2024 Olivier Awards: Nicole Scherzinger’s musical ‘Sunset Boulevard’ ties record

“Sunset Boulevard” was the big winner at the Olivier Awards on Sunday, tying the record for most wins by a musical at the ceremony.

The seven awards include Best Musical Revival and Acting for stars Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis.

Other winners included Succession star Sarah Snook, who won Best Actress for her adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Upon accepting the award, Scherzinger said, “I’ve always dreamed of being a singer, wanting to do musicals, and having so many roles I’d like to play.And to be honest, this role, Norma Desmond, is one of those.” It wasn’t the role,” he joked.

“But God works in mysterious ways,” she said, laughing as the audience applauded, “because honestly, this is the bravest, bravest thing I’ve ever done. I’d like to thank Jamie Lloyd, who is an unparalleled director, for that.”

Sunset Boulevard’s seven wins mean it ranks with Cabaret, Matilda and Hamilton for the most trophies in one-night musical history.

Lloyd’s revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical was presented with a monochrome color scheme and minimalist set design.

However, the lack of scenery, color and props did not prevent it from garnering a five-star review from critics, especially Scherzinger, who rose to fame 20 years ago with the girl group Pussycat Dolls. Ta. The musical closed in London in January and will move to Broadway later this year.

Scherzinger’s co-star Francis thanked the security team at the Savoy Theater for “making me feel safe every night.” This is a excerpt from the scene in which Scherzinger leaves the theater and walks out into the streets of London, followed by a video camera.

Sarah Snook, who won an Emmy earlier this year for her performance in HBO’s Succession, continued her winning streak at the Olivier at the Royal Albert Hall.

“It’s an incredible honor to be on stage in the West End,” Snook said in her acceptance speech.

“This is advertised as a one-woman show, but it’s not. My staff are on stage with me every night and they are essential, constant support and inspiration. ”

Throughout the show, Snook is surrounded by stage staff who help with costume and scene changes. The production also utilizes technology, with Snoke using pre-recorded footage to interact with other characters on screen.

One-person shows have been particularly trendy in the West End in recent months, with stars such as Andrew Scott, Jodie Comer and Billy Crudup performing solo.

Another one-man play, Anton Chekhov’s Vanya, starring Andrew Scott, was named Best Revival.

Six months after her death at the age of 66, Haydon Gwynne was named Best Supporting Actress for her performance in When Winston Went to War with Wireless.

The play, written by Jack Thorne, depicts the power struggle between the British government and the BBC in the 1920s. It ran for two months at the Donmar Warehouse last summer.

Her son Orlando Phipps, who accepted the award on her behalf, said: “I really don’t know what my mother would have said if she were here, but it was a lifelong dream of hers to win an Olivier Award, so my mother I will do that,” he said. I was excited.

“She loved the stage more than any other kind of acting. She said that if you finished a show having made one good friend, it was worth it, and she often made many friends.” I did.”

The actress was also known for television shows such as ‘Drop the Dead Donkey’, ‘Peak Practice’, ‘Merseybeat’ and ‘The Windsors’.

The award for best new film went to Dear England, a film about Gareth Southgate and the England football team. Accepting the award, author James Graham joked, “I literally can’t kick a ball. I don’t know why I’m here.”

In his acceptance speech, he thanked the teachers at Nottingham Comprehensive School, adding that he was “very grateful” to them for thinking that “working class kids” should study drama. .

Will Close won the Best Supporting Actor award, thanking his role as footballer Harry Kane and co-star Joseph Fiennes for their “heroes” in the film.

“In Harry’s words, this is really great,” he smiled. The actor dedicated the award to “my mother who passed away due to the coronavirus pandemic,” adding, “I dedicate it to all the single mothers living in municipal housing.”

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was The Motive And The Cue star Mark Gatiss winning Best Actor.

In one of the hottest categories of the night, Gatiss held off competition from the likes of David Tennant, Andrew Scott, James Norton and Joseph Fiennes.

After his name was mispronounced, the actor opened his acceptance speech by saying, “My name is Gatiss, by the way.” “I’ve been saying that for 57 years,” he added, and the audience laughed and applauded.

He described his role as “a part of a lifetime, that’s all I can say about it” and paid tribute to screenwriter Jack Thorne and director Sir Sam Mendes. He thanked her husband, actor and writer Ian Hallard, for “putting up with her cutting her hair for the past two years”.

Other awards for Best New Musical went to Operation Mincemeat, which has been extended several times since moving to the West End due to rave reviews from audiences and critics.

Jack Malone also won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical on the show, thanking his “amazing partner Jasmine and my really handsome dog Dracula.”

“When I was 13, I won the Best Actor award at the Merseyside Theater Festival,” he recalls. “And Nanny Joan jumped up and down so proudly that I had to retrieve glasses from a stranger a few seats back. If Nanny Joan was here tonight, I’d have to rip her off her ceiling. I don’t think so.”

Meanwhile, the award for best new entertainment or comedy went to the Netflix series prequel Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Writer Kate Trefry said the win was “insane” and thanked creators Matt and Ross Duffer and “the fans who were insane”.

Dame Arlene Phillips, who won Best Dramatic Choreography for Guys and Dolls, said: “This is hysterical. I’m 80 now and this is my first Olivier Award,” to a standing ovation from the audience. .

She thanked fellow choreographer James Cousins ​​for helping her by “crawling” on the floor to demonstrate moves when she had knee problems.

Other winners included Amy Trigg, who won Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Little Big Things. “We never dreamed that our little show would turn into something like this. It really meant a lot,” she said.

However, one candidate who did not attend was Hollywood actress Sarah Jessica Parker.

The “Sex and the City” star wrapped up her stint in London’s West End on Saturday night, where she appeared in “The Plaza Suite,” and was expected to fly back to the United States on Sunday. .

Best new drama – Dear England

Best new musical – Operation Mincemeat

Best new entertainment or comedy play – Stranger Things: First Shadow

Best play return – Vanya

Best Musical Revival Award – Sunset Boulevard

best family show – Dinosaur World Live

Best New Opera Award – Innocence by the Royal Opera

Best New Dance Work Award – La Ruta

Best Director Award – Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Boulevard

Best actor in a play – Mark Gatiss, Motivation and Inspiration

Best actress in a play – Sarah Snook, The Portrait of Dorian Gray

Best Actor in a Musical – Tom Francis, Sunset Boulevard

Best Actress in a Musical – Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard

Best Supporting Actor in a Play – We are closing, dear UK.

Best Supporting Actress in a Play – Haydn Gwynne, When Winston Went to War by Radio

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical – Amy Trigg, “Little Big Things”

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical – Jack Malone, Operation Mincemeat

Best theatrical choreographer – Arlene Phillips and James Cousins, Guys and Dolls

Best Costume Design Award – Marg Howell, The Portrait of Dorian Gray

best sound design – Adam Fisher, Sunset Boulevard

best set design – Miriam Buser and 59 Productions, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow”

best lighting design – Jack Knowles, Sunset Boulevard

outstanding achievements in opera – Antonio Pappano praises his role as music director of the Royal Opera House

Achieved excellent results in dance – Isabella Cauchy Performance in NINA: By Whatever Means

Excellent performance at the theater you belong to – Sleepova by Matilda Feyişayo

outstanding musical contribution – Alan Williams, Sunset Boulevard