London - Frothy, film-inspired funfest Legally Blonde: The Musical won three big prizes at London's Laurence Olivier theatre awards, while Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies went home empty-handed despite seven nominations.
Legally Blonde was named best new musical at Britain's equivalent of Broadway's Tonys on Sunday. Star Sheridan Smith was crowned best actress in a musical, and Jill Halfpenny took the prize for supporting performer in a musical.
Lloyd Webber's sequel to monster hit Phantom of the Opera had more nominations than any other show, but won nothing. The musical opened a year ago to mixed reviews, and recently announced a series of cast changes as it fights to match Phantom''s success.
Winners of London's 2011 Laurence Olivier Awards, honouring achievement in theatre, opera and dance are:
New Play - Clybourne Park
New Musical - Legally Blonde: The Musical
Entertainment - The Railway Children
Revival - After the Dance
Musical Revival - Into the Woods
Actress-Play - Nancy Carroll, After the Dance
Actor-Play - Roger Allam, Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2
Actress-Musical - Sheridan Smith, Legally Blonde: The Musical
Actor-Musical - David Thaxton, Passion
Supporting Actress-Play - Michelle Terry, Tribes
Supporting Actor-Play - Adrian Scarborough, After the Dance
Supporting Performer-Musical - Jill Halfpenny, Legally Blonde: The Musical
Director - Howard Davies, The White Guard
Theatre Choreography - Leon Baugh, Sucker Punch
New Opera Production - La Boheme, OperaUpClose and Soho Theatre
Outstanding Achievement in Opera - Christian Gerhaher, Tannhauser
New Dance Production - Babel (Words) at Sadler's Wells
Outstanding Achievement in Dance - Antony Gormley for set design of Babel (Words)
Set Design - The White Guard
Lighting Design - The White Guard
Sound Design - King Lear
Costume Design - After the Dance
Audience Award for Most Popular Show - We Will Rock You
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre - Blasted, Lyric Hammersmith
Special Award - Stephen Sondheim
Legally Blonde was named best new musical at Britain's equivalent of Broadway's Tonys on Sunday. Star Sheridan Smith was crowned best actress in a musical, and Jill Halfpenny took the prize for supporting performer in a musical.
Lloyd Webber's sequel to monster hit Phantom of the Opera had more nominations than any other show, but won nothing. The musical opened a year ago to mixed reviews, and recently announced a series of cast changes as it fights to match Phantom''s success.
Winners of London's 2011 Laurence Olivier Awards, honouring achievement in theatre, opera and dance are:
New Play - Clybourne Park
New Musical - Legally Blonde: The Musical
Entertainment - The Railway Children
Revival - After the Dance
Musical Revival - Into the Woods
Actress-Play - Nancy Carroll, After the Dance
Actor-Play - Roger Allam, Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2
Actress-Musical - Sheridan Smith, Legally Blonde: The Musical
Actor-Musical - David Thaxton, Passion
Supporting Actress-Play - Michelle Terry, Tribes
Supporting Actor-Play - Adrian Scarborough, After the Dance
Supporting Performer-Musical - Jill Halfpenny, Legally Blonde: The Musical
Director - Howard Davies, The White Guard
Theatre Choreography - Leon Baugh, Sucker Punch
New Opera Production - La Boheme, OperaUpClose and Soho Theatre
Outstanding Achievement in Opera - Christian Gerhaher, Tannhauser
New Dance Production - Babel (Words) at Sadler's Wells
Outstanding Achievement in Dance - Antony Gormley for set design of Babel (Words)
Set Design - The White Guard
Lighting Design - The White Guard
Sound Design - King Lear
Costume Design - After the Dance
Audience Award for Most Popular Show - We Will Rock You
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre - Blasted, Lyric Hammersmith
Special Award - Stephen Sondheim