'Hamilton' breaks another record: Most Olivier Award nominations ever
“Hamilton” has become the most-nominated production in the history of the Olivier Awards, Britain’s equivalent of the Tonys. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical about American founding father Alexander Hamilton landed 13 nominations, including one for best new musical, one for best director, and six in the acting categories.
The record nominations haul, announced Tuesday, pushes “Hamilton” past “Harry Potter and The Cursed Child” and “Hairspray” as the most-nominated play in Olivier history. The much-anticipated musical opened in London’s West End in December and has been playing to sold-out audiences. The Broadway production earned a record 16 Tony nods and won 11 awards, just shy of the record of 12.
“The Ferryman” received the most Olivier nominations for a straight play, with eight. Written by Jez Butterworth, the creator of “Jerusalem,” the play is set to transfer to Broadway.
The best actor category sees three big names receive their first Olivier nods: Paddy Considine, Bryan Cranston and Andrew Garfield, for their star turns in “The Ferryman,” “Network” and “Angels in America” respectively.
Laura Donnelly and Audra McDonald receive maiden nominations for their performances in “The Ferryman” and “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill,” respectively, in a best-actress category that also includes Lesley Manville, for “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” and multiple Olivier winner Imelda Staunton, for a revival of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
“This year’s Olivier nominations reflect a strong and exciting performing arts scene in the U.K. with fresh, new work coming to the fore,” said Julian Bird, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre and executive producer of the Olivier Awards. “It is wonderful to see so many first-time nominees, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to this celebratory occasion.”
Elaine Paige and Alexandra Burke unveiled the nominations in London. Comedian and actress Catherine Tate will host the awards ceremony, which will take place at London’s Royal Albert Hall on April 8.
More follows, complete list of nominations below.
AMERICAN AIRLINES BEST NEW PLAY
“The Ferryman” at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
“Ink” at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
“Network” at National Theatre – Lyttelton
“Oslo” at Harold Pinter Theatre
MASTERCARD BEST NEW MUSICAL
“An American in Paris” at Dominion Theatre
“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” at Apollo Theatre
“Girl From the North Country” at The Old Vic
“Hamilton” at Victoria Palace Theatre
“Young Frankenstein” at Garrick Theatre
BEST DIRECTOR
Dominic Cooke for “Follies” at National Theatre – Olivier
Marianne Elliott for “Angels in America” at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Rupert Goold for “Ink” at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
Thomas Kail for “Hamilton” at Victoria Palace Theatre
Sam Mendes for “The Ferryman” at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
BEST ACTOR
Paddy Considine for “The Ferryman” at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Bryan Cranston for “Network” at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Andrew Garfield for “Angels in America” at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Andrew Scott for “Hamlet” at Almeida Theatre
BEST ACTRESS
Laura Donnelly for “The Ferryman” at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Lesley Manville for “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” at Wyndham’s Theatre
Audra McDonald for “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill” at Wyndham’s Theatre
Imelda Staunton for “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” at Harold Pinter Theatre
BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Ciarán Hinds for “Girl From the North Country” at The Old Vic
John McCrea for “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” at Apollo Theatre
Giles Terera for “Hamilton” at Victoria Palace Theatre
Jamael Westman for “Hamilton” at Victoria Palace Theatre
BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Janie Dee for “Follies” at National Theatre – Olivier
Shirley Henderson for “Girl From the North Country” at The Old Vic
Imelda Staunton for “Follies” at National Theatre – Olivier
Josie Walker for “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” at Apollo Theatre
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Michael Jibson for “Hamilton” at Victoria Palace Theatre
Ross Noble for “Young Frankenstein” at Garrick Theatre
Jason Pennycooke for “Hamilton” at Victoria Palace Theatre
Cleve September for “Hamilton” at Victoria Palace Theatre
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Sheila Atim for “Girl From the North Country” at The Old Vic
Tracie Bennett for “Follies” at National Theatre – Olivier
Rachel John for “Hamilton” at Victoria Palace Theatre
Lesley Joseph for “Young Frankenstein” at Garrick Theatre
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC
“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” – Music and Orchestrations by Dan Gillespie Sells, his debut as a musical theatre composer and orchestrator at Apollo Theatre
“Follies” – The Orchestra, under the Music Supervision of Nicholas Skilbeck and Music Director Nigel Lilley at National Theatre – Olivier
“Girl From the North Country” – Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan, Original Orchestrations & Arrangements by Simon Hale at The Old Vic
“Hamilton” – Composer-Lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda at Victoria Palace Theatre
BEST NEW DANCE PRODUCTION
“Flight Pattern” by Crystal Pite at Royal Opera House
“Goat” by Ben Duke for Rambert Dance Company at Sadler’s Wells
“Grand Finale” by Hofesh Shechter at Sadler’s Wells
“Tree of Codes” by Wayne McGregor and The Paris Opera Ballet at Sadler’s Wells
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DANCE
Rocío Molina for pushing the boundary of flamenco in “Fallen From Heaven (Caída del Cielo)” at Barbican Theatre
Francesca Velicu for her performance in English National Ballet’s production of Pina Bausch’s “Le Sacre du Printemps” at Sadler’s Wells
Zenaida Yanowsky for her performance in Liam Scarlett’s “Symphonic Dances” at Royal Opera House
BEST ENTERTAINMENT AND FAMILY
“David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny” at Garrick Theatre
“Derren Brown: Underground” at Playhouse Theatre
“Dick Whittington” at London Palladium
“Five Guys Named Moe” at Marble Arch Theatre
BEST THEATRE CHOREOGRAPHER
Andy Blankenbuehler for “Hamilton” at Victoria Palace Theatre
Bill Deamer for “Follies” at National Theatre – Olivier
Kate Prince for “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” at Apollo Theatre
Randy Skinner for “42nd Street” at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Christopher Wheeldon for “An American in Paris” at Dominion Theatre
MAGIC RADIO BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL
“42nd Street” at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
“Follies” at National Theatre – Olivier
“On the Town” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
BEST REVIVAL
Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Hamlet at Almeida Theatre
Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? at Harold Pinter Theatre
Witness For The Prosecution at London County Hall
BEST NEW COMEDY
Dry Powder at Hampstead Theatre
Labour Of Love at Noël Coward Theatre
Mischief Movie Night at Arts Theatre
The Miser at Garrick Theatre
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN AFFILIATE THEATRE
The B*easts at Bush Theatre
Killology at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
The Red Lion at Trafalgar Studios 2
The Revlon Girl at Park Theatre
WHITE LIGHT AWARD FOR BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Howell Binkley for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Paule Constable for Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Paule Constable for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
Jan Versweyveld for Network at National Theatre – Lyttelton
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Tom Gibbons for Hamlet at Almeida Theatre
Gareth Owen for Bat Out Of Hell The Musical at London Coliseum
Eric Sleichim for Network at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Nevin Steinberg for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Hugh Durrant for Dick Whittington at London Palladium
Roger Kirk for 42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Vicki Mortimer for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
Paul Tazewell for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
BLUE-I THEATRE TECHNOLOGY AWARD FOR BEST SET DESIGN
Bunny Christie for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
Bob Crowley and 59 Productions for An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre
Rob Howell for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Vicki Mortimer for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Bertie Carvel for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York’s Theatre
John Hodgkinson for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
James McArdle for Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Peter Polycarpou for Oslo at Harold Pinter Theatre
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Bríd Brennan for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Denise Gough for Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Dearbhla Molloy for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Imogen Poots for Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? at Harold Pinter Theatre
BEST NEW OPERA PRODUCTION
La Bohème at Trafalgar Studios 2
The Exterminating Angel at Royal Opera House
Semiramide at Royal Opera House
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN OPERA
Paul Brown for his set and costume designs for Iolanthe at London Coliseum
Joyce DiDonato and Daniela Barcellona for their performances in Semiramide at Royal Opera House
Roderick Williams for his performance in The Royal Opera’s The Return Of Ulysses at the Roundhouse
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