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.

Top 100 Greatest Musicals Results: 60 – 51

Features, News
Top 100 Musicals of All Time Poll Results

Welcome to our latest instalment of results from our Top 100 Greatest Musicals of all time poll. There are a few new entries and some bona fide classics in this part of the list. Congratulations to all those who are listed in our roll call of truly great musicals. Did your favourites make the Top 100? Don’t forget to let us know your thoughts in the Comments section below. 60. Parade Parade is a musical by Jason Robert Brown (music and lyrics) and Alfred Uhry (book). Premiering on Broadway in 1998, it won the Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score and won six Drama Desk Awards. Based on the trial in 1913 of a Jewish factory manager accused of raping and murdering a thirteen-year-old employee, the project was brought to Jason Robert Brown by Harold Prince. There have been several successful productions of Parade in the UK … Read more

Phantom Celebrates 30 Years in Style

Events, Features, Gallery, News, The Phantom Of The Opera, West End
The Phantom Of The Opera London 30th Birthday celebration

Last night, The Phantom Of The Opera London celebrated its 30th Anniversary at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London. At the end of the performance held in aid of The Music In Secondary Schools Trust, a special finale took place that included the current Phantom Ben Forster,  Celinde Schoenmaker (Christine Daae and Raoul (Nadim Naaman). Joining them on stage were producer Cameron Mackintosh, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, choreographer Gillian Lynne and members of the original company including original Phantom Michael Crawford, alongside Michael Ball, Sierra Boggess and John Owen Jones. Sierra’s bilingual rendition of Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again proved a highlight of the proceedings. The special finale was streamed last night via Facebook with over 530,000 people watching. You can still watch the event on Facebook until the end of today. We hope that you enjoy these wonderful images from photographer Dan Wooller. BOOK TICKETS FOR PHANTOM LONDON BOOK TICKETS … Read more

Fellini’s La Strada UK Tour

News, Touring, West End
La Strada The Musical UK Tour

Considered a masterpiece of modern cinema, Fellini’s Oscar-winning film, La Strada (The Road), will be brought to the stage in a brand new production with music by Benji Bower, directed by Olivier award-nominee Sally Cookson. La Strada receives its world premiere at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, as the start of a 16 week UK Tour prior to opening in London at The Other Palace, where it will run until 8 July 2017. Tour dates and ticket links can be seen below. A soul-searching story filled with beauty, sadness, humour and acute observation, La Strada tells the tragic and tender tale of wide-eyed Gelsomina who is sold by her impoverished mother to the brutish strongman Zampano, a travelling sideshow performer. Their journey through the Italian countryside leads them to a ragtag touring circus where they meet Il Matto the free-spirited tightrope walker, who tries to rekindle Gelsomina’s broken spirit. Featuring live … Read more

FIRST LOOK: Moby Dick Rehearsals at the Union Theatre

Features, Gallery, News, Off West End
Book tickets for Moby Dick at the Union Theatre

Originally produced by Cameron Mackintosh. Moby Dick the musical is coming back to the Union Theatre in a few short days. With a book by Robert Longden and music and lyrics by Robert Longden and Hereward Kaye, Moby Dick is directed and choreographed by double Olivier Award nominee Andrew Wright. The cast of Moby Dick is led by Anton Stephans (Porgy and Bess, Smokey Joe’s Cafe) and Brenda Edwards (Hairspray, We Will Rock You). Check out these great rehearsal photographs from Pamela Raith Photography. Moby Dick runs at the Union Theatre from 12 October – 12 November 2016. BOOK TICKETS FOR MOBY DICK AT THE UNION THEATRE

What’s New In October – Editor’s Pick

Features, News, Off West End, Touring, West End

October is going to be a busy month in theatreland with new exciting productions opening all over the place. Here are just a few of the shows we are looking forward to this month. WEST END – The Dresser – Duke Of York’s Ronald Harwood’s The Dresser comes to the West End in a revival starring Ken Stott and Reece Shearsmith at London’s Duke Of York’s Theatre. First seen in 1980 in the West End and on Broadway, this much-loved play tells the heart-breaking story of an ageing actor-manager and his long-suffering dresser as they struggle to keep the show on the road against the backdrop of a down-at-heel regional theatre in wartime. BOOK TICKETS FOR THE DRESSER WEST END- Murder Ballad – Arts Theatre Starring West End and Broadway legends Kerry Ellis (Wicked, Cats), Ramin Karimloo (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Flashdance, In the Heights) … Read more

Top 100 Greatest Musicals Results: 70 – 61

Features, News
Top 100 Musicals of All Time Poll Results

Welcome to our latest instalment of results from our Top 100 Greatest Musicals of all time poll. There are a few new entries and some bona fide classics in this part of the list. Congratulations to all those who are listed in our roll call of truly great musicals. Did your favourites make the Top 100? Don’t forget to let us know your thoughts in the Comments section below. 70. Shrek https://youtu.be/rETYrQz-KeE Based on the 2001 Dreamworks film, which in turn was based on the 1990 Book by William Steig, Shrek is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. The original Broadway production opened in 2088 running for twelve months and a re-vamped West End production ran from June 2011 to February 2013 before touring. The Broadway production was nominated for 8 Tony Awards winning one for Best Costume Design. 69. A Chorus … Read more

FLASH SALE: Peter Pan Goes Wrong at Apollo Theatre Save up to 52%

News, West End
Peter Pan Goes Wrong - Save up to 52%

FLASH SALE: Peter Pan Goes Wrong – Save Up To 52% Mischief Theatre have another go at West End success when Peter Pan Goes Wrong returns to London’s Apollo Theatre for a second disastrous limited season. Once again the members of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society battle against technical hitches, flying mishaps and cast disputes. Will they ever make it to Neverland? We doubt it! For the slickest show in the West End, DON’T see Peter Pan Goes Wrong! Given their previous track record with this disaster, BritishTheatre.com is able to offer you tickets for Peter Pan Goes Wrong at a significant discount but only if you book by 2nd October 2016. Flash Sale: Now £25.00, save up to 52% BOOK NOW FOR PETER PAN GOES WRONG AT APOLLO THEATRE Terms and conditions: Valid on all performances between 21 October and 30 November 2016. Book by 2 October 2016. Excludes 26 October … Read more