Notes

From Millie to N2N: An Interview with Gavin Creel
by Matt Wolf

For over twenty years, Gavin Creel has stunned the Broadway community with many amazing performances, such as his Tony nominated runs in "Hair" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie", or his Tony winning performance in "Hello, Dolly!" as Cornelius. Currently, he's making audiences cry in the award-winning Deaf West revival of Next to Normal at the Neil Simon as Dan. We talked to him today about dream roles, the cast bond, and the challenges of doing Next to Normal eight times a week.

Q: So, you're currently in the brilliant, beautiful revival of Next to Normal. How is it going?

A: It's awful. I hate every second of it, it's the worst. No, I'm kidding. I love our cast, and it's just such a good show. It's material that really holds up. We're very lucky, and very happy that people have received it so well.

Q: Speaking of your cast, do you have a good bond between all of you since it's a smaller group?

A: Yes, which I'm so glad. This has been one of my favorite casts on Broadway, and I've got to work with some great people like Sutton [Foster] and Laura Benanti, but this is definitely a top one. The younger ones all call me Dad, because I guess that's where I'm at in my life now. (laughs) I tried to reject it, but I'm literally old enough to be their dad, so it's fitting I suppose. They do call Shoshannah [Stern, who plays Diana] and Patina [Voice of Diana] Mom too, so that's less awkward. Chris [Grover] is basically their crazy uncle.

Q: We had Lauren Bell here earlier this month, and she said the same thing.

A: Yeah, she's the one who probably started it. (laughs) We were talking during tech, and she goes, "I think you are old enough to be my dad." And I was just like, "God dammit." She's the one who always reminds me of how old I am. She's like, "I remember watching you win your Tony when I was 14!" and I just have to be like, "Shut up, I know I'm ancient." But Patina and Chris Grover are also on that scale. Shoshannah doesn't talk about it.

Q: Before this show, did you have any prior experience or really, knowledge with the deaf community?

A: Unfortunately, no. It's something that has been additionally great about this show. Not only is the text, and the material just so relevant, but it also helps bridge the gap between hearing and deaf people. I love that. I've learned so much sign, but I definitely am not close to being fluent. It comes from a place of human need to communicate, and I had that feeling with our deaf cast-- the want to talk, to have funny moments without needing an interpreter to stand in. It's good that we can kickstart that.

Q: Do you have a favorite part of the show to do?

A: "I Am The One" is an amazing song, but also, every night we do it, it reminds me how lucky I am to be sharing the stage with these talented people. Hearing Patina sing it, and Shoshannah kill it makes me wish that everyone in the world would get to see this. I also love our finale. I cry real tears every time Gabie signs, or Lauren says "Why are the lights off?" The girls do such a good job with that part. They are unbelievably good at it.

Q: Do you have any good cast memories? What do you guys do together?

A: Oh god, so much Cards Against Humanity. We play all the time, and we did moreso during tech week, in Patina and Shoshannah's dressing room. It's hilarious, it transcends whether you can hear or not. And the amount of creative things these people come up, I swear.

Q: Finally: this is your first time working with director Michael Arden. How do you feel like his direction has impacted this show?

A: In so many ways. Michael is a true visionary, and nothing short of a genius. I mean, he just gets it. I have no idea how he just knows how to stage something the right way, but I have very rarely ever seen him stage something that didn't look perfect-- if it doesn't, he will notice, and he will work his hardest at it. He's not only incredibly good at what he does, but he is great at giving notes and constructive criticism. I think we all can thank Michael for the incredible foundation he laid for us actors by working closely with the set design people, asking us our thoughts when he staged things, and giving us great notes.

Q: Thanks so much for this! We hope to see you again!

A: Thank you! I hope so too.