A host of star performers, presenters and guests have been announced for the 37th Olivier Awards with MasterCard, with Broadway stars and Glee co-actors Matthew Morrison and Idina Menzel set to appear at the glittering ceremony and international stars Daniel Radcliffe and Damian Lewis confirmed to open the life-changing golden envelopes.
Alongside solo performances by Tony Award-winning Wicked star Menzel and Tony Award- nominated Morrison, who will be flying into the UK especially for the one-off exclusive appearance which marks his first ever performance at a major UK event, the prestigious Royal Opera House-held ceremony on 28 April will also see West End veteran Petula Clark perform. The actress, who has performed the lead role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard more times than any other actress, is also a hugely successful recording artist and appears at the ceremony in her 80th year.
Speaking about performing at the event, Menzel described herself as “absolutely delighted to have been invited to sing,” adding, “It will be a great honour to perform in the company of Britain’s theatre elite on such a special night. I can’t wait to be back in London.”
The evening’s event will also include sensational performances from some of this year’s nominated musicals. Will Young, who is nominated in the Best Actor in a Musical category for his debut musical performance on the London stage, will join the cast of Rufus Norris’ acclaimed production of Cabaret, the full companies of A Chorus Line and Top Hat will entertain with pieces created especially for the awards, and The Bodyguard star and Best Actress in a Musical nominee Heather Headley will sing the goose bump creating I Will Always Love You.
In another Olivier Awards exclusive, Busted and Son Of Dork musician James Bourne will sing from his nominated musical Loserville, which was based on his concept album Welcome To Loserville.
The incredible line-up of performers will have to wait to find out whether one of the many high-profile presenters announced today will be presenting them with one of the coveted prizes. Lewis and Radcliffe will be joined by fellow actors Kim Cattrall, Lee Evans, Romola Garai, Lily James and David Suchet, as well as presenter and musician Myleene Klass, and comedian Tim Minchin who is no stranger to the event having triumphed at last year’s ceremony for his part in the record-breaking, seven-time winner Matilda The Musical.
Today’s exciting announcement also reveals details of the free public event in Covent Garden’s Piazza. West End star and former Olivier Award nominee Michael Xavier and BBC Radio 2’s Claudia Winkleman will oversee proceedings at the BBC Radio 2 Stage, where the public are invited to gather on 28 April to watch special live 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. Attendees will then be able to watch the excitement unfold with a live big screen relay of the glittering ceremony held at the other equally iconic Covent Garden space, the Royal Opera House.
Commenting on his forthcoming Oliviers role, the actor said: “I’m delighted to have been invited to co-host the Olivier Awards Piazza event with the fabulous Claudia Winkleman. This free live celebration is a fantastic opportunity for the public to be a part of the Awards and witness performances from some of the hottest shows in town. What’s not to love?”
For those unable to make it down to the Piazza there are plenty of ways to tune into events. ITV will broadcast a highlights programme following the ceremony, while BBC Radio 2 will be broadcasting the entire ceremony live from the Royal Opera House from 18:00 with Ken Bruce and Anneka Rice hosting the evening’s entertainment.
Source: Olivier Awards