Gavin Geoffrey Dillard

An award-winning opera, When Adonis Calls, is composed entirely of Dillard's poetry.

• Name — Gavin Geoffrey Dillard • Born — 28 November 1954 • Birthplace — Asheville, North Carolina, United States • Occupation — Author, poet

Dillard was born in Asheville, North Carolina, on November 28, 1954. He was in the high school program at the North Carolina School of the Arts and also attended California Institute of the Arts. His first chapbook of poetry, Twenty Nineteen Poems, was published by Ian Young's Catalyst Press when Dillard was 20 years old.

During the late 1970s, Dillard lived in Hollywood, California, and his experiences there figured heavily in his autobiography, In the Flesh: Undressing for Success, published in 1997 by Barricade Books. Dillard's portraits have been drawn by Tom of Finland and Don Bachardy. Photos of Dillard have appeared in Playgirl and many gay publications.

Dillard wrote many of the lyrics for Bark! The Musical. His songwriting work (as lyricist) also includes "The Rescue," recorded by Sam Harris and Janis Ian, and art songs set to music by composers Jake Heggie, Clint Borzoni, Glen Roven. Dillard wrote book and lyrics for OMFG!!! – an iLove Story, which opened at the ODC Theater in San Francisco on July 8, 2011. The music was written by Christopher Winslow. When Adonis Calls is a new opera composed by Clint Borzoni with a libretto created by John de los Santos entirely from the poetry of Gavin Dillard. The opera won "best new work" laudits from both Fort Worth Opera's "Frontiers," as well as OPERA America. When Adonis Calls officially premiered with the Asheville Lyric Opera in Asheville, NC, on May 11, 2018.