The 40th anniversary Olivier Awards, which took place on 3 April at the Royal Opera House, London, were again a momentous occasion. Broadway musicals Kinky Boots and In the Heights took three wins each, and the classic musical Gypsy won four awards, the most of any single production. Kinky Boots won the accolade of Best New Musical, and its star Matt Henry was named Best Actor in a Musical. In the Heights saw a much deserved award to choreographer Drew McOnie for his work on the production.
The ceremony, one of the stagiest events of the year in the UK, featured extracts from all the shows nominated for Best Musical and Best Musical Revival, in addition to a finale of “What I Did for Love?” from A Chorus Line, the show that won Best Musical in 1976, and performed by past winners that included Maria Friedman, Joanna Riding, Leanne Jones, Jill Halfpenny and Lesley Mackie.
Next year’s ceremony will take place on 9 April at the new venue of the Royal Albert Hall. Additional nominations and winners on the night included:
Best Entertainment and Family
Alice’s Adventures Underground at The Vaults
Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax at The Old Vic
I Want My Hat Back at National Theatre, Temporary Theatre
Peter Pan at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
WINNER – Showstopper! The Improvised Musical at Apollo Theatre
Best New Dance Production
He Who Falls (Celui Qui Tombe) by Compagnie Yoann Bourgeois at the Barbican
Romeo Et Juliette by Les Ballets de Monte Carlo at London Coliseum
WINNER – Woolf Works by Wayne McGregor at Royal Opera House
Outstanding Achievement in Dance
WINNER – Alessandra Ferri for her performances in Chéri and Woolf Works at Royal Opera House
Javier De Frutos for his choreography of Anatomy Of A Passing Cloud at the Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House
Sasha Waltz for her choreography of Sacre at Sadler’s Wells
Best Theatre Choreographer
Carlos Acosta and Andrew Wright for Guys And Dolls at Savoy Theatre
WINNER – Drew McOnie for In The Heights at King’s Cross Theatre
Stephen Mear for Gypsy at Savoy Theatre
Jerry Mitchell for Kinky Boots at Adelphi Theatre
Best Musical Revival
Bugsy Malone at Lyric Hammersmith
Guys And Dolls at Savoy Theatre
WINNER – Gypsy at Savoy Theatre
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Best Actor in a Musical
Ian Bartholomew for Mrs Henderson Presents at Noël Coward Theatre
Killian Donnelly for Kinky Boots at Adelphi Theatre
David Haig for Guys And Dolls at Savoy Theatre
WINNER – Matt Henry for Kinky Boots at Adelphi Theatre
Jamie Parker for Guys And Dolls at Savoy Theatre
Best Actress in a Musical
Tracie Bennett for Mrs Henderson Presents at Noël Coward Theatre
Natalie Dew for Bend It Like Beckham at Phoenix Theatre
Laura Pitt-Pulford for Seven Brides For Seven Brothers at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
WINNER – Imelda Staunton for Gypsy at Savoy Theatre
Sophie Thompson for Guys And Dolls at Savoy Theatre
MasterCard Best New Musical
Bend It Like Beckham at Phoenix Theatre
WINNER – In the Heights at King’s Cross Theatre
Kinky Boots at Adelphi Theatre
Mrs. Henderson Presents at Noël Coward Theatre