Theater News

2007 Laurence Olivier Award Winners Are Announced

Miranda Colchester and Rufus Sewell
in Rock 'n' Roll
(© Johan Persson)
Miranda Colchester and Rufus Sewell
in Rock ‘n’ Roll
(© Johan Persson)

The winners of the 2007 Laurence Olivier Awards, honoring the best of London theater, were announced today in London.

The Menier Chocolate Factory’s revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Sunday in the Park With George was the evening’s big winner with five awards, including Outstanding Musical Production. Daniel Evans was named Best Actor in a Musical and Jenna Russell was named Best Actress in a Musical; the production also won for Best Set Design and Best Lighting Design. According to published reports, the Roundabout Theatre Company may present the production at Studio 54 next season.

In other musical categories, Caroline, or Change, written by Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori, was named Best New Musical. The revival of Cabaret at the Lyric earned awards for Sheila Hancock as Best Supporting Performance in a Musical and Javier De Frutos for Best Theatre Choreography.

David Harrower’s Blackbird was named Best New Play; it will be presented next month at Manhattan Theatre Club starring Jeff Daniels and Alison Pill. The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible was named Best Revival, and The 39 Steps was named Best Comedy.

Rufus Sewell was named Best Actor for Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n Roll, which is due on Broadway in October. No announcement has been made on whether Sewell will recreate his role. Tasmin Grieg was named Best Actress for Much Ado About Nothing, and Jim Norton won the award for Best Supporting Performance for The Seafarer. Dominic Cooke was named Best Director for The Crucible. The award for Best Costume Design went to Alison Chitty for The Voysey Inheritance and Best Sound Design was awarded to Gareth Fry for Waves.

For a complete list of nominees and winners, visit www.whatsonstage.com.