Friday, March 16, 2012

Matilda the Musical weaves magic over Olivier theatre awards


Stage version of Roald Dahl classic receives 10 nominations, including collective nod for all four actors playing title role

Kerry Ingram in Matilda the Musical
Matilda the Musical star Kerry Ingram has been shortlisted for an Olivier award along with three other girls with whom she shares the title role. Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian
All four of the girls who share the lead role in Matilda the Musical have been jointly named in the best actress in a musical category at the Olivier theatre awards, one of 10 nominations for the show.
Not only did Matilda have more nominations than any other production, it was shortlisted in every possible category.
The shortlists were announced at a central London hotel on Thursday by the actors Roger Allam and Nancy Carroll, recipients last year of the best actor and best actress awards.
In the non-musical categories, comedies picked up the most awards with One Man, Two Guvnors and The Ladykillers getting five each.
But it was Matilda – which started life in Stratford-on-Avon, transferred to the Cambridge theatre in the West End, and is heading to New York next year – that dominated. In the best new musical category it will go up against Shrek the Musical, Ghost the Musical, the National's London Road, which returns this summer, and Betty Blue Eyes, which closed early because not enough people went to see it.
There were also nominations for Matilda in choreography, lighting, set design, costumes, sound and one for its director, Matthew Warchus, who will compete with Sean Foley for The Ladykillers, Nicholas Hytner for One Man, Two Guvnors and Rufus Norris for London Road.
Full story at The Guardian.

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