The cast of Hamilton, which has a record-breaking 13 Olivier Award nominations – the most in Oliviers history – will open the ceremony on Sunday 8 April 2018 with opening track ‘Alexander Hamilton’.
Also among the performances will be an appearance from American musical theatre legend Chita Rivera will perform the iconic West Side Story track ‘Somewhere’ with Andy Karl (Olivier Award 2017 winner for his performance in Groundhog Day), Adam J. Bernard (Olivier Award 2017 winner for his performance in Dreamgirls), and the Arts Educational Schools London Choir, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the production debuting in London.
A unique moment in honour of the 50th anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s iconic musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will take place, with past stars returning including Jason Donovan and Linzi Hateley, Lee Mead and Preeya Kalidas, and Joe McElderry and Danielle Hope.
Performances from nominated musicals will include: the cast of Hamilton; John McCrea and the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie; Sheila Atim and the cast of Girl From The North Country; Lesley Joseph and the cast of Young Frankenstein; Tracie Bennett from Follies; and the cast of 42nd Street.
The awards will continue its successful partnerships with ITV and Facebook. The Biggest Night In British Theatre: The Olivier Awards will be broadcast on ITV on Sunday 8 April from 10.20pm.
It will also broadcast worldwide at the same time, outside the UK, on the Olivier Awards Facebook page. The Oliviers will broadcast in China via iQiyi on Tuesday 10 April.
The awards will also continue its partnership with Magic Radio who will broadcast the entire show live on Sunday 8 April, hosted by Alice Arnold and Olivier Award-winner Ruthie Henshall, with build-up on air from 6pm. Sirius XM will broadcast the show via radio in the US.
The Red Carpet Live show will return this year from 4pm to 5.30pm, with a special interval Backstage show at 7pm, both shown exclusively on the Olivier Awards Facebook page.
Widely recognised as the most prestigious stage honours, this year’s Olivier Awards return to the Royal Albert Hall and will be hosted by Catherine Tate.
