GAVIN MAYER
Welcome to the official site for Gavin Mayer,
critically acclaimed theatre director.
MORE ABOUT GAVIN
Born and raised in Colorado, Gavin has been working in the theatre since the age of nine. Attending college on an acting scholarship, Gavin earned a BA in Theatre from the University of Wyoming and earned a secondary teaching credential from the University of Northern Colorado. Gavin taught at Pomona High School in Arvada, Colorado for 10 years where he co-founded and coordinated the Pomona Arts and Humanities program. During his high school tenure, Gavin earned an Master of Arts in Directing from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.
Discovering his passion for directing musical theatre, he resigned his high school position and returned to graduate studies and earned an MFA in Directing from The School of Theatre at Florida State.
Upon graduation, Gavin returned to Colorado where he began directing at The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, a LORT B/D theatre in the suburbs of Denver, where he's worked on over 25 productions, including numerous regional and world premieres. He's also enjoyed the great honor of directing at more intimate theatre throughout the Denver area.
Gavin was most recently appointed to the faculty at Itahca College as an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre and Directing. Gavin still travels throughout the year to direct productions.
REVIEWS
What the critics say...
"Under the direction of Gavin Mayer, it's an utterly festive outing rife with performances ranging from deft to guileless." - Miracle on 34th Street
Lisa Kennedy - The Denver Post
"Director Gavin Mayer has pulled out all the stops for John Kander and Fred Ebb's minor musical romp, making it majorly entertaining." - Curtains
Lisa Kennedy - The Denver Post
"…the rising narrative takes a wonderfully theatrical turn — no spoilers — and under Gavin Mayer’s direction, the drama is consistently absorbing." - The Mountaintop
Joanne Ostrow - The Denver Post
"...it’s director Gavin Mayer who’s responsible for the superior casting and hilarious break-neck pacing." - Curtains
David Marlowe
"Director Gavin Mayer perfectly balances the real and the theatrical, the campy and the genuine, the spectacle and the tenderness. Mayer understands that this is musical comedy, and the audience should have fun." - Curtains
North Denver Tribune
"Director Gavin Mayer was excellent in choosing an outstanding cast for this demanding show and his blocking was so effective, especially for such a large cast. I also have to give him props for the natural ease and flow of this musical."
- A Christmas Carol the Musical
Michael Mulhurn - Broadway World
"Director Gavin Mayer has assembled a very strong team to bring this eye-catching production to life." -Disney's Tarzan
Deb Flomberg - AXS
"Director Gavin Mayer has done a great job of continuing The Arvada Center’s reputation for excellence in musical theatre with his superb casting as well as his enlistment of the great technical artists one finds in abundance at this venue." - Disney's Tarzan
David Marlowe
"Director Gavin Mayer knows when to speed things up and slow things down and elicits excellent performances from all. The setting is unique among Christmas shows, and the sense of period is palpable in the comic and serious moments, the music, the characters and the costumes. All of it feels just RIGHT." - I'll Be Home for Christmas
Patrick Dorn - Patrick Dorn Reviews
"Director Gavin Mayer, along with music director, David Nehls and choreographer, Kitty Skillman Hilsabeck keep it all light, fast, fun and frothy." - Legally Blonde
Noah Jordan - 303 Magazine
"Director Gavin Mayer gets every part of White Christmas right, from the patriotic moments to the romantic mischief and the upbeat holiday message." - White Christmas
Bill Wheeler - Theatre Colorado
"Director Gavin Mayer pulls out all the stops with The Mountaintop; the climax is a fitting immersive feast for the senses that pulls the threads of the story together. Working with a great script, a marvelous cast, and the Arvada Center technical staff, Mayer tells a an unforgettable story that respects both King's humility and Katori's vision." - The Mountaintop
Bill Wheeler - Theatre Colorado
DIRECTING RESUME
A Christmas Carol: the Musical Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
Elf: The Musical Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
*Regional Premiere
*Henry Nomination for Best Musical
*Highest Grossing Production in the 40+ Year History of the Theatre ($1.1 Million +)
Joseph…Dreamcoat Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
*Henry Nomination for Best Director of a Musical
*Henry Nomination for Best Musical
*2nd Highest Grossing Production in the 40+ Year History of the Theater ($1Million +)
Baby Dance Cherry Creek Theater – AEA/LOA
I’ll Be Home For Christmas Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
*World Premiere
*Henry Nomination for Best New Work
4000 Miles Cherry Creek Theater – AEA/LOA
The Mountaintop Arvada Center – AEA/LORT D
*Henry Nomination for Best Director of a Play/Best production of a Play
*Regional Premiere
White Christmas Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
*Henry Nomination for Best Director of a Musical
Harvey Arvada Center – AEA/LORT D
She Loves Me Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
*Henry Nomination for Best Musical
Over the River … the Woods Cherry Creek Theater – AEA/LOA
Guys and Dolls: in Concert Lone Tree Arts Center – AEA/SPT
Memphis (Asst. director) Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
*Regional Premiere
Disney’s Tarzan Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
*Broadway World Nomination for Best Director of a Musical
*Regional Premiere
The Great Gatsby Arvada Center – AEA/LORT D
*Regional Premiere
End of the Rainbow (Asst. Director) Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
*Regional Premiere
Christmas Carol: the Musical Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
Curtains Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
*Henry Nomination for Best Director of a Musical
*Henry Nomination for Best Musical
*Regional Premiere
Miracle on 34th Street: the Musical Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Asst. Director) Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
*Regional Premiere
Legally Blonde Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
*True West Award Winner: Best Musical
*True West Theater Award Nomination: Best Director
*Denver Examiner: One of the Top 5 Live Denver Theater Productions 2012
*Regional Premiere
Chess (Asst. Director) Arvada Center – AEA/LORT B
Forever Plaid Post Playhouse – Ft. Robinson, Nebraska
University Productions
-Ithaca College-
Pippin
-University of Nevada, Reno-
Urinetown: The Musical (in production)
Turning Points: A Musical Showcase
-Florida State University-
Jesus Christ Superstar MFA Thesis Production
Bus Stop
Oedipus Complex (Devised)
Random Acts of Violence Workshop Production
The Dangers of Smoking In Conjunction with ACTF
