'Hamilton' takes 7 prizes at UK's top theatrical award

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Broadway's historical hip-hop musical “Hamilton” took home seven trophies including best new musical at the UK's top theatrical award – the Olivier Awards.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical about the US founding father Alexander Hamilton was nominated with a record 13 nods at Britain’s equivalent of the Tony Awards. The show, which turns an early chapter of US history into a compellingly modern story, opened in London in December after taking New York by storm.

In this file photo dated March 24, 2018, Lin-Manuel Miranda performs in support of gun control in Washington, the US. /AP Photo

Jamael Westman gained a best-actor nomination in the title role, but lost out to co-star Giles Terera, who plays Hamilton’s nemesis, Aaron Burr. Terera said it had been “the joy of my life” to perform with the most diverse company he’d ever been part of.

“Diversity is not a policy. It is life,” he said.

Backstage, the British actor said he knew the first time he saw “Hamilton” that the show was “the most extraordinary thing I’d ever heard and seen.”

Michael Jibson took the supporting-actor trophy for playing colonies-losing British monarch King George III in “Hamilton.”

The show – with a score that ranges from pop ballads and sexy R&B to rap battles – also won Oliviers for outstanding achievement in music, sound, lighting and choreography.

The seven wins didn’t beat the awards’ record haul of nine trophies, set last year by “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”

Jez Butterworth’s drama “The Ferryman,” about the past coming back to haunt a Northern Ireland family, won three prizes including best play, best director for Sam Mendes and best actress for Laura Donnelly.

Bryan Cranston attends The Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall on April 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

Bryan Cranston was named best actor in a play for his National Theatre performance as a news anchorman who snaps in “Network.” The former “Breaking Bad” star beat rivals who included Andrew Garfield, for playing a man with AIDS in the British revival of “Angels in America” and Andrew Scott for the title role of “Hamlet.”

Cranston said the play, based on Paddy Chayefsky’s 1970s screenplay, was highly relevant to the “world of post-truth,” fake news and too much information confronting people today.

The trophy for best actress in a musical went to Shirley Henderson for “Girl from the North Country.” Sheila Atim won the supporting-actress in a musical prize for the same production, a Depression-era drama set to the songs of Bob Dylan.

The National Theatre’s production of “Angels in America,” currently running on Broadway, was named best revival of a play. The British production’s Denise Gough was named best supporting actress for her performance as a Mormon woman in an unhappy marriage.

The National’s lush production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies” won the award for best musical revival.

James Graham’s politics-themed “Labour of Love” was named best new comedy. Bertie Carvel took the supporting actor prize for playing media mogul Rupert Murdoch in another play by Graham, “Ink.”

Sally Wood, from left, musicians Ronnie Wood, Brian May and actress Anita Dobson pose for photographers upon arrival at the Olivier Awards in London, April 8, 2018. /AP Photo

Named for the late British actor Laurence Olivier, the prizes honor achievements in London theater, musicals, dance and opera. Winners in most categories are chosen by a panel of stage professionals and theatergoers.

The Oliviers have become an increasingly glitzy affair in recent years, awarded at a black-tie ceremony studded with musical numbers.

Just as there was during Hollywood’s awards season, there was a somber overtone to the celebrations. Several British stage companies have recently committed to stamping out workplace abuse, after multiple allegations of sexual wrongdoing by powerful men in the entertainment industry.

Some actresses brought guests from feminist groups and organizations working against domestic violence to Sunday’s ceremony in a show of support for the Time’s Up movement.

(With input from AP)