EXPERIENCES WITH EARLY ACTING
Gavin’s love for acting began in middle school, where he first started performing in class productions. In 8th grade, he landed his first notable role as young Ralphie in A Christmas Story, a performance that sparked his passion for the stage. Entering high school, Gavin continued building experience with supporting roles in productions such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Drowsy Chaperone and Little Shop of Horrors.
First Leads
Gavin’s first breakthrough came when he was cast as Ebenezer Scrooge in Scrooge the Musical. To bring the character to life, he underwent extensive prosthetics and developed a distinct voice, fully embodying the aging miser. Shortly after, Gavin took on the role of Amadeus Mozart in the straight play Amadeus. His portrayal captured Mozart’s eccentric, whimsical personality while navigating the tragic weight of the character’s downfall—cementing his ability to tackle both transformative and emotionally complex roles.
RED and Recognition
Gavin’s most celebrated role came with John Logan’s Red, a two-man play that demanded an extraordinary level of commitment. Alongside co-star Christian Rippé, Gavin first approached the show through a short literary interpretation that the pair developed with rigorous research and character study. Their performance won first place at the Georgia’s State-wide Competition and sparked the opportunity to stage the full production.
Over the course of nearly two years, Gavin and Christian immersed themselves in the world of the play, not just as actors but as artists. They painted together for months to understand their characters’ perspectives, even stretching and building their own 8-foot canvases. Gavin played a central role in creating the production’s environment, sourcing and aging props, designing and assembling much of the set himself. Performances incorporated real-time artistry, including the physically demanding act of priming a canvas live on stage, layered on top of the emotional weight of Rothko’s searing monologues and the relentless energy required to sustain a two-man show.
The results spoke for themselves: Red earned first place at both county and state competitions, with Gavin winning Best Actor at both levels for his commanding portrayal of Mark Rothko. The production was later showcased at the prestigious Georgia Thespian Conference, marking the culmination of Gavin’s journey with the role. After nearly two years of living inside Rothko’s intensity, Gavin retired the role, closing out one of the most defining chapters of his acting career.
GAVIN HASLETT 