1. Whoever or whatever was nominated, there would be many people who disagreed as much as those who agreed as personal opinions will vary dramatically. It's the nature of the beast known as "awards".
2. The most notable omission in my personal biased opinion was that WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN was not nominated as Best Musical. I thought it was fantastic.
3. SO pleased that at last there are separate awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress in a musical, while still perplexed that there is still no separate award for Best Director of a Musical - directing a musical is a different discipline to directing a play.
4. Over the moon to see Killian Donnelly nominated as Best Actor in a Musical - it's a phenomenal performance!
5. If Haydn Gwynne does not win as Best Actress in a Supporting role in a Musical, there is no God lol
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
"SO pleased that at last there are separate awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress in a musical, while still perplexed that there is still no separate award for Best Director of a Musical - directing a musical is a different discipline to directing a play."
Exactly! Had there been a separate category for Director of a Musical, who else would've been nominated? Christopher Ashley-Memphis? Marc Bruni-Beautiful: The Carole King Musical? Laurence Conner-Miss Saigon?
Front runner for actor in a play is probably very hard to say. Pigott-Smith received raves. Richard Armitage received raves and some felt he redefined the role. McAvoy has received more accolades than the show he is in.
Would the Nationals' MAN & SUPERMAN have been up for consideration in THIS years' Oliviers? I only ask because Ralph Fiennes had such consistent raves right across the board that I would at least have expected him to have been up for Best Actor. I realise not everybody can be nominated of course, and I haven't even seen it yet, but it does strike me that one might have expected an undeniably big star in an epic role for which he has received uniformly fabulous notices to have been in there. I've seen the nominees in this category and, for me, Armitage was fine but not spectacular, Pigott-Smith was brilliant in an ensemble piece (despite the title), while McAvoy and Strong give tour de force performances. Would be thrilled if either of those got it.
Old Vic production of The Crucible was a masterpiece and one of my most thrilling theatrical experiences so I'd be overjoyed to see it winning Best Revival. But I agree with ajh, Armitage was good but definitely not the best actor of the season.
I think Angela will win Best Supporting actress, the Olivier is basically the only major award she never won... and I'd love Gillian Andersen to pick up best actress.
I agree about Urinetown - brilliant show, superbly directed and full of fantastic performances!
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
The Scottsboro Boys was not eligible for nomination this year for Best New Musical as it was nominated last year (while at the Young Vic). I agree it's a fantastic show - in fact I thought it should have WON the Olivier last year!
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
I'm also surprised Eva Nobledaza was not nominated for best actress in a musical. When I saw her in the show last year I thought to myself, well she's easily bagged the Olivier for best actress in a musical - how wrong was I?
Re: the Scottsboro eligibility-- so the show wasn't eligible, but the actors were? Would the director or any other aspects have been or just the actors? Even so just one nom is not enough!
I'm guessing that Brandon Victor Dixon is eligible this year because he was not in the production at the Young Vic so would not have been eligible for nomination last year as the creative team & other cast members were. Scottsboro Boys received 6 nominations in all in 2014.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
I think actors are eligible for a nomination if they take over a role. Joanna Riding won best actress in a musical several years ago for My Fair Lady when she took over from Martine McCutcheon (who won it the previous year for the same show). I think Alex Jennings also won for My Fair Lady the same year as Joanna Riding and he'd taken over from Jonathan Pryce.
Now I've seen Katie Brayben in Beautiful she has got to be a very strong contender for best actress in a musical and the show itself deserves best new musical too.
And now I've seen Beverley Knight in Memphis so it's going to be a tough battle. If Killian Donnelly doesn't win best actor in a musical then there is no justice - AMAZING!!!!!!
Would the Nationals' MAN & SUPERMAN have been up for consideration in THIS years' Oliviers? I only ask because Ralph Fiennes had such consistent raves right across the board that I would at least have expected him to have been up for Best Actor.
This got me curious, so I looked it up. The eligibility period ended on February 25. M&S began previews on February 17 and opened on February 25. Maybe they cut it too close?
McAvoy and Strong give tour de force performances. Would be thrilled if either of those got it.
McAvoy and Strong are the only Best Actor nominees I saw this year. While I'm always biased towards James (who I thought was brilliant), I agree that Strong was terrific and worthy of the win. View had better overall reviews, yes? That and its seven nominations (to one for Ruling Class) lead me to believe that -- performances aside -- Strong has the edge if it comes down to the two of them. Ruling Class didn't even get a Best Revival nomination (as the Lloyd/McAvoy Macbeth did back in 2013).
Too bad about the Menier. I really enjoyed Assassins.
And -- while I saw it in NYC, not London -- I was happy to see some love for Here Lies Love <3
I found myself annoyed at the nominations then remembered that they have little more credibility than the plethora of pretend awards that do the round in British theatre.
I don't understand a short list that thinks Josie Rourke's dull, pedestrian and frankly amateur direction of a musical (City of Angels) warrants a nomination for Best Director (Play or Musical) and Alex Timbers innovative work on Here Lies Love is overlooked.
Re Urinetown. The transfer was overdone and flawed. Presumably why excluded.
Most of the other categories remind me just what a dull year the West End has had for revivals and new musicals. Thank god for the Fringe.
I thought that the production of City Of Angels is one of the best productions of any show I have seen anywhere in many years! Stunning in every possible way! (Just proves that anything to do with awards & nominations is purely personal opinion.....)
Though I do also thank God for the Fringe!
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***