Olivier Awards 2018: Hamilton vs Hamilton as stars go head-to-head with record nominations
The stars of Hamilton are to compete against one another at tonight's Olivier Awards, after the show was nominated a record-breaking 13 times.
Five of the eight nominees for best actor and best supporting actor in a musical come from Hamilton, the American juggernaut which has dominated the stage awards designed to honour the best of London theatre.
The musical giant, which transferred from Broadway last year, will see three of its stars go head-to-head in the best supporting actor category, with Ross Noble, who stars in Young Frankenstein, their only external competition.
Jamael Westman and Giles Terera, who play lead roles of Hamilton and Burr, are vying for best actor, against Ciaran Hinds from Girl From the North Country and John McCrea from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
The latter production is considered the “underdog” of this year’s awards, plucked from the stage in Sheffield for a West End run and starring previously unknown actors.
Elsewhere, the National Theatre is up for 22 awards for productions including Follies, Angels in America and Network, a significant comeback after several low-key years to enjoy its best showing since 1995.
Hamilton’s 13 nominations make it the most nominated production in Oliviers history replacing Harry Potter And The Cursed Child in 2017 and Hairspray in 2008 which had 11 apiece.
As well as honouring its actors, its stars also appear in the best supporting actress category, lighting, costume design, sound design, choreography and music.
It will compete for best new musical against Young Frankenstein, An American in Paris, Girl From the North Country and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
Nica Burns, producer of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, said the five nominations meant “so much” to the cast and crew behind it, adding their “small, homegrown, unknown show” was the “British underdog” among a host of “very, very fine musicals this year”.
Ross Noble congratulated his three Hamilton rivals on their nominations, saying he was “dead chuffed” to be in their company. “What a lovely thing to be part of,” he said.
The award for best actor in a play will go to Bryan Cranston for Network, Andrew Garfield for Angels In America, Andrew Scott for Hamlet or Paddy Considine for The Ferryman.
Imelda Staunton is nominated for the best actress and best actress in a musical categories for Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf and Follies respectively.
For the best actress prize she will take on Laura Donnelly for The Ferryman, Audra McDonald for Lady Day At Emerson's Bar And Grill and Oscar nominee Lesley Manville for Long Day's Journey Into Night.
The Ferryman has become the most nominated new play of the year with eight nominations, while the Almeida Theatre has seven nods for Hamlet and Ink.
The Olivier Awards will be held at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 8 April, hosted by Catherine Tate.
Nominees for the Olivier Awards 2018 include:
Best actor
Paddy Considine for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Bryan Cranston for Network at National Theatre - Lyttelton
Andrew Garfield for Angels In America at National Theatre - Lyttelton
Andrew Scott for Hamlet at Almeida Theatre
Best actress
Laura Donnelly for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
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
Best actor in a supporting role
Bertie Carvel for Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York's Theatre
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
Best actress in a supporting role
Brid Brennan for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Denise Gough for Angels In America at National Theatre - Lyttelton
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
Best actor in a musical
Ciaran Hinds for Girl From The North Country at The Old Vic
John McCrea for Everybody's Talking About Jamie at Apollo Theatre
Giles Terera for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Jamael Westman for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Best actress in a musical
Janie Dee for Follies at National Theatre - Olivier
Shirley Henderson for Girl From The North Country at The Old Vic
Imelda Staunton for Follies at National Theatre - Olivier
Josie Walker for Everybody's Talking About Jamie at Apollo Theatre
Best actor in a supporting role in a musical
Michael Jibson for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Ross Noble for Young Frankenstein at Garrick Theatre
Jason Pennycooke for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Cleve September for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Best actress in a supporting role in a musical
Sheila Atim for Girl From The North Country at The Old Vic
Tracie Bennett for Follies at National Theatre - Olivier
Rachel John for Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Lesley Joseph for Young Frankenstein at Garrick Theatre
Best director
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
Sam Mendes for The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Best new play
The Ferryman at Gielgud Theatre and Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre
Ink at Almeida Theatre and Duke of York's Theatre
Network at National Theatre - Lyttelton
Oslo at Harold Pinter Theatre
Mastercard best new musical
An American In Paris at Dominion Theatre
Everybody's Talking About Jamie at Apollo Theatre
Girl From The North Country at The Old Vic
Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre
Young Frankenstein at Garrick Theatre