Gavin Creel Filmed a Documentary Before His Death—And Now It's Being Released | Playbill

Broadway News Gavin Creel Filmed a Documentary Before His Death—And Now It's Being Released

In Common Denominator, the late Tony winner talked about his mental health journey and performed songs from Walk on Through.

Gavin Creel in Common Denominator Courtesy of Two Bridge

In October 2023, before Tony winner Gavin Creel began rehearsal for what would be his last-ever show, Walk On Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice, he was filming a documentary. It was to be the first entry in a new series called Common Denominator, which in each 35-minute episode would feature an artist talking candidly about their own mental health struggles and how they live with their own feelings of anxiety and loneliness. A year after filming that pilot episode of Common Denominator, Creel passed away at the age of 48 on September 30, 2024, after being diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma. His final filmed appearance is now being released, via a premiere screening in New York January 27 with a streaming release to follow in February (fans can enter to win free tickets to the screening here).

"Our goal with Common Denominator is to make the viewer understand that they are not alone, that we are all going through things and we need each other," explains Harris Schwartzberg, who helped conceptualize the series. "We could not have picked a better person to get that across and [Gavin] does it so eloquently and elegantly throughout the show. While we could only make the show 30 minutes, we have hours of incredibly poignant conversations where Gavin thanks his parents, discusses love and loss, and talks about his love of teaching. It is a true gift that we can share what we have created with his mourning fan base."

Harris Schwartzberg and Gavin Creel Courtesy of Two Bridge

After his own brother (who was bipolar) died at the age of 48, Schwartzberg became an advocate for mental health awareness, founding the organization Two Bridge (which is the producer of Common Denominator). Schwartzberg is also a philanthrophist and supporter of the arts, also serving as board member of the Dramatist Guild Foundation. He'd met Creel almost a decade ago, at a fundraiser for the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, and Dance (where Creel was an alum). Over time, Creel became a close friend to Schwartzberg and his family, frequently attending Two Bridge's events—Creel even performed some of his Walk on Through songs at Schwartzberg's house.

"As a family, we spent many nights laughing with Gavin at our home and his. Every visit included an impromptu performance, lots of laughs and giggles, and always ended with 'I love you guys,'" recalled Schwartzberg.

When Schwartzberg first spoke to Creel about Common Denominator, the actor was immediately in love with the idea and wanted to be the first interviewee for the series. Explained Schwartzberg: "Our idea was to create a show that doesn’t preach about mental health but allows people to talk very openly about things that are very personal. We wanted to engage the audience and allow them to see that people they idolize are dealing with many of the same issues everyone is dealing with." Every episode of the series discusses a central question: “What is the common denominator that connects us all?”

Said Schwartzberg: "As soon as we discussed the concept, Gavin was in. The only rules and details we had given him were that he had to be open, honest, and vulnerable. With that Cheshire Cat grin, he said, 'Seriously, do you know me to be any other way?' Ten days later, we were shooting the pilot episode of Common Denominator with Gavin."

See full rules for the giveaway here.

Gavin Creel and the Schwartzberg family at the opening of Walk on Through Courtesy of Two Bridge

In that pilot—hosted by four-time Emmy winner Maurice Dubois and directed by Emil Nava—Creel's bright energy, his passion for performance, and his deep empathy are all on display. In one emotional moment, Creel discusses the origin of his tattoo, which says "both," and acts as a personal reminder that, as he reads in a poem: 

Everything is both
Wonderful and terrible
Boring and exciting
It’s okay that it’s both
Obvious and hidden
Simple and complicated
What a relief that everything can be both
Light and dark

The structure of the show is atypical. It's not just interviews—Creel also performs songs from Walk on Through and the episode follows Creel to opening night of his show. Meanwhile, mementos, press clippings, and other treasured objects from Creel's life are combined to make a one-of-a-kind mixed-media painting from visual artist Peter Tunney. At the end of the episode, Tunney's painting is presented to Creel in an emotional reveal (10 signed giclée prints were also provided to Creel to be auctioned off and donated).

Of the filming, Schwartzberg recalled: "Gavin was incredibly open and engaging. He told stories of love, loss, excitement, and what he was most proud of—finally feeling that he had become a writer instead of just an actor and singer. When we took a break, and Gavin saw that we had snuck in a piano, he sat down and started singing 'Hold You.' What a magical moment. Everyone stopped what they were doing, and we noticed Peter Tunney and Maurice Dubois crying. Gavin was just being Gavin."

Though Schwartzberg had been in talks with various streaming services for an official release date for the entire Common Denominator series, after Creel's sudden passing, he has decided to release Creel's episode in full. 

First, there will be two screenings January 27 at the Directors Guild of America screening room in New York, at 4:30 PM and 6:15 PM. Though the screening is invitation-only for Creel's family, friends, and colleagues, Two Bridge is partnering with Playbill to give away tickets to some lucky fans, who can enter here. Those interested in entering have until January 21 to do so, and winners will be notified January 23.

At the screening, donations will be collected to benefit the Celia Keenan‑Bolger and Gavin Creel Activist Artist Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of Michigan, which was endowed by both of its namesake stars. Schwartzberg will match donations collected at the screening, in memory of his late friend.

Said Schwartzberg: "The screening was initially planned for April or May. However, we were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for Gavin. Two Bridge felt this episode was important to share as it showed Gavin as a healthy, talented artist doing what he loved most: writing and performing. Fans were yearning for more Gavin, and we want to make sure they see this sooner rather than later."

The evening will feature an opening by Schwartzberg who will introduce Common Denominator, followed by behind-the-scenes clips from filming as well as two music videos of Gavin performing original songs. Then the full 35-minute episode will be screened. There will also be performances by University of Michigan Musical Theater Broadway performers who will perform songs from a few of Gavin’s favorite shows. They include Aidan Jones, Lily Rosenberg, Dominic Dorset, Travis Anderson, Sevon Askew, Margot Grom, Claire DeJean, Angeleia Ordonez, and Ximone Rose with Cynthia Westphal Nixon. 

 
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