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.

Casting Announced For Through The Mill

News, Off West End
Through The Mill at London Theatre Workshop

Producers have announced that the three actresses from the original season at London Theatre Workshop will reprise their roles in the upcoming Southwark Playhouse season. The show will run at Southwark Playhouse from 6 July – 30 July 2016 Helen Sheals (CBS Judy), Belinda Wollaston (Palace Judy) and Lucy Penrose (Young Judy) will be joined by a further cast of nine actor-musicians, playing a variety of historical figures who featured heavily in Garland’s biography. The rest of the cast (also transferring from the original production) are Don Cotter, Rob Carter, Amanda Bailey, Joe Shefer, Tom Reade, Harry Anton, Carmelia Brown, Chris McGuigan and Perry Meadowcroft. Set primarily during the filming of ‘The Judy Garland Show’ in 1963, Through the Mill chronicles the production difficulties behind the scenes, intercut with the young Judy Garland’s rise to fame through MGM in the 1930s, and her triumphant sell-out concert engagement at the Palace … Read more

Country Musical To Open At Queen’s Theatre

News, Regional
Romford Rose by Chris Bond and Jo Collins to open at Queen's Theatre Hornchurch

The Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch will premiere Romford Rose, a new country musical by playwright Christopher Bond and composer Jo Collins. Rose is 18 today, it’s party time in Romford… And it sure looks like that soldier boy Jack is tryin’ to tame this Romford Rose. Well, her Daddy don’t like it, her Mama’s hittin’ the hooch… and it’s only Miss Dolly Parton who seems to understand. So how ‘bout it Rose – you ever gonna make your own music and do what you want? Christopher Bond, who also directs, is the prolific and fantastically inventive writer of many hits at the Queen’s and around the world, including Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street , which was the inspiration for and formed the basis of the Stephen Sondheim musical of the same name, and Alice on the Underground, an imaginative modern take on the Lewis Carroll classics. The Romford … Read more

Tony Awards 2016 – Nominees Announced

Broadway, News
Tony Award

The nominations for the Tony Awards 2016 were announced today. Hamilton, a hip-hop musical about one of America’s founding fathers picked up a record 16 nominations, the most ever! This years Tony Awards will be held on Sunday 12 June and will be hosted by James Corden. The nominees for each category are as follows:- BEST PLAY Eclipsed The Father The Humans King Charles III BEST MUSICAL Bright Star Hamilton School Of Rock Shuffle Along Waitress BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY The Crucible A View From The Bridge Blackbird Long Day’s Journey Into Night Noises Off BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL The Colour Purple Fiddler On The Roof She Loves Me Spring Awakening BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL Steve Martin for Bright Star Lin-Manuel Miranda for Hamilton Julian Fellowes for School Of Rock George C Wolfe for Shuffle Along, Or The Making Of The Musical Sensation of 1921 and Al … Read more

REVIEW: The Toxic Avenger, Southwark Playhouse ✭✭✭✭✭

Off West End, Reviews
Book now for The Toxic Avenger at Southwark Playhouse

The Toxic Avenger Southwark Playhouse 26 April 2016 5 Stars Book Now “There’s a place between heaven and hell, Don’t need a map, just follow the smell, A place filled with filthy air, A place full of dark despair, A place you have no prayer, A place called New Jersey” So begins, two hours of theatrical brilliance that had me laughing throughout. Created by Lloyd Kaufman, The Toxic Avenger was the central character in a series of cult movies and thanks to Joe Di Pietro (Book and Lyrics) and David Bryan (Music and Lyrics), Toxie, as he’s affectionately called in the show has landed at the Southwark Playhouse. The plot in brief. Tromaville is suffering from extreme toxic waste and Melvin Ferd the Third, an aspiring scientist is determined to clean up the problem. The only problem is that he’s up against a corrupt Mayor. In her efforts to stop … Read more

Big The Musical

News, Touring
Book now for Big The Musical starring Jay McGuiness

Big, the musical based on the classic movie of the same name which starred Tom Hanks is coming to the Plymouth Theatre Royal and Bord Gais Energy Theatre prior to a West End opening Next Year. Big will star The Wanted singer and Strictly Come Dancing champion Jay McGuinness. Josh Baskin is twelve-years-old and hates being little, until one night at the carnival the mysterious Zoltar machine grants his wish to be big. Now trapped in an adult’s body and alone in New York, he innocently tries to find his way around a grown-up world where it’s all work and no play. But whilst everyone around him tries to act their age, Josh just can’t help being himself. Maybe he’s going to end up teaching the real adults a thing or two… Originally produced on Broadway in 1996, Big has music by David Shire and lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr … Read more

FIRST LISTEN: Alexandra Burke in Sister Act

News, Touring
Book now for Sister Act on tour starring Alexandra Burke

Producers of the new tour of Sister Act the musical have just released this great sneak preview track of Alexandra Burke singing Fabulous Baby. With original music by the legendary Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater, Sister Act tours the UK soon in a new production directed by Craig Revel Horwood. Enjoy Fabulous Baby and spread the word.   FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SISTER ACT ON TOUR