Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice
A musical inspired by the countless hours composer and performer Gavin Creel spent in The Met thanks to a commission from the MetLiveArts program. Billed as a “wildly original piece filled with songs and stories that explore Creel’s journey through art, life, and love,” the premier concert version was filmed live at The Met in 2021.
Where to watch
Walk on Through is currently available to view for free on YouTube.
theatrical history
Gavin Creel was an actor and writer who appeared on stage and screen. His Broadway credits included Thoroughly Modern Millie, La Cage Aux Folles, Hair, The Book of Mormon, She Loves Me, Hello, Dolly!, Waitress, and the 2022 revival of Into the Woods. In the West End, Creel appeared in The Book of Mormon. Mary Poppins, Hair, and Waitress. He was nominated for, and won, multiple awards. Creel was three-time Tony Award nominee, winning for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Hello, Dolly!. He won an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his work in The Book of Mormon. Along with Jenny Kanelos and Rory O’Malley, Creel was a co-founder of Broadway Impact, the first and only grassroots organization to mobilize the nationwide theater community in support of marriage equality.
Despite having lived in New York City for two decades, Creel had never visited The Met Museum. In January 2019, a friend who worked for MetLiveArts invited Creel to participate in an interdisciplinary program where performing artists are commissioned to create and perform pieces inspired by the museum’s extensive collection.
The project was temporarily put on hold due to the COVID pandemic and ensuing theatre shutdown. According to an interview in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Creel initially felt unable to continue in show business during the shutdown, however found that The Met project was “a lifeline… something to focus on and some way to be creative.” In an interview for The Day, Creel described working on the piece during the pandemic as “imperative.”
In July 2021, Creel continued work on the piece during a writing retreat at the Two Bridge space in Irvington, New York.
Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice premiered as a concert version in The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at The Met Museum on October 25, 2021. See Film History below.
In January 2022, Walk on Through received further development at the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood, Florida. Excerpts from the musical were performed on January 14th, 2022 at the Hermitage Artist Retreat Beach.
In the summer of 2022, a residence and developmental workshop was held at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut as part of the National Musical Theater Conference. Walk on Through was one of 3 musicals selected from 350 submissions.
Creel described Walk on Through as a “concercal” - a melding of concert and musical.
The NAMT residency led to an industry showcase at Signature Theatre in December 2022.
Walk on Through commenced previews off-Broadway at MCC Theater’s Susan & Ronald Franklin Theater in November 2023, before officially opening on December 4, 2023. The piece was billed as “a thrilling new musical event featuring 16 original, infectious, pop-infused songs.”
Once again directed by Linda Goodrich, with scenic design by I. Javier Ameijeiras, costume design by Jeff Mahshie, lighting design by Jiyoun Chang, sound design by Alex Neumann, projection design by David Bengali, music direction by Madeline Benson, electronic music design by Scott Wasserman, and orchestrations and arrangements by Madeline Benson, Chris Peters, Corey Rawls, and Scott Wasserman. Laura Hirschberg served as the production stage manager. Nicole Johnson and the Harriet Tubman Effect were DEI consultants.
Led by Gavin Creel, the cast included Sasha Allen, Madeline Benson, Chris Peters, Ryan Vasquez, and Scott Wasserman.
Walk on Through received mixed reviews, with critics divided over the effectiveness of the piece overall.
In a review for the New York Theatre Guide, critic Joe Dziemianowicz described Walk on Through as an “enjoyable work… a deeply personal, though jumbled, concert-style memoir and meditation on the power of art.” Dziemianowicz praised Creel as “a magnetic performer,” and ensemble member Ryan Vasquez as “invaluable.”
Writing for The New York Times, Laura Collins-Hughes felt the musical felt like “an advertisement.” She stated “Superficiality is a bane of this uncertain show,” and claimed that “little of “Walk on Through” seems heartfelt.”
TheaterMania’s David Gordon was more effusive in his praise noting, “Gavin Creel is an enormously charismatic actor. He can make you swoon with a wink and laugh and an upturned grin — and he’s so charming you just want to be in his orbit.” Gordon praised the pop-infused musical theatre influenced score as “Wry, witty, warm, and extremely thoughtful,” and concluded that “With the right edits here and there, Walk on Through could become the smartest musical on the creation of art since Sunday in the Park With George.”
Similarly warm in praise, TimeOut’s Raven Snook noted “While Walk on Through is occasionally self-indulgent, it's more often endearing, funny and relatable, and makes you yearn for a cast recording.”
In a review for The Wrap, Robert Hofler described Creel as a “master lyricist,” stating his lyrics were “superb, capturing feelings and moods and thoughts with ingenious rhymes.” Hofler also praised the “great style” of director Linda Goodrich.
Walk on Through concluded its off-Broadway run on January 7, 2024.
Just seven months later in July 2024, Gavin Creel was diagnosed with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Following treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Creel passed away at the age of 48 on September 30, 2024, leaving the New York theatre community in a state of shock and grief.
In early October, The Broadway League announced that a select handful of theatres, “one theater from every Theater Owner on Broadway,” would dim their lights in honor of Creel. Following substantial online backlash, and a petition which gathered over 20,000 signatures, all Broadway theatres — along with the off-Broadway MCC Theater — will dim their lights. The ceremony will take place December 3 at 6.45pm EST.
The day before the light dimming ceremony, a public memorial celebration will be held at the St. James Theatre.
Despite having lived in New York City for two decades, Creel had never visited The Met Museum. In January 2019, a friend who worked for MetLiveArts invited Creel to participate in an interdisciplinary program where performing artists are commissioned to create and perform pieces inspired by the museum’s extensive collection.
The project was temporarily put on hold due to the COVID pandemic and ensuing theatre shutdown. According to an interview in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Creel initially felt unable to continue in show business during the shutdown, however found that The Met project was “a lifeline… something to focus on and some way to be creative.” In an interview for The Day, Creel described working on the piece during the pandemic as “imperative.”
In July 2021, Creel continued work on the piece during a writing retreat at the Two Bridge space in Irvington, New York.
Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice premiered as a concert version in The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at The Met Museum on October 25, 2021. See Film History below.
In January 2022, Walk on Through received further development at the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood, Florida. Excerpts from the musical were performed on January 14th, 2022 at the Hermitage Artist Retreat Beach.
In the summer of 2022, a residence and developmental workshop was held at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut as part of the National Musical Theater Conference. Walk on Through was one of 3 musicals selected from 350 submissions.
Creel described Walk on Through as a “concercal” - a melding of concert and musical.
The NAMT residency led to an industry showcase at Signature Theatre in December 2022.
Walk on Through commenced previews off-Broadway at MCC Theater’s Susan & Ronald Franklin Theater in November 2023, before officially opening on December 4, 2023. The piece was billed as “a thrilling new musical event featuring 16 original, infectious, pop-infused songs.”
Once again directed by Linda Goodrich, with scenic design by I. Javier Ameijeiras, costume design by Jeff Mahshie, lighting design by Jiyoun Chang, sound design by Alex Neumann, projection design by David Bengali, music direction by Madeline Benson, electronic music design by Scott Wasserman, and orchestrations and arrangements by Madeline Benson, Chris Peters, Corey Rawls, and Scott Wasserman. Laura Hirschberg served as the production stage manager. Nicole Johnson and the Harriet Tubman Effect were DEI consultants.
Led by Gavin Creel, the cast included Sasha Allen, Madeline Benson, Chris Peters, Ryan Vasquez, and Scott Wasserman.
Walk on Through received mixed reviews, with critics divided over the effectiveness of the piece overall.
In a review for the New York Theatre Guide, critic Joe Dziemianowicz described Walk on Through as an “enjoyable work… a deeply personal, though jumbled, concert-style memoir and meditation on the power of art.” Dziemianowicz praised Creel as “a magnetic performer,” and ensemble member Ryan Vasquez as “invaluable.”
Writing for The New York Times, Laura Collins-Hughes felt the musical felt like “an advertisement.” She stated “Superficiality is a bane of this uncertain show,” and claimed that “little of “Walk on Through” seems heartfelt.”
TheaterMania’s David Gordon was more effusive in his praise noting, “Gavin Creel is an enormously charismatic actor. He can make you swoon with a wink and laugh and an upturned grin — and he’s so charming you just want to be in his orbit.” Gordon praised the pop-infused musical theatre influenced score as “Wry, witty, warm, and extremely thoughtful,” and concluded that “With the right edits here and there, Walk on Through could become the smartest musical on the creation of art since Sunday in the Park With George.”
Similarly warm in praise, TimeOut’s Raven Snook noted “While Walk on Through is occasionally self-indulgent, it's more often endearing, funny and relatable, and makes you yearn for a cast recording.”
In a review for The Wrap, Robert Hofler described Creel as a “master lyricist,” stating his lyrics were “superb, capturing feelings and moods and thoughts with ingenious rhymes.” Hofler also praised the “great style” of director Linda Goodrich.
Walk on Through concluded its off-Broadway run on January 7, 2024.
Just seven months later in July 2024, Gavin Creel was diagnosed with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Following treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Creel passed away at the age of 48 on September 30, 2024, leaving the New York theatre community in a state of shock and grief.
In early October, The Broadway League announced that a select handful of theatres, “one theater from every Theater Owner on Broadway,” would dim their lights in honor of Creel. Following substantial online backlash, and a petition which gathered over 20,000 signatures, all Broadway theatres — along with the off-Broadway MCC Theater — will dim their lights. The ceremony will take place December 3 at 6.45pm EST.
The day before the light dimming ceremony, a public memorial celebration will be held at the St. James Theatre.
Film history
Walk on Through premiered as a concert version on October 25, 2021 at The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at The Met Fifth Ave in New York City.
The concert was filmed live over two performances by Creel’s close friend and collaborator Andrew Keenan-Bolger.
Following Gavin Creel’s death in September 2024, The Met released the recording for free on YouTube on November 12, 2024.
The concert was filmed live over two performances by Creel’s close friend and collaborator Andrew Keenan-Bolger.
Following Gavin Creel’s death in September 2024, The Met released the recording for free on YouTube on November 12, 2024.
cast & creative credits
Theatre: The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at The Met Fifth Ave, NYC
Producer: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Department of Live Arts
Book, Music, & Lyrics: Gavin Creel
Director: Linda Goodrich
Lighting Design: Alban Sardzinski
Sound Design: Zach Crumrine
Projection Design: Ryan Casey
Stage Manager: Laura Hirschberg
Assistant Stage Manager: Isabel Schwartzberg
Video/Photographer: Andrew Keenan-Bolger
Cast:
Gavin Creel
Band:
Justin Mendoza (piano)
Madeline Smith (keyboard and vocals)
Meg Toohey (guitar and vocals)
Dominic Dorset (mandolin, violin, percussion, and vocals)
Chris Peters (acoustic guitar and vocals)
Sherisse Rogers (bass)
Marques Walls (drums)
Vocalists:
Audrey Rose Young
Brandon Pearson
Ryan Vasquez
Producer: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Department of Live Arts
Book, Music, & Lyrics: Gavin Creel
Director: Linda Goodrich
Lighting Design: Alban Sardzinski
Sound Design: Zach Crumrine
Projection Design: Ryan Casey
Stage Manager: Laura Hirschberg
Assistant Stage Manager: Isabel Schwartzberg
Video/Photographer: Andrew Keenan-Bolger
Cast:
Gavin Creel
Band:
Justin Mendoza (piano)
Madeline Smith (keyboard and vocals)
Meg Toohey (guitar and vocals)
Dominic Dorset (mandolin, violin, percussion, and vocals)
Chris Peters (acoustic guitar and vocals)
Sherisse Rogers (bass)
Marques Walls (drums)
Vocalists:
Audrey Rose Young
Brandon Pearson
Ryan Vasquez
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Laura Collins-Hughes, ‘Walk on Through’ Review: Dispatches, in Song, From a Museum Novice, NY Times (Dec 4, 2023)
- Kristina Dorsi, “Broadway star Gavin Creel performs and develops his own show at the O’Neill in Waterford,” The Day (July 26, 2022)
- Joe Dziemianowicz, “'Walk on Through' review — Gavin Creel reflects on how art imitates, and inspires, life,” New York Theatre Guide (Dec 4, 2023)
- Andrew Gans, Logan Culwell-Block, “The Met Celebrates Gavin Creel With Full Video of Walk On Through Concert,” Playbill (Nov 14, 2024)
- David Gordon, “Review: Gavin Creel’s First Musical Proves He’s Not Just a Great Actor, but a Superb Songwriter Too,” TheaterMania (Dec 4, 2023)
- Jay Handelman, “Tony winner Gavin Creel explores life in developing new show 'Walk on Through' at Hermitage retreat,” Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Jan 13, 2022)
- Talaura Harms, “Gavin Creel Admits He’s Sad. Here’s Why Writing a Musical Kind of Helped,” Playbill (undated, 2023)
- Molly Higgins, “Tony-Winning Actor Gavin Creel Passes Away at 48,” Playbill (Sept 30, 2024)
- Molly Higgins, Memorial Celebration to Be Held for Gavin Creel; Broadway Theatres Will Dim Lights December 3,” Playbill (Nov 4, 2024)
- Robert Hofler, “‘Walk on Through’ Off Broadway Review: Gavin Creel Casts Himself as a Museum Virgin,” The Wrap (Dec 4, 2023)
- Michael Paulson, “Gavin Creel, Tony-Winning Musical Theater Actor, Dies at 48,” NY Times (Sept 30, 2024)
- Jackson McHenry, “A Decent Docent: Gavin Creel’s Walk on Through,” Vulture (Dec 4, 2023)
- Press Release, “Broadway Theatres To Dim Lights in Memory Of Beloved Tony Award®-winning Actor Gavin Creel,” The Broadway League (Oct 4, 2024)
- Frank Rizzo, “The Art of Gavin Creel,” Connecticut Voice (Nov 20, 2022)
- Doug Rule, “Wolf Whistle: An Interview with Broadway Sensation Gavin Creel,” MetroWeekly (February 2023, republished September 30, 2024)
- Kathryn Shuttuck, “Gavin Creel Lets His Imagination Run Wild With Gay Stories and House Music,” NY Times (Oct 12, 2021)
- Raven Snook, “Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice,” TimeOut (Dec 4, 2023)
Websites
- GavinCreel.com, “Gavin Creel: Walk on Through, The Met 5th Avenue, New York City,” Accessed via: https://www.gavincreel.com/upcoming/themet211025
- MCC Theater, “Walk on Through,” Accessed via: https://mcctheater.org/tix/walk-on-through-confessions-of-a-museum-novice/
- Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice, Accessed via: https://www.walkonthrough.com/