Douglas Mayo

Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.

New Production Company Formed by Marianne Elliott and Chris Harper

News, Regional, West End
Marianne Elliott and Chris Harper form own production company

A new production company called Elliott and Harper Productions has been formed by Marianne Elliott, the Olivier and Tony Award-winning director of the National Theatre’s hugely successful productions of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and War Horse and producer Chris Harper. The pair have also announced the UK premiere of their first West End show today: Simon Stephens’ Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle. Starring Anne-Marie Duff and Kenneth Cranham which will be directed by Marianne Elliott. Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle will play at the Wyndham’s Theatre from 3 October 2017 until 9 January 2018. Tickets are on sale at midday today. In this uncertain world, who can predict what brings people together? When two strangers meet by chance amidst the bustle of a crowded London train station, their lives are changed forever. Tony and Olivier-Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens’ Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle is a surprising and life-affirming … Read more

Further Casting Announced for Hamilton at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre

Hamilton The Musical, News, West End
Jamel Westman and Michael Jibson join the cast of Hamilton in London

Producers have today announced that Jamael Westman will play the role of Alexander Hamilton whilst Michael Jibson will take on the role of King George in the upcoming West End production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s acclaimed musical Hamilton. Jamael Westman graduated from RADA in 2016 and Hamilton will mark his West End debut. He recently completed a run in The White Devil at Shakespeare’s Globe and appeared in Richard Twyman’s production of Torn at the Royal Court Theatre. Michael Jibson’s previous theatre credits include Roots at the Donmar, RoadShow and Take Flight for the Menier Chocolate Factory and Canterbury Tales for the RSC. Film credits include Beauty And The Beast, The Bank Job, and Les Miserables. Westman and Jibson join the previously announced Christine Allado (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Rachelle Ann Go (Eliza Hamilton), Tarinn Callender (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison), Rachel John (Angelica Schuyler), Jason Pennycooke (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Cleve September (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), … Read more

King’s Head Theatre Announce Nine Week Queer Season 2017

LGBT, News, Off West End
King's Head Theatre Queer Season

The King’s Head Theatre today announces the full line-up for its 2017 Queer Season. Established in 2015, the Queer Season is a celebration of the most interesting and innovative LGBTQI+ theatre being created in modern Britain. To mark the 50th anniversary since the decriminalisation of homosexuality, this year’s season has been extended to 9 weeks, and features world premieres alongside transfers from some of the UK’s largest arts festivals. The first major London revival of Kevin Elyot’s drama, Coming Clean, since it opened at the Bush Theatre in 1982 headlines the season. Directed by the King’s Head Theatre’s Artistic Director, Adam Spreadbury-Maher, Coming Clean examines the breakdown of a gay couple’s relationship and examines complex questions of fidelity and love. Other highlights include Out- laws to Inlaws, an evening of seven plays spanning seven decades by some the countries’ leading gay writers, including Jonathan Harvey, best known for A Beautiful … Read more

Theatre503 Hosts UK Premiere of US Comedy BOOM

News, Off West End
Boom at Theatre503

Premiering at the Ars Nova Theatre, New York, BOOM a comedy by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb became the most produced play in the US between 2009-10 and will now be professionally staged in the UK by Theatre 503 and Announcement Productions. Jules, a marine biologist, places a personals ad offering “sex to change the course of the world”. Jo replies and comes to Jules’ lab expecting a hot night of no strings sex. But this is no casual encounter, it has evolutionary significance and the future of the human race hangs in the balance! What will be their fate? What is ours? What’s with the fish tank? And who’s the woman in the corner? BOOM is a comedy about the end of the world, sex and tropical fish. The play will be directed by Katherine Nesbitt. Casting for the play is to be announced. BOOM will play at Theatre 503 from … Read more

REVIEW: Hello Dolly!, 2017 Broadway Revival Cast Recording ✭✭✭✭✭

Broadway, Music, Reviews
Hello Dolly! Broadway revival cast recording review

Hello Dolly! 2017 Broadway Revival Cast Recording Masterworks Broadway 5 Stars BUY A COPY As soon as it was announced that the role of Dolly Levi would be played by the one and only Bette Midler, lovers of classic Broadway musicals were rushing out to get their tickets ensuring that this would be the revival to beat this season. Indeed, on Sunday at the Tony Awards, it took home four awards including Best Revival and Best Actress in A Musical and listening to this fabulous cast album it’s easy to understand why! There’s something about a Jerry Herman score, that unmistakeable magic, the ability to translate character, comedy and that special feel-good something through music and lyrics and Hello Dolly! is no exception. Based on Thornton Wilder’s play The Matchmaker, Dolly Levi is a role that has been  played by some of the greatest including Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey, Danny La … Read more

Top 100 Greatest Musicals Poll – Number 1 – Les Miserables

Features, Les Miserables musical West End - Les Miserables London tickets
Les Miserables 30th Aniversary - Queens Theatre London

Les Miserables has topped our 100 Greatest Musicals Poll by several thousand votes. The epic musical retelling of Victor Hugo’s classic novel has music by Claude-Michel Schonberg and French lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel translated into English by Herbert Kretzmer and additional lyrics by James Fenton. The musical which was produced by Cameron Mackintosh in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company was carefully crafted by co-directors John Caird and Trevor Nunn. Few suspected when it opened to less than gushing reviews at London’s Barbican Centre that it would become the blockbuster sensation that it did, but the public warmed to its humanity and story of triumph over adversity. The show transferred to London’s Palace Theatre in 1985 and opened on Broadway in 1987. Included in the show’s original London cast were Colm Wilkinson, Roger Allam, Patti LuPone, David Burt, Micheal Ball, Frances Ruffelle, Alan Armstrong, Susan Jane Tanner … Read more

Top 100 Greatest Musicals Poll – Number 2 – Wicked

Features, Wicked the musical
Book tickets for Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre

It’s been great to see two relatively new musicals make it into our  Top 100 Greatest Musicals Poll. Firstly with Hamilton and now taking our Number Two spot – Wicked! Based on the book Wicked: The Life And Times Of The Wicked Witch Of The West by Gregory Maguire, Wicked the musical has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. Wicked arrived on Broadway in 2003 at the Gershwin Theatre where it still resides after a try-out in San Francisco with a cast including Kristen Chenoweth as Glinda, Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Joel Grey as The Wizard. Millions of people have now seen Wicked around the world and a major movie adaptation in currently in the works. Wicked has won three Tony Awards and six Drama Desk Awards and its original cast album won a Grammy Award. Over a decade after its premiere, Wicked … Read more

REVIEW: Groundhog Day, Original Broadway Cast Album ✭✭✭✭

Broadway, Music, Reviews
Groundhog Day Broadway Cast Album Review

Groundhog Day Original Broadway Cast Album Broadway Records 4 Stars BUY A COPY Based on the iconic film, Groundhog Day is the new musical by Tim Minchin, award-winning composer of  Matilda. Opening at the Old Vic in London I was enamoured with the show’s ability to take a complicated premise and make it work musically. Minchin’s music and lyrics still pack a punch. Groundhog Day at its core is about self-realisation and redemption and Minchin’s score reflects this in an intelligent and honest way. The central performance of Andy Carl as obnoxious and egotistical weatherman Phil Connors translates beautifully from stage to cast album. It’s a  performance that won him the Olivier Award in London and when you hear him sing “I’m seeing you for the first time” in Seeing You the show’s closing number you truly can hear a transformation. As Rita Hanson, Barrett Doss is a perfect foil … Read more