Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice
| Walk on Through | |
|---|---|
| Confessions of a Museum Novice | |
| Music | Gavin Creel |
| Lyrics | Gavin Creel |
| Book | Gavin Creel |
| Premiere | November 13, 2023: MCC Theatre, New York City |
| Productions | 2023 Off-Broadway |
Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice is a musical by Gavin Creel inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collections. It is based on a concept originally commissioned by The Met. The original production made its world premiere and Off-Broadway debut at the MCC Theatre from November 13, 2023, to January 7, 2024.[1][2][3]
History and development
Creel received his commission from the Met in January 2019. The work had a premiere concert presentation in October 2021 at the Met; this performance was also filmed and uploaded on YouTube.[4] In 2022, there were two workshops of the piece at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and Pershing Square Signature Center. Creel spoke at length about working on this piece before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][1][5]
According to the Companion Guide, referenced artworks are:
- Smashed Strokes Hope by Joan Snyder
- Wisconsin Landscape by John Steuart Curry
- America Today by Thomas Hart Benton
- Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) by Jackson Pollock
- The Organ Rehearsal by Henry Lerolle
- The Storm by Pierre Auguste Cot
- Vsevolod Mikhailovich Garshin (1855-1888) by Ilya Repin (portrait of Vsevolod Garshin)
- Untitled photo by Gregory Crewdson
- Untitled film still #48 by Cindy Sherman
- Soft Figure by Robert Heinecken
- Salvator Mundi by Albrecht Dürer
- Fragmentary Colossal Marble Head of Youth
- Annette by Alberto Giacometti
- The Weeders by Jules Breton
- Judith and the Head of Holofernes by Lucas Cranach the Elder
- From Williamsburg Bridge by Edward Hopper
Productions
Original Off-Broadway production
The world premiere was directed by Linda Goodrich and music directed by Madeline Benson. It made its Off-Broadway debut at the MCC Theatre. It ran from November 13, 2023, to January 7, 2024. The cast starred Creel alongside Ryan Vasquez, Benson, Chris Peters, and Sasha Allen.[3][6][7][8][9][10]
Musical numbers
- "Where Am I?"
- "Walk On Through"
- "Color"
- "Hallelujah"
- "The Journey"
- "Scattered"
- "Sing"
- "What Is This?"
- "The Only One"
- "I Know You"
- "Hands On You"
- "High"
- "Alone Tonight"
- "Judith"
- "Daydreamer"
- "Unfinished World"
Recordings
A live cast album of the show was released on September 30, 2025. It was produced by Madeline Benson, Chris Peters, and Sara Bareilles.[2][11]
All songs are sung by Gavin Creel and played by the Walk On Through Band.
| No. | Title | Additional Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Where Am I?" | — | 3:11 |
| 2. | "Walk On Through" | — | 4:41 |
| 3. | "Color" | — | 4:59 |
| 4. | "'Wisconsin Landscape'" | — | 1:07 |
| 5. | "Hallelujah" | — | 1:29 |
| 6. | "The Journey" | — | 4:47 |
| 7. | "'Autumn Rhythm (Number 30)'" | — | 1:14 |
| 8. | "Scattered" | Ryan Vasquez | 4:30 |
| 9. | "Sing" | — | 5:04 |
| 10. | "The Storm" | Ryan Vasquez | 0:45 |
| 11. | "What Is This?" | Madeline Benson, Chris Peters | 3:22 |
| 12. | "'Vsevolod Mikhailovich Garshin (1855-1888)' I" | Ryan Vasquez | 2:05 |
| 13. | "The Only One" | Ryan Vasquez | 4:10 |
| 14. | "'Vsevolod Mikhailovich Garshin (1855-1888)' II" | Ryan Vasquez | 1:07 |
| 15. | "I Know You" | Madeline Benson, Chris Peters | 6:04 |
| 16. | "'Salvator Mundi' I" | — | 1:30 |
| 17. | "Hands On You" | Chris Peters | 6:08 |
| 18. | "'Annette'" | — | 1:06 |
| 19. | "High" | Ryan Vasquez | 4:13 |
| 20. | "Alone Tonight" | Ryan Vasquez | 4:18 |
| 21. | "Judith" | Sasha Allen | 6:43 |
| 22. | "'From Williamsburg Bridge'" | Ryan Vasquez | 1:16 |
| 23. | "Daydreamer" | Ryan Vasquez | 7:19 |
| 24. | "'Salvator Mundi' II" | — | 0:49 |
| 25. | "Unfinished World" | — | 4:47 |
External links
- Gavin Creel: Walk On Through | MetLiveArts, Met Museum
- www.walkonthrough.com (The Companion Guide)
- Gavin Creel: Walk On Through | MetLiveArts on YouTube (Recorded on October 25, 2021)
References
- ^ a b "Gavin Creel: Walk on Through | The Metropolitan Museum of Art". engage.metmuseum.org. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c "WALK ON THROUGH: Confessions of a Museum Novice". WALK ON THROUGH: Confessions of a Museum Novice. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ a b "Gavin Creel Musical, World Premiere From Jason Robert Brown, More Headed to MCC Theater". Playbill.
- ^ The Met Gavin Creel: Walk On Through | MetLiveArts YouTube
- ^ Paulson, Michael (September 30, 2024). "Gavin Creel, Tony-Winning Musical Theater Actor, Dies at 48". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ Russo, Gillian 'Walk on Through' sets full Off-Broadway cast NewYorkTheatreGuide, September 6, 2023
- ^ MCCTheatre Walk on Through
- ^ Dziemianowicz, Joe 'Walk on Through' review — Gavin Creel reflects on how art imitates, and inspires, life NewYorkTheatreGuide, December 4, 2023
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan Reviews: Read What Critics Think of Gavin Creel Musical Walk On Through Playbill, December 5, 2023
- ^ Collins-Hughes, Laura ‘Walk on Through’ Review: Dispatches, in Song, From a Museum Novice NewYorkTimes, December 4, 2023
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan Gavin Creel Musical Walk On Through Will Get Live Cast Album Playbill, September 16, 2025