Judi Dench Wins Historic Eighth Trophy. Dame Judi Dench is now the winningest performer in the history of the Olivier Awards, the London equivalent of the Tony Awards. The actress picked up her eighth Olivier during an April 3 ceremony at the Royal Opera House, where “Kinky Boots,” “In the Heights” and Imelda Staunton also were among the winners. Dench won the award for actress in a supporting role for her performance as Paulina in “The Winter’s Tale,” part of the Kenneth Branagh Company’s season of plays at the Garrick. (Stateside, the performer who has won the most Tonys is Audra McDonald, who’s got six to her name and seems likely to be up for a seventh for “Shuffle Along,” currently in previews.) Chichester Festival Theater’s West End transfer of its much-lauded revival of “Gypsy” scored four awards, the most of any one production, including one for musical revival and one for lead actress Staunton. The production also took the honors for lighting design (Mark Henderson) and actress in a supporting role (Lara Pulver). Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s 2013 Tony champ “Kinky Boots,” which opened last year at the Adelphi Theater on the West End, took the Olivier for new musical, as well as notching laurels for actor in a musical (Matt Henry, in the role for which Billy Porter won a Tony on Broadway) and costumes (Gregg Barnes). The evening’s award for music, however, went to the current London staging of “In the Heights,” for its score by “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Orchestrators and arrangers Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman also were named as winners of the awards. “In the Heights” cast member David Bedella notched the award for actor in a supporting role, and the show’s Drew McOnie nabbed the choreography award. The latest title from Martin McDonagh, “Hangmen,” won the award for new play. Michael Ball (“The Phantom of the Opera”) hosted the ceremony, which showcased performances by Staunton, Lauper and Michael Feinstein, among others. RELATED The Winter's Tale review Kenneth Branagh West End Review: Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench in ‘The Winter’s Tale’ The full list of 2016 Olivier Award winners follow: Best Revival “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” at National Theatre, Lyttelton Best Entertainment and Family “Showstopper! The Improvised Musical” at Apollo Theatre Best Costume Design Gregg Barnes for “Kinky Boots” at Adelphi Theatre Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design Anna Fleischle for “Hangmen” at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre and Wyndham’s Theatre White Light Award For Best Lighting Design Mark Henderson for “Gypsy” at Savoy Theatre Best Sound Design Tom Gibbons for “People, Places And Things” at National Theatre, Dorfman Best New Opera Production “Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci” at Royal Opera House Outstanding Achievement in Opera English National Opera Chorus and Orchestra for “The Force Of Destiny,” “Lady Macbeth Of Mtsensk” and “The Queen Of Spades” at London Coliseum Best Actor in a Supporting Role Mark Gatiss for “Three Days In The Country” at National Theatre, Lyttelton Best Actress in a Supporting Role Dame Judi Dench for “The Winter’s Tale” at Garrick Theatre Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre Pat Kinevane and Fishamble for “Silent” at Soho Theatre Virgin Atlantic Best New Play “Hangmen” at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre and Wyndham’s Theatre Best Actor Kenneth Cranham for “The Father” at Wyndham’s Theatre Best Actress Denise Gough for “People, Places And Things” at National Theatre, Dorfman Magic Radio Audience Award “The Phantom Of The Opera” Best New Comedy “Nell Gwynn” at Apollo Theatre Best New Dance Production “Woolf Works” by Wayne McGregor at Royal Opera House Outstanding Achievement in Dance Alessandra Ferri for her performances in “Chéri” and “Woolf Works” at Royal Opera House Autograph Sound Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music “In The Heights” – Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Orchestrated and Arranged by Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman at King’s Cross Theatre Best Theater Choreographer Drew McOnie for “In The Heights” at King’s Cross Theatre Best Director Robert Icke for “Oresteia” at Almeida Theatre Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical David Bedella for “In The Heights” at King’s Cross Theatre Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical Lara Pulver for “Gypsy” at Savoy Theatre Best Musical Revival “Gypsy” at Savoy Theatre Best Actor in a Musical Matt Henry for “Kinky Boots” at Adelphi Theatre Best Actress in a Musical Imelda Staunton for “Gypsy” at Savoy Theatre MasterCard Best New Musical “Kinky Boots” at Adelphi Theatre

• published: 04 Apr 2016
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