Theater News

Beautiful and Memphis Lead the Field of 2015 Olivier Award Nominees

London theater’s greatest accolade reveals this season’s contenders.

London
Katie Brayben as Carole King in the Olivier Award-nominated West End production of Beautiful — The Carole King Musical.
Katie Brayben as Carole King in the Olivier Award-nominated West End production of Beautiful — The Carole King Musical.
(© Brinkhoff Moegenburg)

James McAvoy and Lesley Manville hosted this morning's announcement of the 2015 Olivier Award nominees, kicking off the most prestigious event of the West End theater season.

Two Broadway transfers, Memphis The Musical and Beautiful — The Carole King Musical, lead the pack of nominees with nine and eight nominations, respectively. Fatboy Slim and David Byrne also earned their first-ever Olivier nominations for their score to Here Lies Love, the Imelda Marcos bio-musical that premiered at the Public Theater.

Nominees for the This Morning Audience Award, the only Olivier Award voted for by the public, features a roster of productions that have also graced the Great White Way, including Billy Elliot The Musical, Matilda The Musical, Jersey Boys, and Wicked.

The Young Vic meanwhile took away 11 nominations, the most of any single venue, including two Best Revival nominations for A View From the Bridge and A Streetcar Named Desire.

For a complete list of 2015 Olivier Award nominees, visit WhatsOnStage.com here.