'Hamilton' Earns Record Number of Olivier Award Nominations
Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical scored 13 nominations, more than any other production in the Olivier's history.

Hamilton's record breaking has continued across the Atlantic, with Lin-Manuel Miranda's revolutionary musical on Tuesday earning 13 nominations for the U.K.'s Olivier Awards, the most for any production in the London theater honors' history.
The production — which opened in December at the West End's Victoria Palace Theater, where it's playing to sell-out houses — came away as the frontrunner for best new musical, also chalking up best actor nods for both Jamael Westman as Alexander Hamilton and Giles Terera as his adversary, Aaron Burr. Miranda himself bagged a nomination in the outstanding achievement in music category.
While the robust London showing fell short of Hamilton's history-making 16 Tony nominations, the musical also scored three supporting actor and one supporting actress mentions, plus nominations for direction, theater choreography, lighting, costumes and sound.
Jez Butterworth's Northern Ireland-set The Ferryman led the new play contenders with eight nominations, including best direction for Sam Mendes and best actor for Paddy Considine. The production, which originated at the Royal Court before transferring to the West End, will open on Broadway in the fall.
The National Theatre revival of Tony Kushner's Angels in America, which is currently in previews on Broadway for a March 25 opening, also fared well with six nominations. Those include one for lead actor Andrew Garfield, who has transferred with the production to New York, along with much of the London cast.
Other notable nominations included Bryan Cranston (Network) and Andrew Scott (Hamlet), who join Garfield and Considine in the best actor in a play category, plus recent Oscar nominee Lesley Manville (Long Day's Journey into Night), up for best actress in a play alongside Laura Donnelly (The Ferryman), Imelda Staunton (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) and Audra McDonald (Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill).
Among musical productions that scored multiple nominations in Hamilton's shadow is the National Theatre's revival of Follies with 10, including a second this year for five-time previous Olivier winner Staunton as best actress. The Old Vic's premiere of Conor McPherson's Girl From the North Country, which features a score of Bob Dylan classics, earned five nominations, including lead acting slots for Ciaran Hinds and Shirley Henderson. That production has been widely tipped for a Broadway transfer next season. Also landing five noms was the popular hit Everybody's Talking About Jamie, an uplifting musical that began life at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, inspired by the real-life story of a gay 16-year-old boy determined to wear a dress to his school prom.
In the nonmusical stakes, the four nominations for director Ivo van Hove's reimagining of Network at the National should fuel ongoing speculation as to whether that media satire will make the jump to Broadway; much no doubt depends on Cranston's willingness to take on the physically and emotionally demanding role of unhinged newscaster Howard Beale for eight performances a week. Cranston won a lead actor in a play Tony Award in 2014, as President Lyndon Baines Johnson in All the Way.
Also earning four noms was Ink, playwright James Graham and director Rupert Goold's bracing ride through the early days in the late 1960s of Rupert Murdoch's reign on Fleet Street, when the Australian tycoon secured a foothold in the British press by buying and reinventing failing tabloid The Sun. That hit production premiered at the Almeida Theatre before transferring to the West End. Its nominations included one for actor Bertie Carvel as Murdoch.
Competing alongside The Ferryman, Network and Ink for best new play honors is J.T. Rogers' political drama Oslo, last year's Tony winner for best play, which transferred to a sold-out run at the National and from there to the West End. Rogers currently is penning a screenplay based on the work, with Marc Platt attached to produce the film adaptation and original stage helmer Bartlett Sher on board to make his feature directing debut.
The Olivier Awards will be held at the Royal Albert Hall on April 8, in a ceremony hosted by Catherine Tate.
See the full list of nominations below.
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Best New Musical
'Hamilton'Dave Benett/Getty ImagesHamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre - WINNER
An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre
Everybody's Talking About Jamie at Apollo Theatre
Girl From the North Country at The Old Vic
Young Frankenstein at Garrick Theatre
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Best New Play
Laura Donnelly and Paddy Considine in 'The Ferryman'Courtesy of Johan PerssonThe Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre - WINNER
Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York's Theatre
Network at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Oslo at Harold Pinter Theatre
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Best Musical Revival
'Follies'Courtesy of Johan PerssonFollies at National Theatre – Olivier - WINNER
42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
On The Town at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
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Best Play Revival
'Angels in America'Helen MaybanksAngels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton - WINNER
Hamlet at Almeida Theatre
Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? at Harold Pinter Theatre
Witness For The Prosecution at London County Hall
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Best New Comedy
'Labour of Love'Johan PerssonLabour Of Love at Noel Coward Theatre - WINNER
Dry Powder at Hampstead Theatre
Mischief Movie Night at Arts Theatre
The Miser at Garrick Theatre
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Best Actor in a Musical
'Hamilton'Courtesy of Matthew MurphyGiles Terera for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre - WINNER
Ciaran Hinds for Girl From the North Country at The Old Vic
John McCrea for Everybody's Talking About Jamie at Apollo Theatre
Jamael Westman for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
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Best Actress in a Musical
From left: Sheila Atim and Shirley Henderson in 'Girl from the North Country'Courtesy of Manuel HarlanShirley Henderson for Girl From the North Country at The Old Vic - WINNER
Janie Dee for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
Imelda Staunton for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
Josie Walker for Everybody's Talking About Jamie at Apollo Theatre
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Best Actor in a Play
Bryan Cranston in 'Network'Courtesy of Jan VersweyveldBryan Cranston for Network at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Paddy Considine for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Andrew Garfield for Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Andrew Scott for Hamlet at Almeida Theatre
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Best Actress in a Play
'The Ferryman'Courtesy of Johan PerssonLaura Donnelly for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre - WINNER
Lesley Manville for Long Day's Journey Into Night at Wyndham’s Theatre
Audra McDonald for Lady Day At Emerson's Bar & Grill at Wyndham's Theatre
Imelda Staunton for Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? at Harold Pinter Theatre
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Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Michael Jibson in 'Hamilton'Courtesy of Matthew MurphyMichael Jibson for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre - WINNER
Ross Noble for Young Frankenstein at Garrick Theatre
Jason Pennycooke for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Cleve September for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
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Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
'Girl from the North Country'Courtesy of Manuel HarlanSheila Atim for Girl From the North Country at The Old Vic - WINNER
Tracie Bennett for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
Rachel John for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Lesley Joseph for Young Frankenstein at Garrick Theatre
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Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play
From left: Bertie Carvel, Geoffrey Freshwater and Richard Coyle in 'Ink'Courtesy PhotoBertie Carvel for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York's Theatre - WINNER
John Hodgkinson for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
James McArdle for Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Peter Polycarpou for Oslo at Harold Pinter Theatre
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Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play
Denise Gough in 'Angels in America'Helen MaybanksDenise Gough for Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton m - WINNER
Bríd Brennan for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Dearbhla Molloy for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Imogen Poots for Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? at Harold Pinter Theatre
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Best Director
'The Ferryman'Courtesy of Johan PerssonSam Mendes for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre - WINNER
Dominic Cooke for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
Marianne Elliott for Angels In America at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Rupert Goold for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York's Theatre
Thomas Kail for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
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Outstanding Achievement in Music
'Hamilton'Courtesy of Matthew MurphyHamilton - composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alex Lacamoire at Victoria Palace Theatre - WINNER
Everybody's Talking About Jamie - music and orchestrations by Dan Gillespie Sells, his debut as a musical theatre composer and orchestrator at Apollo Theatre
Follies - the orchestra, under the music supervision of Nicholas Skilbeck and Music Director Nigel Lilley at National Theatre – Olivier
Girl From the North Country - music and lyrics by Bob Dylan, original orchestrations and arrangements by Simon Hale at The Old Vic
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Best Theater Choreographer
'Hamilton'Courtesy of Matthew MurphyAndy Blankenbuehler for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre - WINNER
Bill Deamer for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
Kate Prince for Everybody's Talking About Jamie at Apollo Theatre
Randy Skinner for 42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Christopher Wheeldon for An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre
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Best Set Design
'An American in Paris'Matthew MurphyBob Crowley and 59 Productions for An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre - WINNER
Bunny Christie for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York's Theatre
Rob Howell for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Vicki Mortimer for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
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Best Costume Design
'Follies'Courtesy of Johan PerssonVicki Mortimer for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier - WINNER
Hugh Durrant for Dick Whittington at London Palladium
Roger Kirk for 42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Paul Tazewell for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
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Best Lighting Design
'Hamilton'Courtesy of Matthew MurphyHowell Binkley for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre - WINNER
Paule Constable for Angels In America at National Theatre - Lyttelton
Paule Constable for Follies at National Theatre – Olivier
Jan Versweyveld for Network at National Theatre - Lyttelton
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Best Sound Design
'Hamilton'Courtesy of Matthew MurphyNevin Steinberg for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre - WINNER
Tom Gibbons for Hamlet at Almeida Theatre
Gareth Owen for Bat Out Of Hell The Musical at London Coliseum
Eric Sleichim for Network at National Theatre - Lyttelton
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Best Entertainment and Family
Dick Whittington at London Palladium - WINNER
David Walliams' Gangsta Granny at Garrick Theatre
Derren Brown: Underground at Playhouse Theatre
Five Guys Named Moe at Marble Arch Theatre
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Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theater
Killology at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre - WINNER
The B*easts at Bush Theatre
The Red Lion at Trafalgar Studios 2
The Revlon Girl at Park Theatre
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Best New Dance Production
Flight Pattern by Crystal Pite at Royal Opera House - WINNER
Goat by Ben Duke for Rambert Dance Company at Sadler’s Wells
Grand Finale by Hofesh Shechter at Sadler’s Wells
Tree Of Codes by Wayne McGregor and The Paris Opera Ballet at Sadler’s Wells
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Outstanding Achievement in Dance
Francesca Velicu for her performance in English National Ballet’s production of Pina Bausch’s Le Sacre Du Printemps at Sadler’s Wells - WINNER
Rocio Molina for pushing the boundary of flamenco in Fallen From Heaven (Caida Del Cielo) at Barbican Theatre
Zenaida Yanowsky for her performance in Liam Scarlett’s Symphonic Dances at Royal Opera House
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Best New Opera Production
Semiramide at Royal Opera House - WINNER
La Boheme at Trafalgar Studios 2
The Exterminating Angel at Royal Opera House
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Outstanding Achievement in Opera
Joyce DiDonato and Daniela Barcellona for their performances in Semiramide at Royal Opera House - WINNER
Paul Brown for his set and costume designs for Iolanthe at London Coliseum
Roderick Williams for his performance in The Royal Opera’s The Return Of Ulysses at the Roundhouse