Sunset Boulevard steals the show at WhatsOnStage Awards

It was almost a clean sweep for Sunset Boulevard at the 24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards.

The starry event on Sunday 11 February, held for the first time at the London Palladium, saw Sunset Boulevard run away with seven trophies in total. Jamie Lloyd received Best Director for what Marianka Swain described as ‘an electrifying production that shows us a ruthless Hollywood’. During his acceptance speech, Lloyd described the production as ‘a fever dream that came true’. Leading lady Nicole Scherzinger, who won Best Performer in a Musical for her unflinching portrayal of Norma Desmond, collected her award in a skin-tight black leather dress which almost prevented her from climbing onto the stage. After joking that ‘there are many roles I’ve dreamed of playing – and this isn’t one of them’, she praised Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music as ‘the soundtrack to my soul’ and acknowledged Lloyd’s production for finding ‘new ways to dream’.

Nicole Scherzinger, Winner of Best Performer in a Musical (credit: Roy J Baron)

The production only failed to win two of the categories it had been nominated for: Best Choreography, which rightly went to Matt Cole for Newsies, and Best Musical Revival which, in the big (but welcome) surprise of the night, went to Guys and Dolls, the joyously immersive production that won over Marianka Swain, who wrote in our review for us: ‘Any musical that ends with a dance party is surely doing something right.’ (The show also won two other awards: Best Set Design for Bunny Christie and Best Graphic Design for Muse Creative).

Collecting the Best Musical Revival Award, choreographer Arlene Philips paid tribute to director Nicholas Hytner for creating something ‘real and edgy, so that you hardly know when it was written’, and reminded the audience of the story of a doctor who went to an early performance at the Bridge Theatre and said that the show should be prescribed by the NHS because of its reminder to everyone watching it that ‘life is worth living’.

The Awards were co-hosted by Bonnie Langford and Melanie La Barrie (the latter currently starring in Hadestown), an endearing double-act who riffed off each other and clearly had a blast. Early on, in mock protest to a particularly long acceptance speech, Langford exited the stage and only came back on when it was over. This set the tone for the rest of the evening, with anyone wanting to pay tribute to numerous people beginning their speech with ‘Sorry Bonnie’.

A collective sense of wanting to acknowledge the backstage creatives – from stage management to sound designers to Music Directors – pervaded the evening, with Cabaret’s Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Self Esteem, even begging WhatsOnStage to include a hair, wigs and make-up category next year when she went up with Jake Shears to collect the award for Best West End Show. And when announcing the winner of the Best Musical Direction/Supervision category, Grace Hodgett Young (Sunset, Hadestown) – who then presented the award to her Sunset colleague Alan Williams – stated: ‘MDs are everything.’ MD Simon Lee, meanwhile – who co-presented an award with Tracie Bennett – brought the house down with his opening gambit: ‘My face may not be familiar but my arse is.’

Hodgett Young herself bagged Best Professional Debut Performance for the supporting role of Betty Schaefer in Sunset, and she appeared every bit as humble and genuine as she did when we interviewed her for our ‘Rising Star’ feature (see the current issue of Musicals).

Grace Hodgett Young, Winner of Best Professional Debut Performance (credit: Roy J Baron)

Another recurring theme of the evening was acknowledging the crucial role of the audience – not only because these awards are the only theatre awards in which the audience are the judges, but because, as La Barrie said to conclude the evening, ‘Without audiences, we couldn’t do what we do’.

Many acceptance speeches reminded us of the importance of regional theatre, something that Musicals magazine has always been keenly aware of when commissioning reviews coverage. The Lord of the Rings at The Watermill Theatre won Best Regional Production – a huge achievement particularly considering that, as the creatives acknowledged, it was done ‘on a budget’ as is the case with so much regional theatre. Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, who presented the award, reminded the audience that ‘regional theatre is the lifeblood of this country’, a statement that was greeted with a huge round of applause.

Another performer determined to give the audience food for thought was Operation Mincemeat’s David Cumming who, along with the rest of SpitLip, delightedly romped onto the stage to collect the award of Best New Musical. ‘To all the producers here tonight,’ said Cumming, ‘Go out and find the small new shows. Work with them and help them to grow.’

Aimee Lou Wood, Winner of Best Takeover Performance

Likewise, Jack Wolfe – who, looking dumbfounded, collected the award for Best Supporting Performer in a Musical for Next to Normal, a role he will reprise in the West End this summer – paid tribute to his teacher Sarah Osborne at Wakefield Youth Theatre, where he went to acting classes for £1.50. Without Sarah, he said, he wouldn’t have had the courage to speak in public, let alone perform on the West End stage.

There was a particularly loud cheer when Flowers for Mrs Harris won the award for Best Off-West End Production. Book writer Rachel Wagstaff told the audience that she had become a mother twice over during the time it took from the project to get from page to stage, first in Chichester and then at Riverside Studios – a reminder of how much graft and perseverance is required for anyone creating a new musical. Wagstaff also reinforced how important people like Mrs Harris are – people who show kindness to others, and want to make the world a better place.

Likewise, there could have only been one winner for Best Casting Direction, and when Jill Green collected her award for The Little Big Things, the various cast members in the audience – including Amy Trigg who, earlier in the evening, had presented an award – whooped and hollered. As Scott Matthewman wrote in our review: ‘Any written summary of The Little Big Things can make it sound dry, earnest, worthy. It also may seem as if it’s another in an all-too-long line of treating disabled people who have overcome adversity as pitiable heroes, congratulated for their bravery in belittling ways. It is none of these, and indeed gently mocks such simplistic and demeaning portrayals.’

The evening was peppered with standout performances, opening with ‘We Are What We Are’ from La Cage aux Folles (Regent’s Park) and closing with a sensational tribute to Chita Rivera from Rebecca Locke with the title song of Kiss of the Spider Woman, Emma Kingston with ‘A Boy Like That’ from West Side Story and – to gasps from the audience – the high-kicking, cartwheeling duo of Anna-Jane Casey and Bonnie Langford with the ‘Hot Honey Rag’ from Chicago.

In between, Gina Beck was on glorious form in the title song from The Sound of Music; Jack Wolfe rocked out impressively in ‘I’m Alive’ from Next to Normal; Michael Ahomka-Lindsay blew the roof off the Palladium with ‘Santa Fe’ from Newsies; and Jess Folley, first at the piano and then taking centre stage, riffed her way astonishingly through a brand new song from the forthcoming show Burlesque. And let’s not forget Rosalie Craig’s glorious 'Being Alive' from Company; Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell with ‘Move On’ from Sunday in the Park with George; Ramin Karimloo with ‘Till I Hear You Sing’ from Love Never Dies; and Tracie Bennett owning the stage with her acclaimed portrayal of Judy Garland in ‘Come Rain or Come Shine’ from End of the Rainbow – plus a whole lot more!

It was a glorious celebration of Musical Theatre (and theatre), and we send our heartfelt congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

The full list of nominees and winners (in bold) are as follows:

Best Performer in a Musical – sponsored by TickX

– Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
– Natasha Hodgson, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
– Ed Larkin, The Little Big Things, @sohoplace
– Caissie Levy, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
– Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
– Marisha Wallace, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre

Best Supporting Performer in a Musical – sponsored by Newman Displays

– Aynrand Ferrer, Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible
– Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
– Jason Manford, The Wizard of Oz, The London Palladium
– Cedric Neal, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre
– Amy Trigg, The Little Big Things, @sohoplace
– Jack Wolfe, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse

Best Performer in a Play – sponsored by Sine Digital

– Paapa Essiedu, The Effect, National Theatre
– Joseph Fiennes, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
– James Norton, A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre / Savoy Theatre
– Taylor Russell, The Effect, National Theatre
– Andrew Scott, VANYA, Duke of York’s Theatre
– Sheridan Smith, Shirley Valentine, Duke of York’s Theatre

Best Supporting Performer in a Play

– Michele Austin, The Effect, National Theatre
– Will Close, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
– Bryony Corrigan, I, Daniel Blake, UK tour
– Luke Thompson, A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre / Savoy Theatre
– Zubin Varla, A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre / Savoy Theatre
– Anjana Vasan, A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre / Phoenix Theatre

Best Takeover Performance – sponsored by AKT London

– Karis Anderson, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre
– Cory English, Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre
– Mason Alexander Park, Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
– Lucy St. Louis, Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre
– Rebecca Lucy Taylor, Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
– Aimee Lou Wood, Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

Best Professional Debut Performance – sponsored by AKA

– Rita Bernard-Shaw, Trouble in Butetown, Donmar Warehouse
– Laura Dawkes, Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
– Lou Henry, SIX, UK tour
– Grace Hodgett Young, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
– Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
– Andrew Richardson, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre

Best New Musical – sponsored by Travelzoo

– Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman and book by Harvey Fierstein
– The Little Big Things, @sohoplace, with music by Nick Butcher, lyrics by Nick Butcher and Tom Ling, and book by Joe White
– Mrs Doubtfire, Shaftesbury Theatre, with music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, and book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell
– Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse, with music by Tom Kitt, and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey
– Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre, with music, book and lyrics by SpitLip, composed of David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts
– The Time Traveller’s Wife, Apollo Theatre, with music and lyrics by Joss Stone and Dave Stewart, book by Lauren Gunderson and additional lyrics by Kait Kerrigan

Best Musical Revival – sponsored by Concord Theatricals

– Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre
– La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
– The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre
– The Sound of Music, Chichester Festival Theatre
– Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
– The Wizard of Oz, Curve, Leicester / The London Palladium

Best New Play – sponsored by Ticketmaster

– A Little Life, Harold Pinter Theatre / Savoy Theatre, adapted by Koen Tachelet, Ivo van Hove and Hanya Yanagihara
– Cowbois, Swan Theatre, written by Charlie Josephine
– Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre, written by James Graham
– Hamnet, Swan Theatre / Garrick Theatre, by Lolita Chakrabarti
– The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre, by Jack Thorne
– Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre, by Kate Trefry with original story by Jack Thorne, Kate Trefry and the Duffer Brothers

Best Play Revival – sponsored by Edwardian Hotels London – Official Hotel Partner

– A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre / Phoenix Theatre
– The Effect, National Theatre
– The Merchant of Venice 1936, UK tour
– The Pillowman, Duke of York’s Theatre
– Shirley Valentine, Duke of York’s Theatre
– VANYA, Duke of York’s Theatre

Best West End Show – sponsored by Dewynters

– Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre
– Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
– Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre
– Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre
– The Phantom of the Opera, His Majesty’s Theatre
– SIX, Vaudeville Theatre

Best Regional Production – sponsored by Music Theatre International

– Boys from the Blackstuff, Royal Court, Liverpool
– Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic
– In Dreams, Leeds Playhouse
– The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre
– Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible
– To Wong Foo The Musical, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

Best Off-West End Production – sponsored by Theatrical Rights Worldwide

– Flowers for Mrs Harris, Riverside Studios
– George Takei’s Allegiance, Charing Cross Theatre
– Othello, Riverside Studios
– Rebecca, Charing Cross Theatre
– Scouts! The Musical, The Other Palace Studio
– The Shape of Things, Park Theatre

Best Concert Event

– Ariana DeBose in Concert, The London Palladium
– Darren Criss, The London Palladium
– Evita in Concert, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
– Love Never Dies in Concert, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
– Once: In Concert, The London Palladium
– Schwartz at 75, Lyric Theatre

Best Direction – sponsored by LOVEtheatre

– Polly Findlay, Assassins, Chichester Festival Theatre
– Rebecca Frecknall, A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida Theatre / Phoenix Theatre
– Rupert Goold, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
– Nicholas Hytner, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre
– Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
– Sam Mendes, The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre

Best Musical Direction/Supervision

– Mark Aspinall and Sioned Saunders, The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre
– Nick Barstow and Nigel Lilley, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
– Cat Beveridge and Nigel Lilley, The Witches, National Theatre
– Tom Brady, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre
– Stephen Brooker, Alfonso Casado Trigo and Stephen Metcalfe, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, Gielgud Theatre
– Alan Williams, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre

Best Casting Direction

– Alastair Coomer and Naomi Downham, The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre
– Anna Cooper, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse
– Jill Green, The Little Big Things, @sohoplace
– Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
– Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, The Witches, National Theatre
– Jessica Ronane, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre

Best Choreography – sponsored by Tandem Marketing

– Fabian Aloise, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
– Matt Cole, Disney’s Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
– Ellen Kane and Hannes Langolf, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
– Stephen Mear, La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
– Arlene Phillips with James Cousins, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre
– Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, Free Your Mind, Factory International

Best Costume Design

– Bunny Christie and Deborah Andrews, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre
– Lizzie Clachan, The Witches, National Theatre
– Ryan Dawson Laight, La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
– Gregory Gale, To Wong Foo The Musical, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
– Gareth Pugh, Free Your Mind, Factory International
– Grace Smart, Cowbois, Swan Theatre

Best Lighting Design – sponsored by White Light

– Rory Beaton and Lucy Carter, The Time Traveller’s Wife, Apollo Theatre
– Jon Clark, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
– Jon Clark, The Effect, National Theatre
– Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
– Paule Constable, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre
– Jack Knowles, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre

Best Set Design – sponsored by Preevue

– Miriam Buether, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
– Bunny Christie, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre
– Lizzie Clachan, Assassins, Chichester Festival Theatre
– Lizzie Clachan, The Witches, National Theatre
– Chloe Lamford, Phaedra, National Theatre
– Morgan Large, Disney’s Newsies, Wembley Troubadour Park Theatre

Best Sound Design

– Paul Arditti, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre
– Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
– Dan Balfour and Tom Gibbons, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
– Adam Fisher, The Lord of the Rings, The Watermill Theatre
– Adam Fisher, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
– Tony Gayle, Next to Normal, Donmar Warehouse

Best Video Design – sponsored by GDL

– 59 Productions, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
– Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre
– Andrzej Goulding, Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible
– Andrzej Goulding, The Time Traveller’s Wife, Apollo Theatre
– Ash J Woodward, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre
– Ash J Woodward, The Witches, National Theatre

Best Graphic Design – sponsored by Hexagon Print

– Bob King Creative, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
– Muse Creative, Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre
– Jeremy Coysten and North Design, Free Your Mind, Factory International
– The Creative Partnership, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
– Feast Creative, La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
– Rick Guest, Rob Rae and the NT Graphics Studio, Dear England, National Theatre / Prince Edward Theatre