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.

BIG INTERVIEW: Creators Of Grey Gardens The Muiscal

Interviews, Off West End
Grey Gardens at Southwark Playhouse

Douglas Mayo had an opportunity after the opening night of Grey Gardens to speak with the shows creators Scott Frankel (Music), Michael Korie (Lyrics) and Doug Wright (Book) to discuss the show and get their thoughts on the current production at Southwark Playhouse. On the morning I spoke to the creators, the first of many 5 star reviews had started to come in for the production and the team were elated. Not many people know that Grey Gardens was the first musical ever to be adapted from a documentary. How did you go about tackling the adaptation to make it work for a musical theatre stage? DW: When they first approached me, I told both Scott and Michael, this it was an absurd premise MK: And disrespectful! DW: I said the film is brilliant. I revere it. Any attempt to translate it for the theatre will make it an exercise … Read more

Ferris and Milnes Announce St James Residency

Cabaret, News, Off West End
Ferris and Milnes

Following their sell out performances at The Pheasantry and a standout performance at 2015’s Sondheim 85th Birthday Gala at Drury Lane, Ferris & Milnes, the musical theatre comedy cabaret performed by Dominic Ferris and Martin Milnes, have been invited to take up creative residency at the St James Theatre Studio. The first show of the St. James Studio residency will be Ferris & Milnes: Live at the St. James – Let’s Go On With The Show!, which will be performed for two nights only, on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January. The production offers an eclectic and vitality-packed musical programme, ranging from the Golden Age of Broadway and Hollywood to current favourites and pop classics, all performed in Ferris & Milnes’ original musical arrangements. The numbers sit alongside Dominic’s and Martin’s unique brand of ‘banteriffic’ comedy, which has always found audiences ‘expecting the unexpected’. Ferris & Milnes will perform further … Read more

Alexandra Burke To Star in Sister Act On Tour

News, Touring
Alexandra Burke stars in Sister Act UK Tour

It was announced today that Alexandra Burke will star as Deloris Van Cartier in the UK National tour of the hit musical comedy Sister Act. Sister Act opens at the Curve Theatre in Leicester on Saturday 30 July 2016 ahead of a national tour. The production is directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood with musical supervision and arrangements by Tony Award-winning Sarah Travis. Craig said “I am truly thrilled that Alexandra is going to be our leading lady in this all new production of Sister Act at Curve. Alexandra is such a fantastic singer and actress that I know she is going to be amazing. I couldn’t think of anyone better to play the role of the smart and funny Deloris.’ Sister Act the musical is based on the smash hit movie which starred Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith and is the story of a disco diva who is … Read more

Shit-faced Shakespeare Hits Leicester Square For 7 Weeks

West End
Shit-faced Shakespeare

Following sell-out runs at the Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe festivals, Magnificent Bastard Productions will be bringing their irreverent hit Shit-faced Shakespeare to London for a seven-week run, their longest London lock-in. Each night, the company will be performing Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with one member of the cast toasting the bard’s 400th anniversary by playing their role completely, blisteringly drunk. Producer and performer Stacey Norris said, “As we lay out the barmats and party hats for the Bard’s 400th anniversary, we’re delighted to be introducing a new generation of theatre goers to Shakespeare with an ale in one hand and a wine in the other and a vodka in the other, just the way he would have wanted. Our livers would like to remind our audiences to always enjoy Shakespeare responsibly” Artistic Director of Leicester Square Theatre Martin Witts said, “For the first time at Leicester Square Theatre we’re … Read more

Shakespeare’s Globe Announces First Season Under Emma Rice

News, Touring, West End
Emma Rice - Artistic Director Shakespeare's Globe

Shakespeare’s Globe today announced Emma Rice’s inaugural season as Artistic Director which will be entitled the Wonder Season. The season will comprise A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming Of The Shrew, Macbeth, 946 The Amazing Story Of Adolphus Tips and Imogen, whilst Jonathan Munby’s The Merchant Of Venice starring Jonathan Pryce will open at the Liverpool Playhouse, tour nationally and internationally and return to the Globe stage in October. The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse will host a touring production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Kneehigh’s The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk. Designer Les Brotherston will install a magical forest which will spill from the piazza onto London’s Bankside welcoming everyone to the Globe’s season of Wonder. A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Emma Rice will play from 30 April – 11 September, Caroline Byrne’s The Taming Of The Shrew will play from 13 May – 6 August, and Macbeth will … Read more

Marilyn Comes To The Park Theatre

News, Off West End
Hello Norma Jeane at Park Theatre

Following a successful run in 2014 at London’s King’s Head Theatre, Hello Norma Jeane by Dylan Costello will be presented at the Park Theatre from 23rd February 2016. It’s Spring 2003 and Essex grandmother Lynnie has escaped her nursing home and fled 5000 miles across the Atlantic to Hollywood, Los Angeles, where she plans to reveal to the world her deepest secret – that she is Marilyn Monroe, alive and well after faking her death decades before. As her gay grandson Joe turns up to take her home, he finds himself embroiled in his grandmother’s scheme, questioning his sanity as he wonders whether he really can be the grandson of Marilyn Monroe. But is Lynnie really Marilyn? Or just a crazy old lady wanted to avoid ending her days alone inside a nursing home? There’s only one way that the truth will be revealed in this funny drama that is … Read more