry on his legacy. "Since COVID, we've all experienced so much loss. I think that having gone through that process, you realize how important it is to be able to have a community in those times of grief. Hopefully, this is an opportunity to honor our hometown hero. The world knew him for who he was to the world, but we all have individual small stories about how he affected us as human beings how the community played into his life, and how he continued to pour his life into the community of Findlay. I hope it's a way for our community to give him the respect and the celebration that his life was," said Coolidge. "Then also find a way to look forward because the one thing that I know about Gavin is that he was an advocate. He was always wanting to do things in support of other people and raise up individuals. If we can continue to create spaces and ways to honor the next generation and lift them up, I think that would be right in line with what the spirit of his life was all about."