BOOK OF MORMON Cleans Up at Norwegian Musical Theatre Awards

By: Christian Ranke Apr. 20, 2018

BOOK OF MORMON Cleans Up at Norwegian Musical Theatre Awards Musical Theatre is unquestionably the most popular form of theatergoing today worldwide. Yet in Norway, granted it being a small country, have had up until now just a handful new productions each year compared to our Scandinavian neighbors. But a small, yet determined, non-profit organization called Norwegian musical theatre forum (MTF) is working hard to educate both the public and the industry on why musical theatre is an art form to be taken seriously.

Annually the organization holds an award ceremony, celebrating both the musical theatre performer, and the best musical from last season. The small but extravagant award night was held on the 9th of April at the Chat Noir theatre in Oslo.

NOMINEES FOR BEST MUSICAL

Les Misérables
Book by Herbert Kretzmer Music and Lyrics by Claude-Michel Schönberg & Alain Boublil
Directed by Per Olav Sørensen
Produced by Scenekvelder / Folketeatret

The Sound of Music
Book by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse, Music and Lyrics by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
Directed by Ivar Tindberg
Produced by Hålogaland Theatre

The Book of Mormon
Book, Music and Lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez & Matt Stone
Directed by Vidar Magnussen
Produced by Det Norske Teatret

Robin Hood - Rai Rai i Sherwood skogen
Book, Music and Lyrics by Mads Bones & Ove Løseth
Directed by Mads Bones
Produced Trøndelag Theatre

The award went, not surprisingly, to The Book of Mormon at Det Norske Teatret. It has become the biggest musical theatre hit in recent years, breaking box office records in ticket sales. The production will move from Oslo to Kristiansand at the Kilden Theatre this spring, but will return to Oslo in the fall, extending the run until spring 2019. This is a non-replica productionand is directed by actor/comedian Vidar Magnussen, making his directorial debut.

BOOK OF MORMON Cleans Up at Norwegian Musical Theatre Awards

BEST MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMER

Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen, Cabaret
Ingebjørg Kosmo, The Sound of Music
Hans Marius Hoff Mittet, Les Misérables
Kristoffer Olsen, The Book of Mormon

BOOK OF MORMON Cleans Up at Norwegian Musical Theatre Awards The award went to Kristoffer Olsen and thus making it a clean slate for the Book of Mormon this year. This is Kristoffer's first MTF award. His most recent award was the Stephen Sondheim Society Performer Of The Year Award back in London in 2012.

The Annual honorary award was given to Britt Langlie, who originated the role of Edith Piaf in Piaf in 1980 at Det Norske Teatret. She also originated the role of Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof in 1968. She was Surprised and very moved by the announcement.

The award show was again hosted by actor/comedian Bjarte Hjelmeland. He had co-written a fantastic opening number detailing the life of a newly graduated musical theatre student and the harsh reality they face when trying to get work. He was spoofing both well-known Norwegian industry personalities and his own 2011 performance in La Cage aux Folles at Den Nationale Scene in Bergen.

The interest for musical theatre in Norway is growing. There are now two institutions providing education for musical theatre performers, so the talent pool is growing. Let's hope many of them get a chance to shine in future productions.