[NEohioPAL] Don Mayo - Obituary

[John Buck, Jr.]

We just received word of Don Mayo's death in Chicago last December.  Don
worked at the Great Lakes Theater Festival and was an actor with the first
production of their A Christmas Carol in 1989..  He was a nice fellow and a
good actor.  Here is the obit from www.PlayBill.com:

 

Don Mayo, Stage Actor of Chicago and New York, Dies at 49

By  <mailto:rsimonson at playbill.com> Robert Simonson
10 Dec 2009 



Don Mayo, a barrel-chested actor who put his commanding presence and deep
bass voice to good use on the stages of Chicago and New York, died on Dec.
4. He was 49.

Mr. Mayo had battled with a degenerative brain disease. He died in Chicago,
in hospice care. 

Educated from Loyola University of Chicago with a B.A. degree in theatre and
communications, his career began in the Windy City. He showed initiative
even while still a student. During his senior year, when a teacher from
another school needed a group of actors to perform at a special program, Mr.
Mayo saw an opportunity, and along with several friends, started Mecca
Performing Arts Troupe. This acting troupe performed for three years during
the Christmas holiday season on the children's theatre circuit. 

Immediately after college, he starred in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. His other
Chicago credits included The Frogs, Pacific Overtures and Ain't Misbehavin'.
After getting a call from the Public Theater, he moved to New York City in
1989. 

Broadway credits included the The Scarlet Pimpernel and the 2002 revival of
Man of La Mancha. Off-Broadway, he appeared in the City Center Encores!
production of Pardon My English; Drama Dept.'s The Torchbearers; New York
Shakespeare Festival's The Taming of the Shrew and Much Ado about Nothing;
Vineyard Theatre's Christina Alberta's Father and many more. In many roles,
he displayed a peacock-like relish in taking the stage, throwing his voice
and body around, and rarely fading into the background. 

His regional performances included roles at Virginia Stage Company, Seattle
Repertory, Alliance Theatre, Philadelphia Drama Guild, Shakespeare Theatre
of New Jersey, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Hartford Stage and Sacramento
Music Circus. 

He served on the board of directors of New York Classical Theatre for ten
years, performed in three of their productions and directed and conceived,
along with friend and composer Al McCabe, their popular annual event
"Classics in Jazz." 

He is survived by his mother, Janice Mayo, his sister, Kim Mayo-Berger, and
a host of other relatives and friends. 

 

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