At tonight’s Olivier Awards Sweeney Todd has garnered three awards: Best Musical Revival; Best Actor in a Musical (Michael Ball) and Best Actress in a Musical (Imelda Staunton). Congratulations to everyone involved.
You can listen to the Awards online at the BBC iPlayer for the next week. Edited highlights can be seen tonight on ITV at 10.15 pm and should then be on the ITV On Demand site.
At the announcement today of the shortlist for the 2013 Olivier Awards the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Sweeney Todd received 6 nominations:
Best actor in a musical: Michael Ball
Best actress in a musical: Imelda Staunton
Best musical revival
White Light award for best lighting design: Mark Henderson
Best sound design: Paul Groothuis
Best costume design: Anthony Ward
After a long and gruelling but amazing day on Sunday, during which time we saw 64 students, the judges (Edward Seckerson and Mark Etherington) have selected 12 finalists and two standby students. The list of finalists is below, in the meantime many thanks to all the students and colleges who took part; you were all amazing.
We’re looking forward to working with the finalists and hope that they enjoy the experience and get a great deal out of it.
In the meantime, do buy your tickets to come along and support them; it’s always a great atmosphere and everyone is so supportive of all of the entrants, irrespective of their college affiliation.
| Student name | College Name |
| Turlough Convery | Guildford School of Acting |
| Laura Darton | Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Nina Logue | Bristol Old Vic Theatre School |
| Brooke Markham | LAMDA |
| Dylan Mason | ArtsEd |
| Kara-Ami McCreanor | Performance Preparation Academy(PPA) |
| George Mercer | Oxford School of Drama |
| Maud Millar | Guildhall School of Music and Acting (Music) |
| Beth Peach-Robinson | Royal Academy of Music |
| Phoebe Pryce | RADA |
| Alistair Toovey | RADA |
| Michael Watson-Gray | Drama Studio London |
| Ryan Ferrie (Standby 1) | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Musical Theatre) |
| Tafline Steen (Standby 2) | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Drama) |
Due to popular demand, Maria Friedman’s stunning sell-out show Lenny & Steve has had its run at The Pheasantry extended. There will now be extra performances on Monday March 11th and Tuesday March 12th.
Maria Friedman sings ‘Lenny & Steve’ with Jason Carr (Musical Director)
Monday 11th March – Tuesday 12th March (doors open 7:00pm, show at 8.30 pm, ending at 10.30 pm)
Tickets: £30.00
Three-time Olivier Award-winner Maria Friedman and her two-time Tony nominee musical director Jason Carr explore the songs of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim in their critically acclaimed show, comparing and contrasting songs from their separate catalogues, as well as their joint masterpiece West Side Story. Songs include “New York, New York”, “I Can Cook Too”, “Losing My Mind” and “Send In The Clowns”.
“…the songs impact on each other in interesting and amazing ways. But then there aren’t too many Maria Friedmans or Jason Carrs around … they teased and cajoled, amused and moved, and most of all “told stories” that … made us listen to even the most familiar numbers with renewed interest” – Edward Seckerson.
The Pheasantry, 152-154 Kings Road. London, SW3 4UT
To book ring the Pizza Express bookings line on 020 7439 4962 and choose option 8 or book online at http://www.pizzaexpresslive.com
The Chichester Festival Theatre production of Sweeney Todd, directed by Jonathan Kent and staged last year at the Adelphi Theatre, London, has triumphed in FIVE categories at this evening’s What’s On Stage Awards.
Here is a list of Sweeney’s successes:
Michael Ball won Best Actor in a Musical
Imelda Staunton won Best Actress in a Musical
Sweeney Todd won Best Musical Revival
Jonathan Kent won Best Director
Mark Henderson won Best Lighting Director
Hearty congratulations to all the team at Chichester Festival Theatre for this magnificent achievement!
We are always happy to inform people about events which we feel may be of interest to our members, or to Sondheim enthusiasts in general.
Recently, Stephen Minay has been in touch with news of one such event.
He writes:
We have a concert coming up at Kings Place on 16th February at 7.30 pm . As well as material reprised from the Christmas concert at the Royal Academy of Music, this concert will feature three additional items by performed by guest graduates from the West-End stage:
• All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera sung by Will Barratt andLaura Tebbutt
• Somebody to Love from We Will Rock You sung by Sarah French
• Top of the Pops 2012 performed by The Scores (a beat bop group comprising mainly students on the course this year)
Tickets are £9.50, £12.50 or £16.50 from Kings Place.
This is a link to thebox office site:
It would of course be lovely to see any members of the Sondheim Society there.
Dress Circle, the much mourned, missed and indispensible London theatre shop has reopened for business; still in the old premises. Do go and support it.
