Download OLIVIER AWARDS 2013 – Ceremony details announced

Press Release: Friday 5 April 2013
OLIVIER AWARDS 2013 – Ceremony details announced
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International stars Matthew Morrison, Idina Menzel and Petula Clark to perform
exclusively during the ceremony
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Amongst other guests appearing are Kim Cattrall, Lee Evans, Romola Garai, Lily James,
Myleene Klass, Damian Lewis, Tim Minchin, Arlene Phillips, Daniel Radcliffe, David
Suchet, Will Young
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ITV programme will include extensive highlights of the awards show
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Live radio coverage from 6pm of the entire show on BBC Radio 2
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BBC Radio 2 Stage in Covent Garden Piazza will be hosted by Claudia Winkleman and
Michael Xavier with performances from West End shows, other entertainment and the
full ceremony live on big screens
The Olivier Awards with MasterCard – the most prestigious event in the UK’s theatrical
calendar – has revealed details of some of the exclusive performances and guests planned for
the Awards ceremony on Sunday 28 April, to be broadcast on television on ITV in an
extensive highlights package that night, and live on radio on BBC Radio 2.
As previously announced, Hugh Bonneville and Sheridan Smith will host proceedings with
voiceover by Julia McKenzie.
Two of musical theatre’s biggest worldwide stars, Matthew Morrison and Idina Menzel will be
giving special solo performances.
Emmy, Tony, and Golden-Globe nominated star Matthew Morrison may best be known for his
theatrical leading roles in Hairspray, South Pacific and The Light In The Piazza, as well as
receiving international recognition for his role as ‘Mr. Schuester’ on the hit television show,
Glee. Morrison will be releasing a new studio album titled Where It All Began this June,
produced by the legendary Phil Ramone (Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett) and featuring classic
Broadway standards. His solo performance at the Olivier Awards will be the first time he has
ever performed at a major event in the UK, and will offer an exciting preview.
Idina Menzel returns to the UK following her sell-out series of concert dates last year at the
Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. One of musical theatre’s leading ladies, Idina
originated the role of Elphaba in both New York and London in the worldwide hit musical
Wicked for which she won a Tony Award.
As well as being a huge international recording artist, Petula Clark has enjoyed a very varied
theatrical career, including playing the lead role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard for
more performances than any other actress in London, Ireland and the USA. In her 80th year,
the Olivier Awards is delighted to welcome her to perform on the stage of the Royal Opera
House.
Performances from nominated musicals will include Will Young and the company of Cabaret,
the full companies of A Chorus Line and Top Hat in specially created pieces for the awards
night, Heather Headley performing “I Will Always Love You” from The Bodyguard, along with
James Bourne of Busted fame giving an exclusive performance from his nominated musical
Loserville. Further show extracts will be announced in due course.
The BBC Concert Orchestra will be playing live for all performances under the musical direction
of David Charles Abell.
Guest presenters for the awards include Kim Cattrall, Lee Evans, Romola Garai, Lily James,
Myleene Klass, Damian Lewis, Tim Minchin, Arlene Phillips, Daniel Radcliffe and David
Suchet.
More details of guest presenters will be announced nearer the date, and of course there will
be one or two surprises on the night itself.
The Olivier Awards is delighted to announce the confirmed broadcast details for the night:
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ITV will broadcast an extensive highlights programme of the awards ceremony on the
night (Sunday 28 April).
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BBC Radio 2 will broadcast from 6pm, firstly interviewing the stars on the red carpet
and then broadcasting the entire ceremony live. Ken Bruce and Anneka Rice will be
hosting for BBC Radio 2.
Covent Garden Piazza
Theatre-lovers are invited to gather at the BBC Radio 2 Stage in Covent Garden Piazza from
4pm on the day for a free Olivier Awards celebration featuring live performances from top
West End shows – including the four shortlisted BBC Radio 2 Audience Award nominees. The
stage, hosted by BBC Radio 2 presenter Claudia Winkleman alongside West End leading man
Michael Xavier, will feature performances from shows including Billy Elliot The Musical,
Matilda The Musical, The Phantom Of The Opera, Wicked, Burn The Floor, Potted Potter and
Some Like It Hip Hop with more still to be announced.
Headline sponsor of the Oliver Awards, MasterCard will also be supporting the Covent Garden
Piazza celebration. Exclusive benefits to cardholders, such as the opportunity to watch the
activity unfold from a VIP hospitality area and win tickets to some of the hottest West End
shows, will be available on-the-day through the Priceless London programme, bringing people
Priceless Moments they will never forget. To find out more about the day, and to look out for
more theatre offers and experiences just visit: www.pricelesslondon.co.uk.
Other awards-themed fun on offer will include make-up demos courtesy of MAC, styling tips
from Chester Barrie and cocktail making lessons with Radisson Edwardian.
Nominations were announced by Ruth Wilson and Elaine Paige last week with the National
Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time leading the list
with eight nominations, followed by the toe-tapping new musical Top Hat receiving seven, and
the West End transfer of Chichester Festival Theatre’s revival of Sweeney Todd in close
competition with six.
This year’s list of Olivier nominees is as star-studded as ever and theatregoers can see many of
them performing currently in the West End, including Helen Mirren and Richard McCabe in
The Audience, Heather Headley and Debbie Kurup in The Bodyguard, Leigh Zimmerman in A
Chorus Line, Luke Treadaway in The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, Rupert
Everett in The Judas Kiss, James McAvoy in Macbeth and Kristen Scott Thomas in Old Times.
Billie Piper, Helen McCrory, Imelda Staunton, Hannah Waddingham, Michael Ball, Tom
Chambers, Adam Garcia, Mark Rylance, Rafe Spall and Will Young are just a few of the other
talented actors and actresses joining the illustrious line-up.
To keep up with the latest Olivier Awards news and engage with the Awards online visit
Facebook.com/olivierawards, Twitter and Instagram @OlivierAwards #oliviers.
Everyone can share photos and video media via the Oliviers live-streaming Wall by tagging
content #oliviers via Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or Tumblr. The Wall is hosted on the Oliviers
website and Facebook: www.olivierawards.com/thewall.
-ENDSPRESS CONTACTS
THE OLIVIER AWARDS – INCLUDING INTERVIEW AND IMAGE REQUESTS:
Alison Duguid, Press and Communications Manager, Society of London Theatre
[email protected], 020 7557 6727
Matthew Brown, Senior Press and Communications Officer, Society of London Theatre
[email protected], 020 7557 6729
ITV
Justin Jeffreys, Publicity Manager Entertainment, [email protected], 020 7157 3026
BBC
Andrew Francis, Publicist, BBC Radio 2 and Popular Music TV, [email protected]