The 22nd WhatsOnStage Awards were presented Sunday night at London’s Prince of Wales Theatre. Frozen went into the evening with the most nominations (13) and earned the most wins (7), primarily in the technical categories. Among the other new musical nominees, Back to the Future converted four of its nine nods, and Cinderella managed one of its seven, while Get Up, Stand Up! (10 nominations), Moulin Rouge! (7), and Pretty Women (2) all went home empty-handed.
The wins for Frozen included direction (Michael Grandage), music direction (Stephen Oremus), choreography (Rob Ashford), set design (Christopher Oram), costume design (Christopher Oram), video design (Finn Ross), and graphic design (Bob King Creative). Back to the Future earned wins for new musical, supporting actor (Hugh Coles as George McFly), lighting design (Tim Lutkin), and sound design (Gareth Owen). The lone win for Cinderella was for its title actress (Carrie Hope Fletcher).
Among revivals, Anything Goes earned two wins among its four nominations, including revival and supporting actress (Carly Mercedes Dyer as Moonface’s girlfriend Erma), while Cabaret earned actor (Eddie Redmayne as Emcee) among its seven nods, and the Hope Mill (Manchester) Rent earned regional show among its five nods. Chichester Festival’s South Pacific, Regent’s Park Carousel, and West Side Story at Curve, Leicester, saw no wins among their multiple nomiations.
The remaining top winners include Rob Madge’s solo play with music My Son’s a Queer but What Can You Do?, which earned Best Off-West End Production, and the girl-power Tudor queen musical Six, which was named Best West End Show.