MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO, STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE, More Lead 2023 Olivier Award Nominations 

The nominations are in! Leading the way is My Neighbour Totoro, the most nominated production of the season with 9. At the front of the musical category is Standing at the Sky’s Edge with eight nominations. The incoming Broadway juggernaut Prima Facie scored five, including for Jodie Comer in the Best Actress Category, Best New Play, and Best Director.

Based on the 1988 Studio Ghibli film, My Neighbour Totoro is nominated for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play, Best Director, Best Theatre Choreographer, Best Original Score, and a Best Actress nod for Mei Mac.

‍Standing At The Sky’s Edge, which is set in Sheffield and premiered in the city in 2019, has earned Richard Hawley his first Olivier nomination for Best Original Score or New Orchestrations. Other nominations include Best New Musical, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.

In the musical acting categories, Katie Brayben and Andrew Rannells are both in contention for their roles in Tammy Faye, also nominated for Best New Musical. The other nominees in that category are The Band’s Visit, Standing At The Sky’s Edge, and Sylvia.

Similar to Life of Pi last year, the Supporting Actor category found 6 performers nominated together. This time, it was the original cast of For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy. That play also scored a nod for Best New Play, where it will compete against Patriots, Prima Facie, and Bartlett Sher’s adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Earning seven nominations, including Best Musical Revival, was the transfer of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!. The production also garnered acting nominations for Arthur Darvill, Anoushka Lucas, Liza Sadovy, and Marisha Wallace. The musical revival category also includes My Fair Lady, Sister Act, and South Pacific.

With six nominations apiece are A Streetcar Named Desire, with nods for recent Oscar nominee Paul Mescal, along with co-stars Anjana Vasan and Patsy Ferran; The Band’s Visit; and To Kill A Mockingbird.

As previously announced, West End darling and Ted Lasso Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham will host the 2023 Olivier Awards at Royal Albert Hall. This year’s celebration, directed by Anthony Von Laast, will take place April 2 and be broadcast in the U.K. on ITV and Magic Radio.

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