‘Hairspray’ piled high with Olivier nods
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LONDON -- “Hairspray,” the bouncy, bouffant American musical, dominated the first stage of the 2008 Laurence Olivier Awards with 11 nominations.
Three Shakespearean superstars squared off for acting honors. Ian McKellen’s King Lear, Patrick Stewart’s Macbeth and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Othello all earned nominations Thursday for best actor in a play, alongside John Simm for the Norwegian comedy “Elling” and Mark Rylance for the farce “Boeing-Boeing.”
The Olivier awards, Britain’s equivalent of Broadway’s Tonys, honor achievements in London theater, musicals, dance and opera.
“Hairspray” opened in London in October, five years after the musical adaptation of John Waters’ 1988 cult film made its Broadway debut and went on to win eight Tony Awards. Among its nominations Thursday were best actress for 22-year-old Leanne Jones -- making her professional stage debut as Tracy Turnblad.
The winners will be announced March 9.
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