Barbershopera & Guys Shortlisted in MTM Awards
Shortlists are announced today (19 August 2010) in Edinburgh for the Musical Theatre Matters: UK Awards, sponsored for the second year in a row by Whatsonstage.com.
Barbershopera: Apocalypse? No!, the latest from the a capella quartet, and Fresher, a musical comedy about freshers week at university, lead the way with three nominations apiece, including Best New Musical. Other names on the shortlist include Gyles Brandreth and Che Walker, whose respective Wonderland and Lovesong, are both in the running for Best Book, and Clarke Peters, whose 20th-anniversary revival of his Five Guys Named Moe, is nominated for Best Musical Production.
Now in their fourth year, the MTM: UK Awards are the only prize-giving specifically dedicated to the musical genre at the Edinburgh Fringe. Traditionally, the Awards comprise five key categories: Best New Musical, Best Musical Production, Best Book, Best Music and Best Lyrics. From this year’s Fringe programme, a total of 58 musicals were initially deemed eligible for consideration for one or more award.
During the first two weeks of the festival, each show was visited twice by a team of assessors. Over the next week, the panel of judges – including Whatsonstage.com editorial director Terri Paddock – will pay each show a final visit before making their decision.
For the first time in 2010, there is a sixth award, which neither assessors nor judges have any say over. The new “People’s Choice” Favourite Fringe Musical prize, run by Whatsonstage.com taking a leaf out of our own annual “theatregoers’ choice” book, is decided by audience members, who can select from any of the eligible musicals – including big musical revivals – at this year’s festival. Voting continues until 24 August and only individuals’ first votes will be counted. To take part in the audience vote, click here.
Winners for all MTM: UK Awards will be announced at a gala ceremony at Edinburgh’s Pleasance Beyond at 3.30pm on Wednesday 25 August 2010.
For further details about the MTM:UK Awards, including eligibility criteria and the full list of shows being assessed for consideration in 2010, visit the Musical Theatre Matters website. The full list of 2010 nominations is as follows.
BEST NEW MUSICAL
Barbershopera – Apocalypse? No! – Pleasance Dome – Barbershopera Productions and Festival Highlights
Fresher – Zoo Roxy – Paulden Productions and The Blue Penguin
Next Thing You Know – C – Sell a Door Theatre Company
Ovid’s Metamorphoses – Pleasance Dome – Pants on Fire
Ray Bradbury’s 2116 – C Plaza – Gallimaufry
BEST BOOK
Barbershopera – Apocalypse? No! – Rob Castell and Tom Sadler
Lovesong – Che Walker
Wonderland – Gyles Brandreth
BEST LYRICS
Barbershopera – Apocalypse? No! – Rob Castell and Tom Sadler
Fresher – Mark Aspinall
Next Thing You Know – Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham
BEST MUSIC
Fresher – Mark Aspinall
The Emperor’s Quest – Susannah Pearce and YounYoung Park
The House of Mirrors and Hearts – C – Eamonn O’Dwyer
BEST PRODUCTION
Five Guys Named Moe – Udderbelly’s Pasture – Underbelly/Theatre Royal Stratford East in Association With Cameron Mackintosh Ltd
Hamlet! The Musical – Pleasance Courtyard – Eleanor Lloyd Productions
Maria de Buenos Aires – Zoo Southside – Teatro Di Capua
Reel to Real: The Movie Musical – Pleasance Courtyard – Huairou Management and Broadway Asia International
Tripod Versus the Dragon – Assembly @ Assembly Hall – Assembly, Marnie Foulis and Tripod Entertainment
Zambezi Express – Assembly @ Assembly Hall – Sabela Music Projects and Siyaya Arts
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