What's on Stage Awards 2017

There is definitely something shady about how Dreamgirls got its nominations, just because logically it wouldn't be possible unless people voted for it before it even happened, which even then, I would only imagine they would vote for Amber and not the other aspects of the show. That being said, she sounds amazing and has got stellar reviews and having seen the show with Marisha, it is a deserving role, so I am not upset she won at all. But it does make you look at Dreamgirls as an example of maybe these aren't just the audience awards.

Yes I'd tend to agree with you about Groundhog Day, especially about it being one of the best productions I've ever seen, but I'm not totally surprised it won nothing. It was a very limited run which finished quite a while before nominations began, and I'm making a rather general assumption that the vast majority of audiences who would've seen the show (this board not included!), would not be the type to vote in these awards.

As for Dreamgirls, I think there's definitely a case of fans of Amber voting for her to support her without even having seen her in the show, but it just so happens that she ended up being so good that she actually deserved it (not seen Dreamgirls myself yet, just going on reviews from others!).

The audience voting/popularity contest discussion will *always* be the biggest 'problem' of these awards and will forever be discussed every year these awards continue. This year there seems to have been a few more 'deserving' winners, but there has also been a notable rise in the way theatre productions interact with their audiences on social media, so maybe it gives lesser known names a chance of winning via the fan bases of the show, as opposed to fan bases of the performer themselves!

Someone mentioned credibility. "New Musical" - DREAMGIRLS 1981 & SIXPENCE 1963. I realise the latter has been substantially altered but these are not "new" - there goes credibility.
How anyone could think the bland Emma Williams could have been thought better than Rebecca Trehearn is beyond me.

Nothing wrong at all with shows being brought back, not sure I get your point?

Well. Those winners were major surprises weren't they? Harry Potter winning everything, OMGosh. Give me a heavy fringed bob and call me Mystic Meg!

I think there is a rule somewhere, I can't remember where I read it may be the Tony rules, but if a musical has at least 75% new material, it can be considered a new musical in awards. So that may be where Half a Sixpence got in?

I don't have any problem with Half a Sixpence being classified as a new musical - given that there's more new material than old in the show, I think it would be a bit of an insult to Stiles and Drewe if it was considered a revival! I am also shocked at School of Rock winning, though. I haven't seen the show, but Dreamgirls, Half a Sixpence and Groundhog Day (which had my vote) were so sensational that I was convinced it was going to be a close competition between those three and SoR wouldn't stand a chance! Maybe I'll be even more blown away by School of Rock but somehow I doubt it.

Without wishing to stoke the fire on the legitimacy of these awards, I also find it very telling that Carrie Hope Fletcher was nominated for best supporting actress for a limited run in a touring production - I believe all the other leading/supporting nominations for both plays and musicals were for West End or Off-West End productions? I have no doubt that she was very good, but I think it's probably quite clear that she got the nomination because she has such a large and dedicated fanbase.

EDIT: scratch that, Ian Hallard was nominated for Boys in the Band which didn't make it to the West End until after nominations closed, and I don't think the Park Theatre counts as Off-West End. Pixie Lott also got nominated for Breakfast at Tiffany's which was a tour, although it did do a run in the West End. My point still stands for the musical actor/actress categories though.

... Harry Potter Goes Wrong next then?

The people have spoken.

I think Half a Sixpence could well have win the same three awards at the Oliviers. Charlie and the Choreography, in my opinion, are pretty much locks. I think it is Emma vs. Rebecca at this moment, and if they are going for performance, Rebecca does have the meatier role and was stunning. But Emma is great in the show, and does well with what she has. She also has three prior nominations and sometimes they vote based on body of work rather than just the one role, in which case, it will be Emma's to take home. I wouldn't mind either personally.

I also think, especially as it has gone into a full run rather than limited,  it could be the winner of Musical Revival too. It  was completely re-worked, re-wrote and re-staged the piece and made it work for todays audiences, and it worked out to stellar reviews and popularity with audiences. that is the one I would want to see win it personally!

Me too, absolutely freaking robbed.

Who won the sound design award? Oh.
They still don't do one. Rude.