Whatsonstage.com Awards

The WhatsOnStage Awards, or alternatively, the WhatsOnStage "theatregoers' choice" prizes, formerly known as the Theatregoers' Choice Awards, are organised by the theatre website WhatsOnStage.com.^[1] The awards recognise performers and productions of British theatre with an emphasis on London's West End.^[2]

Nominations and eventual winners are selected by the theatre-going public's vote.^[3] The awards are held each February. In 2012, they were staged at the West End's Prince of Wales Theatre.

History

In early 2001, WhatsOnStage.com published the shortlists for that year’s Laurence Olivier Awards and invited site visitors to vote online for who they thought should win. In a fortnight, 5,000 people took part – and their results differed wildly from the Olivier judges. For the 2002 Awards, the editors compiled their own shortlists and in 2003, they held their first Launch Party to announce the shortlists to about 200 industry guests. The first Awards Concert and ceremony was introduced for the 2008 Awards.

Judging

Each year, the Awards shortlists are drawn up with the help of thousands of theatregoers who log on to nominate their favourites across all 20+ awards categories. Nominations are announced at a star-studded launch event held in early December. Voting then opens and runs until the end of January the following year. In 2012/13, over 60,000 ^[4] theatregoers logged on to vote, with leaders in many categories fluctuating dramatically from day to day.

All professional productions that opened in London between 1 December and 30 November are eligible for primary awards consideration. There are a few special categories. Best Takeover in a Role recognises new performers in longer-running productions, while Best Regional Production casts the net beyond the capital. Non-West End productions are eligible for nomination across all fields, there is also a category specifically for Best Off-West End Production. The ever-popular Theatrical Event of the Year award category is more wide-ranging and largely subject to theatregoers' interpretation.

Ceremony

Presenters

Previous presenters of the WhatsOnStage Awards include James Corden, Sheridan Smith, Christopher Biggins, Mel Giedroyc, Miranda Hart, Alan Davies, Jenny Eclair and Rufus Hound.^[5]

Performances

Over the years, guest presenters and performers at the Launch Party have included Graham Norton, Elaine Paige, Michael Ball, Lesley Garrett, Ryan Molloy, James Earl Jones, Jools Holland, Patina Miller, Julian Clary, Jeremy Irons, Simon Russell Beale, Bertie Carvel and Meera Syal.^[5]

West End stars who have performed at the Awards Concerts at the Prince of Wales have included Alfie Boe, Sally Ann Triplett, Ryan Molloy, Jodie Prenger, Hannah Waddingham, Leanne Jones, Jill Halfpenny, Hadley Fraser, Ramin Karimloo, Rosemary Ashe, Nancy Sullivan, Samantha Barks, Sarah Lark, Kim Criswell, Siobhan McCarthy, Julie Atherton, Suranne Jones, Elena Roger, Sean Palmer, Clare Foster, Hannah Waddingham, Dean Chisnall, Brian May, Kerry Ellis, Tim Minchin and Melanie C.

The Concert is produced by Stuart Piper, on behalf of WhatsOnStage.

Venues

The inaugural Launch Party was held at The Venue, before moving to the Dominion Theatre in 2004, Planet Hollywood in 2005 and 2006, and Café de Paris, where it has been every year since with the exception of the 2009 Awards, when it was held at the London Hippodrome as part of their campaign to save the venue as a performance space.

The first Awards Concert and ceremony was introduced for the 2008 Awards and was held at the 960-seat Lyric Theatre. The Concert moved to the 1,100-seat Prince of Wales Theatre for the 2009 Awards and was a sell-out for four straight years - 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The concert moved to the Palace Theatre for the 2013 awards but returned to the Prince of Wales Theatre for 2014.

Award categories

Performance categories Best Actress In A Play Best Actor In A Play Best Supporting Actress In A Play Best Supporting Actor In A Play Best Actress In A Musical Best Actor In A Musical Best Supporting Actress In A Musical Best Supporting Actor In A Musical Best Solo Performance Best Ensemble Performance Best Takeover In A Role

Production categories Best New Play Best New Comedy Best New Musical Best Play Revival Best Musical Revival Best Shakespearean Production Best Director Best Set Designer Best Lighting Designer Best Choreographer Best Original Music

Special categories London Newcomer Of The Year Best Off-West End Production Best Regional Production Best West End Show Theatre Event Of The Year

Recent winners

2008[6] Best Actress in a Play: Maggie Smith – The Lady from Dubuque at the Theatre Royal Haymarket Best Actor in a Play: Ian McKellen – King Lear, RSC at the New London Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Diana Rigg – All About My Mother at the Old Vic Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Lee Evans – The Dumb Waiter at Trafalgar Studios Best Actress in a Musical: Leanne Jones – Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Best Actor in a Musical: Michael Ball – Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Tracie Bennett – Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Best Supporting Actor in a Musical:Ben James-Ellis – Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Best Solo Performance: Fiona Shaw – Happy Days at the NT Lyttelton Best Ensemble Performance: The Taming of the Shrew & Twelfth Night – Propeller at the Old Vic Best Takeover in a Role: Kerry Ellis – Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Best New Play: All About My Motherby Samuel Adamson – at the Old Vic Best New Comedy: Elling by Simon Bent – at the Bush & Trafalgar Studios Best New Musical: Hairspray by Marc Shaiman, Scott Whitman, Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan – at the Shaftesbury Best Play Revival: Equus – at the Gielgud Best Musical Revival: Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – at the Adelphi The Best Shakespearean Production: Macbeth – at the Gielgud Best Director: Jack O’Brien – Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Best Set Designer: Rob Howell – The Lord of the Rings at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Best Choreographer: Jerry Mitchell – Hairspray at the Shaftesbury London Newcomer of the Year: Daniel Radcliffe – Equus at the Gielgud Best Off West End Production: A Christmas Carol & The Magic Flute – at the Young Vic and I Love You Because – at the Landor Best Regional Production: Pygmalion – at the Theatre Royal Bath & on tour Theatre Event of the Year: Daniel Radcliffe’s steamy publicity shots for Equus

2009 [7] Best Actress in a Play: Katy Stephens – The Histories, RSC at the Roundhouse Best Actor in a Play: Kenneth Branagh – Ivanov, Donmar West End at Wyndham’s Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Sophie Thompson – The Female of the Speciesat the Vaudeville Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Tom Hiddleston – Othello at the Donmar Warehouse & Ivanov, Donmar West End at Wyndham’s Best Actress in a Musical: Sofia Escobar – West Side Story at Sadler’s Wells Best Actor in a Musical: Ryan Molloy – Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Tracie Bennett – La Cage aux Folles at the Playhouse Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Stephen Ashfield – Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Best Solo Performance: Eddie Izzard – Stripped at the Lyric Best Ensemble Performance: Into the Hoods – at the Novello Best Takeover in a Role: Daniel Boys – Avenue Q at the Noël Coward Books Best New Play: Under the Blue Sky by David Eldridge – at the Duke of York’s Best New Comedy: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute – at Trafalgar Studios & the Comedy Best New Musical: Jersey Boys by Bob Gaudio, Bob Crewe, Rick Elice & Marshall Brickman – at the Prince Edward Best Play Revival: Ivanov, Donmar West End – at Wyndham’s Best Musical Revival: West Side Story – at Sadler’s Wells Best Shakespearean Production: Othello – at the Donmar Warehouse Best Director: Michael Grandage – Othello & The Chalk Garden at the Donmar Warehouse & Ivanov, Donmar West End at Wyndham’s Best Set Designer: Klara Zieglerova – Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Best Lighting Designer: Malcolm Rippeth – Brief Encounter at The Cinema, Haymarket & Six Characters in Search of an Author at the Gielgud Best Choreographer: Lynne Page – La Cage aux Folles at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Playhouse London Newcomer of the Year: Josh Hartnett – Rain Man at the Apollo Best Off West End Production: Come Dancing – at Theatre Royal Stratford East Best Regional Production: Hamlet – RSC at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Theatre Event of the Year: David Tennant returning to the stage in Hamlet for the RSC

2010[8] Best Actress in a Play: Rachel Weisz - A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar Warehouse Best Actor in a Play: Jude Law - Hamlet, Donmar West End at Wyndham's Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Miriam Margolyes - Endgame at the Duchess Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Patrick Stewart - Hamlet, RSC at the Novello Best Actress in a Musical: Patina Miller - Sister Act at the London Palladium Best Actor in a Musical: Rowan Atkinson - Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Jodie Prenger - Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Oliver Thornton - Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Palace Best Solo Performance: Derren Brown - Derren Brown: Enigma at the Adelphi Best Ensemble Performance: On the Waterfront at the Theatre Royal Haymarket Best Takeover in a Role: John Barrowman - La Cage aux Folles at the Playhouse Best New Play: Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth at the Royal Court Downstairs Best New Comedy: Calendar Girls by Tim Firth at the Noël Coward Best New Musical: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert by Allan Scott & Stephan Elliott at the Palace Best Play Revival: A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar Warehouse Best Musical Revival: Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Best Shakespearean Production: Hamlet - RSC at the Novello Best Director: Trevor Nunn - Inherit the Wind at the Old Vic & A Little Night Music at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Garrick Best Set Designer: Brian Thomson - Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Palace Best Lighting Designer: Natasha Katz Sister Act at the London Palladium at The Cinema, Haymarket & Six Characters in Search of an Author at the Gielgud Best Choreographer: Ross Coleman - Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Palace London Newcomer of the Year: Diana Vickers - The Rise & Fall of Little Voice at the Vaudeville Best Off West End Production: The Pirates of Penzance at the Union Theatre Best Regional Production: Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall Bristol Old Vic & tour Best West End Show: Wicked Theatre Event of the Year: The pairing of Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in Waiting for Godot

2011[9] Best Actress in a Play: Zoe Wanamaker - All My Sons at the Apollo Best Actor in a Play: David Suchet - All My Sons at the Apollo Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Tamsin Greig - The Little Dog Laughed at the Garrick Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Patrick Stewart - Hamlet, RSC at the Novello Best Actress in a Musical: Sheridan Smith - Legally Blonde at the Savoy Best Actor in a Musical: Ramin Karimloo - Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Jill Halfpenny - Legally Blonde at the Savoy Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Joseph Millson - Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Best Solo Performance: Meera Syal - Shirley Valentine at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Trafalgar Studios 1 Best Ensemble Performance: Les Misérables 25th anniversary concert – the company of companies – at The O2 Best Takeover in a Role: Rachel Tucker - Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Best New Play: Anne Boleyn by Howard Brenton – at Shakespeare's Globe Best New Comedy: Yes, Prime Minister by Antony Jay & Jonathan Lynn – at the Gielgud Best New Musical: Legally Blonde - by Nell Benjamin, Laurence O'Keefe & Heather Hach – at the Savoy Best Play Revival: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Best Musical Revival:Les Misérables 25th anniversary production at the Barbican Best Shakespearean Production: Hamlet at the National, Olivier Best Director: Timothy Sheader Into the Woods & The Crucible at the Open Air Best Set Designer: Joanna Scotcher - The Railway Children at Waterloo Station Best Lighting Designer: James Farncombe Ghost Stories at the Lyric Hammersmith & Duke of York’s Best Choreographer: Jerry Mitchell - Legally Blonde at the Savoy London Newcomer of the Year: Jonathan Groff - Deathtrap at the Noël Coward Best Off West End Production: La Bohème at the Cock Tavern, Kilburn & Soho Best Regional Production: Chess on tour Best West End Show: Wicked Theatre Event of the Year: Les Misérables' 25th anniversary concert at The 02 & screened to cinemas worldwide

2012[10] Best Actress in a Play: Vanessa Redgrave - Driving Miss Daisy at Wyndham's Best Actor in a Play: James Corden - One Man, Two Guvnors at the National, Lyttelton & Adelphi Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Catherine Tate - Season's Greetings at the National, Lyttelton Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Oliver Chris - One Man, Two Guvnors at the National, Lyttelton & Adelphi Best Actress in a Musical: Amanda Holden - Shrek the Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Best Actor in a Musical: Richard Fleeshman - Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Hannah Waddingham - The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Nigel Harman - Shrek the Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Best Solo Performance: Kerry Ellis - Anthems at the Royal Albert Hall Best Ensemble Performance: London Road - at the National, Cottesloe Best Takeover in a Role: Alfie Boe - Les Misérables at the Queen's Best New Play: Three Days in May by Ben Brown - at Trafalgar Studios 1 Best New Comedy: One Man, Two Guvnors by Richard Bean - at the National, Lyttelton & Adelphi Best New Musical: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert by Allan Scott & Stephan Elliott at the Palace Best Play Revival: Driving Miss Daisy at Wyndham's Best Musical Revival:The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium Best Shakespearean Production: Much Ado About Nothing at Wyndham's Best Director: Danny Boyle - Frankenstein at the National, Olivier Best Set Designer: Rob Howell - Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly & Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Best Lighting Designer: Hugh Vanstone - Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly Best Choreographer: Peter Darling - Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge London Newcomer of the Year: Tim Minchin - Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Best Off West End Production: The Riots - at the Tricycle Best Regional Production: Sweeney Todd at Chichester Festival Best West End Show: War Horse Theatre Event of the Year: David Tennant & Catherine Tate reuniting on stage in Much Ado About Nothing

2013[11] Best Actress in a Play: Sheridan Smith – Hedda Gabler at the Old Vic Best Actor in a Play: Rupert Everett – The Judas Kiss at the Hampstead Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Natalie Casey - Abigail's Party at the Menier Chocolate Factor & Wyndham's Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Stephen Fry – Twelfth Night at Shakespeare's Globe & the Apollo Best Actress in a Musical: Imelda Staunton – Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi Best Actor in a Musical: Michael Ball – Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Melanie C – Jesus Christ Superstar at the O2 Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Tim Minchin – Jesus Christ Superstar at the O2 Best Solo Performance: Idina Menzel – Idina Menzel at the Apollo Best Ensemble Performance: Richard III & Twelfth Night – at Shakespeare's Globe & the Apollo Best Takeover in a Role: Ramin Karimloo – Les Misérables at the Queen's Best New Play: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Simon Stephens – at the National, Cottesloe Best New Comedy: The Ladykillers by Graham Linehan – at the Gielgud Best New Musical: The Bodyguard by Alex Dinelaris – at the Adelphi Best Play Revival: Abigail's Party – at the Menier Chocolate Factory & Wyndham's Best Musical Revival:Sweeney Todd – at the Adelphi Best Shakespearean Production: Twelfth Night – at Shakespeare's Globe & the Apollo Best Director: Jonathan Kent – Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi Best Set Designer: Tom Scutt – The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe at Kensington Gardens & Constellations at the Royal Court Upstairs & Duke of York's Best Lighting Designer: Mark Henderson – Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi Best Choreographer: Andrew Wright – Singin' in the Rain at the Palace Best Original Music:Sweet Smell of Success – Marvin Hamlisch at the Arcola London Newcomer of the Year: Will Young (actor) – Cabaret at the Savoy Best Off West End Production: Taboo – at the Brixton Club House Best Regional Production: American Idiot – on tour Best West End Show: Les Misérables – at the Queen's Theatre Event of the Year: Danny Boyle's Olympics Opening Ceremony

2014[12] Best Actress in a Play: Dame Helen Mirren in The Audience Best Actor in a Play: Daniel Radcliffe in The Cripple of Inishmaan Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Haydn Gwynne in The Audience Best Supporting Actor in a Play: David Walliams in A Midsummer Night's Dream Best Actress in a Musical: Scarlett Strallen in A Chorus Line and Candide Best Actor in a Musical: Gavin Creel in The Book of Mormon Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Alexia Khadime in The Book of Mormon Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Stephen Ashfield in The Book of Mormon Best Solo Performance: Barry Humphries in Eat Pray Laugh! Best Ensemble Performance: A Chorus Line at the London Palladium Best Takeover in a Role: Carrie Hope Fletcher in Les Misérables Best New Play: The Audience by Peter Morgan Best New Comedy: The Play That Goes Wrong by Henry Shields, Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer Best New Musical: The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre Best Play Revival: To Kill A Mockingbird at the Open Air Theatre Best Musical Revival: The Sound of Music at the Open Air Theatre Best Shakespearean Production: A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Noël Coward Theatre Best Director: Michael Grandage for the Michael Grandage Season Best Set Designer: Mark Thompson for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Best Lighting Designer: Adam Silverman for Macbeth Best Choreographer: Peter Darling for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Best Original Music: Once by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova London Newcomer of the Year: Rupert Grint in Mojo Best Off West End Production: Titanic at Southwark Playhouse Best Regional Production: My Fair Lady at the Crucible Best West End Show: Matilda the Musical Theatre Event of the Year: National Theatre's 50th anniversary gala

2015[13] Best Actress in a Play: Billie Piper in Great Britain Best Actor in a Play: David Tennant in Richard II Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Vanessa Kirby in A Streetcar Named Desire Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Mark Gatiss in Coriolanus Best Actress in a Musical: Eva Noblezada in Miss Saigon Best Actor in a Musical: Jon Jon Briones in Miss Saigon Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Rachelle Ann Go in Miss Saigon Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Kwang Ho Hong in Miss Saigon Best Takeover in a Role: Kerry Ellis for Wicked Best New Play: Shakespeare in Love Best New Musical: Memphis the Musical Best Play Revival: Coriolanus Best Musical Revival: Miss Saigon Best Director: Laurence Connor for Miss Saigon Best Set Designer: Totie Driver & Matt Kinley for Miss Saigon Best Lighting Designer: Mark Henderson for Coriolanus Best Choreographer: Bob Avian & Geoffrey Garratt for Miss Saigon Best Off West End Production: Sweeney Todd at Twickenham Theatre Best Regional Production: Oliver! at Sheffield Theatres Best West End Show: Miss Saigon

Past winners^[14]

• WhatsOnStage Awards Results - 2001
• WhatsOnStage Awards Results - 2002
• WhatsOnStage Awards Results - 2003
• WhatsOnStage Awards Results - 2004
• WhatsOnStage Awards Results - 2005
• WhatsOnStage Awards Results - 2006
• WhatsOnStage Awards Results - 2007

See also

• WhatsOnStage.com

References

1. "Home - 16th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards". Retrieved 11 December 2015.
2. David Lister (19 March 2001). "Theatregoers rage at stars who fail to light up stage". The Independent. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
3. Chris Johnson (9 February 2009). "Yes, We're Back Together and it's Going Brilliantly". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
4. Claire Allfree (18 February 2013). "Stephen Fry leads star-studded list in WhatsOnStage.com Awards". The Independent. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
5. "Whatsonstage Awards History". Whatsonstage.com, accessed 19 November 2013
6. "Hairspray and Equus sweep theatre awards". The Guardian. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
7. "Donmar and Jersey Boys Dominate Theatregoers' Choice Awards". Official London Theatre. 15 February 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
8. "Rachel Weisz and Jude Law win at Whatsonstage Awards". The Stage. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
9. "Winners 2011". West End Theatre. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
10. "Full List Of 2012 Whatsonstage.com Award-Winners". Broadway World. 19 February 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
11. "Sweeney Todd, Sheridan Smith And Stephen Fry Big Winners At Whatsonstage.com Awards". Huffington Post. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
12. "What would Harry Potter say? Daniel Radcliffe sports long flowing mane as he and Rupert Grint win gongs at What'sOnStage Awards". Mailonline. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
13. "Miss Saigon dominates WhatsOnStage awards". BBC. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
14. "Archive". Retrieved 11 December 2015.

External links

• Official website