Spotlight On: Best New Musical

Previous winners of the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Musical have included The Bodyguard, Jersey Boys and Wicked, all of which are continuing to receive rave reviews and sold out audiences.

Which show will be joining this marvelous medley of musicals? Only you can decide! Take a look at our spotlight on the category below and cast your votes here.

1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Following in the footsteps of another Roald Dahl stage adaptation, the WhatsOnStage multiple award winning Matilda, Willy Wonka's sweet-filled factory arrived at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in June 2013 and has been dazzling audiences with its ingenious stagecraft including chocolate lakes and flying glass elevators.

Written by David Greig and directed by the former artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse, Sam Mendes, the cast includes WhatsOnStage award nominees Douglas Hodge, Nigel Planer and Iris Roberts.

Critics have descbribed the show as 'A lavish feast of a musical' (Guardian), 'Dazzling Charlie is
choc full of delights!' (Daily Express) and 'A delicious Wonka Whipple – Scrumptious Treat!' (Huffington Post)

Willy or won't he? If you think Charlie should win Best New Musical, vote for it here today!

2. From Here to Eternity at the Shaftesbury

The world premiere production of Sir Tim Rice’s new musical flew into the Shaftesbury in October 2013. Adapted from a novel of the same name by James Jones and also a 1953 drama film directed by Fred Zinnemann, From Here to Eternity is a tale of illicit love and army life set in Pearl Harbour, 1941.

Critics have said: "Raw and gutsy… a terrific cast" (The Express), "Gritty and sexy" (The Independent) and "Highly enjoyable" (The Sunday Telegraph).

To put Sir Rice's newest show into the history books for eternity, vote for this show today.

3. Once at the Phoenix

Based on the 2007 Irish musical film written and directed by John Carney, Once has a book written by Enda Walsh and retained many of the songs written by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, including the Academy Award-winning "Falling Slowly".

The show has received superlative reviews including the Sunday Express saying that the show was "Unmissable", The Times said "if London audiences don’t love it to bits, I disown them" and the Sunday Express professed that it "will make your heart sing".

Once is also nominated for five WhatsOnStage Awards including; Best Actress and Actor in a Musical (Zrinka Cvitešić and Declan Bennett), Best Director (John Tiffany) and Best Original Music (Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová).

To give Once the luck of the Irish, head over to our voting page and vote for them today!

4. The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales

When its transfer to the West End was announced The Book of Mormon quickly became one of the most hotly anticipated tickets in the history of London theatre. Almost one year after it premiered at the Leicester Square venue, tickets are still flying out of their box office like hot cakes.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park) teamed up with Robert Lopez (Avenue Q) to create this religious satire musical which lampoons organized religion and traditional musical theatre, reflecting the creators' lifelong fascination with Mormonism and musicals.

The Book of Mormon has five nominations in total, including; Best Actor in a Musical (Gavin Creel), Best Supporting Actress in a Musical (Alexia Khadime), Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (Stephen Ashfield) and Best Choreographer (Casey Nicholaw).

The Evening Standard said it is "Indecently funny. The killer whale of comedy." The Daily Telegraph described it as "An unstoppable hit. Damnably clever and sharp." Whereas a Radio One DJ joked "Can someone get me a ticket?!"

If Elder Price sent you to heaven, vote for the Book of Mormon today!

5. The Light Princess at the National, Lyttelton

Based on the Scottish fairy tale by George MacDonald, The Light Princess is adapted by Samuel Adamson; directed by Marianne Elliott, winner of the Tony Award for Best Directing in 2011, and has music and lyrics by Tori Amos.

Reviews have included "A tour de force" (Time Out), "Rosalie Craig – a star is born" (Metro) and "a magical and ravishingly distinctive fusion of the theatrical arts" (Independent).

If The Light Princess is "A Sorta Fairytale" you'd like to win the award for Best New Musical then cast your vote here.

Which show will get your vote? Voting is open until January 31st, make sure you don't miss out on your chance to have your say on the only major theatre awards voted for by the public.