The Olivier Awards with MasterCard - the most prestigious event in the UK's theatrical calendar - are set take place on Sunday 12 April at the Royal Opera House and broadcast from 22:15 that evening on ITV in a full highlights package. Don't forget to tune in to BroadwayWorld on Sunday afternoon for live coverage of the ceremony!
The evening will feature exclusive performances from all four nominated productions in the MasterCard Best New Musical category. Best Actress in a Musical nominees Katie Brayben and Beverley Knight will each perform a number from their multi-Olivier nominated shows, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical and Memphis The Musical. The cast of Sunny Afternoon will perform a medley of much-loved Kinks songs, and for Here Lies Love there will be an exclusive performance by leading lady Natalie Mendoza and Talking Heads' David Byrne, who co-created the show with Fatboy Slim. The pair share their own nomination in the Outstanding Achievement in Music category.
There will also be performances from the Magic Radio Best Musical Revival nominated productions, City Of Angels, The Gershwins' Porgy And Bess, Miss Saigon and Cats, which will see Olivier nominee Nicole Scherzinger sing the iconic ballad Memory.
Dancer and previous Olivier winner, Akram Khan, will perform a solo from his acclaimed show Torobaka as part of the tribute to Sylvie Guillem, who as previously announced will be receiving a Special Award alongside Kevin Spacey, in recognition of their contributions to the London stage.
My Night With Reg and Downton Abbey star Julian Ovenden will perform a special tribute as part of the ceremony's in remembrance section, with support from the Arts Educational School Choir.
The special finale performance will not be revealed until the night of the ceremony. As previously announced, Lenny Henry will host proceedings with voiceover by Julie Walters.
The Oliviers Orchestra will be playing at the ceremony, with orchestrations and original music by Music Director Larry Blank, and further orchestrations by Mark Cumberland.
Members of the public can watch the stars arrive on the red carpet as the excitement builds at the Royal Opera House from 17:00. This year's list of Olivier nominees is as star-studded as ever including Gillian Anderson, Richard Armitage, Gemma Arterton, James McAvoy, Tamsin Greig, Beverley Knight, Dame Angela Lansbury, Mark Strong, Nicole Scherzinger, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Penelope Wilton.
Guest presenters on the night include Dianna Agron, Jamie Campbell Bower, Laura Carmichael, Lauren Cuthbertson, Dame Judi Dench, Anne-Marie Duff, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emilia Fox, Adam Garcia, David Harewood, Pixie Lott, Lorna Luft, James Norton, Claire Sweeney, Catherine Tate, Russell Tovey and Michael Urie, with more special guests on the night.
Nicola Grant, Head of Marketing, MasterCard UK & Ireland, commented: "Through our partnership with the Olivier Awards, we want MasterCard cardholders to be able to feel the excitement, passion and drama of the show. This is why some lucky MasterCard cardholders will get access not available anywhere else; the possibility to sit with the nominees during the awards ceremony and experience the Olivier Awards first hand. Furthermore, we have more to come in mid-April and will offer cardholders the chance to get closer to the theatre shows they love through a year of theatre evenings, allowing them not only to sample a wide variety of shows, but ensure they can treat their loved ones with Priceless experiences throughout the year. Please visit www.Priceless.com/London for more information on how to enjoy these Priceless experiences at The Olivier Awards and theatre in general."
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