WINNERS' SPEECHES
Here's what the people behind the performances and productions you voted for had to say about being your Theatregoers' Choice for the very best that theatre had to offer in 2006. We will continue to make trophy presentations over the coming days and weeks so do check back for updated photos and comments. Congratulations again to all of this year's winners!
Best Actress in a Play
Judi Dench – Hay Fever at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
“Recently an American friend asked me, ‘Does the audience make a difference?’ I replied, ‘The audience makes ALL the difference. It is, after all, who we do it for.’ I’m delighted to win this award, particularly as it’s given by theatregoers. I thank you all enormously.” – Judi Dench
Best Actor in a Play
Kevin Spacey – A Moon for the Misbegotten at the Old Vic
“It’s very gratifying for me personally to receive this award, but even more so for us as a company because it represents an entire production. There is no way that my work on A Moon for the Misbegotten can be recognised without everyone else involved being part of it too, including our extraordinary director. To have been under the guiding hand of Howard Davies yet again in another remarkable Eugene O’Neill piece with a cast who believed in the play and Howard’s vision of it was a huge experience for everyone. And now we have the joy of taking it to Broadway as the first Old Vic Company production on Broadway. It’s very exciting - and to receive this just before we set off for New York is just wonderful. So thank you to all those people who came to see the play and to all of you who participated on the website and voted.” – Kevin Spacey
Best Supporting Actress in a Play
Helen Schlesinger – The Crucible, RSC at the Gielgud
“The Crucible was a production that I was so proud of and it feels really special that audience members who enjoyed it have voted. It’s thrilling when an accolade comes from the public. The fact that these awards have so many categories makes them feel more like a real celebration of what’s going on in theatre today.”
– Helen Schlesinger
Best Supporting Actor in a Play
Colm Meaney – A Moon for the Misbegotten at the Old Vic
“It is lovely to receive an award that’s given by audiences – as the only criteria they have is their experience at the theatre and it’s nice to know that one has connected to the audience – so thank you very much!”
– Colm Meaney
Best Actress in a Musical
Idina Menzel – Wicked at the Apollo Victoria
“To all of you wonderful theatregoers who voted for me, thank you so much for this amazing honour. I could not have imagined a better way to make my West End debut than with this unbelievable cast and crew and the incredible love and support that everyone has shown me. I came to this town with some old green make-up and left completely in love with the people and the city. It means so much to me that the green girl was greeted with such warmth and was able to make her transcontinental voyage. This has been a life-changing experience for me that wouldn't have been possible had it not been for all of you. Can't wait to come back soon! “
– Idina Menzel
Best Actor in a Musical
Tim Curry – Spamalot at the Palace
“A huge thanks to the readers of Whatsonstage.com for voting me Best Actor in a Musical. It is particularly encouraging because all of you who have voted are theatre geeks – in other words, people who have a genuine and ongoing, not to say obsessive, interest in the theatre itself, as I do. Phyllida Law (mother of Emma Thompson) came to see Spamalot and said that she had not seen an audience welcome an actor back home like that since Robert Donat came home after the war. I certainly felt highly blessed that you hadn’t forgotten me. I hope that this means I am allowed to come back again, because it is you that matters.
Thank you. I am sooooo chuffed!” – Tim Curry
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
Miriam Margolyes – Wicked at the Apollo Victoria
“I am absolutely thrilled to have been voted Best Supporting Actress in a Musical in the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Awards 2007. It's especially wonderful because I know the voters are audience members, who love theatre and thought I did a good job, even though I can't sing! My last musical was Fiddler on the Roof, 37 years ago! I was terrified of being in Wicked, but it's the happiest professional experience I've ever had: I adore coming in to work every day. I love wearing those fabulous costumes and wigs and having my face made up so brilliantly by Chris Redman. I relish the performances of my fellow actors; being on stage with Idina and Kerry and Helen and Nigel and Adam is a treat. The ensemble are gorgeous – I perve over their bodies as they change costumes backstage in the half-light. And then at the curtain call, seeing the whole audience leap to their feet every show – I know I’ll never have anything like it again. So winning this award is the icing on a very delicious cake. A big hug to all who voted for me. Thank you so very much.” – Miriam Margolyes
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
Tom Goodman-Hill – Spamalot at the Palace
“I have never received an award in my entire career and Spamalot is my first musical as well, so for me to receive this accolade is a double whammy. To be voted for by the people who actually come and see what you do makes it even more special. So thanks everyone. What a surprise! I really didn’t think I would get it.
In fact, I can’t quite believe it’s happened.” – Tom Goodman-Hill
Best Solo Performance
Patrick Stewart – A Christmas Carol at the Albery
"The most important aspect of this award for me is that it has come from theatregoers - people who love the drama and love entertainment and take the trouble to go out and see it, particularly when this show was on in the West End because it was during a specially cold and bleak winter, which I guess was highly appropriate for A Christmas Carol. So to get an acknowledgement from one's audience is the best accolade of all. I have an entire Christmas Carol wall in my office, which includes a signed letter from Charles Dickens, and this award will be joining it." – Patrick Stewart
Best Ensemble Performance
Avenue Q – at the Noël Coward
“It’s absolutely fantastic to win this award. Because we’re a show that depends on a new breed of theatregoing audience, including lots of younger people, it’s amazing to have them out there voting for us and especially on the internet in that way (note from editor to Simon’s friend Trekkie Monster: you see, the internet isn’t just for porn). It’s awesome too that this award is for the whole company. We all just want to say thank you very, very, very much for choosing us. Thank you everybody. Spread the word, spread the love, spread the Q.”
– Simon Lipkin (Trekkie Monster/Nicky/Bear)
“Ann Harada, our original Christmas Eve, isn’t here anymore, and she was a very big part of the company. So I’d like to say thank you on behalf of her as well as the rest of us.” – Giles Terera (Gary Coleman)
In chorus from the whole company (puppets & humans): “THANK YOU!!!!”
Best Takeover in a Role
Patrick Swayze – Guys & Dolls at the Piccadilly
CHECK BACK FOR ACCEPTANCE COMMENTS.
The NICK HERN BOOKS Best New Play
Rock ‘n’ Roll by Tom Stoppard – at the Royal Court & Duke of York’s
“Rock ‘n’ Roll has been one of my most satisfying experiences, so I am especially glad that it’s turned out to be a Theatregoers’ Choice – the most satisfying kind of review.” – Tom Stoppard
Best New Comedy
The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow – at the Tricycle & Criterion
“Hurrah! I’m so delighted and happy to win this. The 39 Steps was a fantastic group effort. I was very lucky to be asked to do it. Thanks to everyone who voted for us.” – Patrick Barlow
“I doubt that I shall ever work with such a hard-working cast and company as this one for The 39 Steps. We did have a slightly awkward moment in the early days when Patrick Barlow discovered that Hitchcock had spent six weeks in a boat on the Thames with his writer to get the screenplay together, eating smoked salmon and drinking champagne. That's the way to write, thought Patrick.” – Edward Snape, producer
The SUPERBREAK Best New Musical
Wicked – at the Apollo Victoria
“On behalf of my colleagues Marc Platt and David Stone and everyone at Universal, I’d like to thank all the theatregoers who voted for us and to offer my personal congratulations to Stephen Schwartz, Winnie Holzman and our incredibly talented London cast. It is very exciting for us all that Wicked has been honoured by the theatregoing public. We are thrilled to have won all four of our Theatregoers’ Choice Awards and particularly delighted to have been named Best New Musical.” - Michael McCabe, executive producer
Best Play Revival
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – at the Apollo
"I'm thrilled! All the co-producers are absolutely thrilled with this audience award, too. Without the audience, we're nothing. We must pay tribute to our great author Edward Albee, to Anthony Page the director, who served the play so well and brought the best out of four wonderful actors, led by Kathleen Turner and Bill Irwin, and last but certainly not least to Liz McCann, the original Broadway producer." – Nica Burns, producer
The CAMPO VIEJO Best Musical Revival
The Sound of Music - at the London Palladium
"I am so thrilled that The Sound of Music has won Best Musical Revival at the 2007 Theatregoers’ Choice Awards. It has been a privilege to produce such a timeless classic in a new and exciting way for this millennium." – David Ian, co-producer, LiveNation
“Producing The Sound of Music has been a long-held ambition of mine and I am so delighted that the public has responded in this way. In Connie Fisher, we have found our perfect Maria, and the whole production has made me immensely proud. I'd like to thank the voters in the Theatregoers’ Choice Awards for supporting this fantastic show and our wonderful leading lady and cast. Congratulations must go to the production team and Rodgers and Hammerstein.” – Andrew Lloyd Webber, co-producer, Really Useful Group
The SHAKESPEARE 4 KIDZ Best Shakespearean Production
As You Like It – RSC at the Novello
“As You Like It was a show that meant a great deal to me. I had an extraordinary cast led by Lia Williams and a first-rate team of Rae Smith, Paule Constable, Paul Arditti, Gary Yershon and Liz Ranken. Thank you so much to Whatsonstage.com and to everyone who voted for this show.” – Dominic Cooke, director
Best Set Designer
Eugene Lee – Wicked at the Apollo Victoria
“Thank you so much for this award... I am so pleased to receive it, especially as it’s given by theatregoers! The public are always the best critics, the ones we really do the work for. And it’s also very special to me to be honoured in Britain, as my wife and I love your country – I proposed to her in London, in fact! – and also, my favourite sailboat was shipped to me from Lymington. So I am doubly pleased. The designing of Wicked was a labour of love, and it’s been thrilling to have it be so well received! My colleagues and I are fortunate, indeed. Thank you so much.” – Eugene Lee
Best Choreographer
Rob Ashford – Evita at the Adelphi
"I am so pleased Rob has been recognised for Evita. His dazzling variations on the tango and the waltz bring a distinctive Latin American energy to Michael Grandage’s production." – Andrew Lloyd Webber, show composer & producer, Really Useful Group
“It is such an honour to be recognised for a production that I am so very proud of, in a city that I've grown to love. Many thanks to Michael Grandage and the Really Useful Company for giving me this opportunity. A special thanks to Elena Roger and a cast of dedicated dancers at the Adelphi.” – Rob Ashford
The STUART PHILLIPS London Newcomer of the Year
Connie Fisher – The Sound of Music at the London Palladium
“It’s a real honour to win this award as Newcomer of the Year. I am having the time of my life! There are so many people I need to thank – first and foremost Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian for creating such an opportunity. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and especially everyone who voted for me. Thanks also to the Really Useful Group and my agent Sam at CAM for their constant guidance and support. Also Jeremy Sams, Anna Linstrum and The Sound of Music cast – this is such a massive learning curve, thanks for being so welcoming and supportive. Last but not least, I need to thank my Mum and Nanna Dot for their love and support – and voting for me so many times – without it I wouldn’t be Maria.” – Connie Fisher
“I am thrilled for Connie to win this prestigious award, she thoroughly deserves it. The people loved her and voted for on television and now they have voted for her again. As everybody knows, I believe she is the most exciting musical theatre talent to have been discovered in decades, so the voting public should get an award as well!” – Andrew Lloyd Webber, co-producer, Really Useful Group
Best Off-West End Production
Little Shop of Horrors – at the Menier Chocolate Factory
"It's a huge honour to win this award. We've won it for the last two years and we've only been going for three years - I think three out of three is an extraordinary track record! So thank you very much to all the theatregoers who voted for us and thank you very much to Whatsonstage.com. It's very exciting. We love the show and we love the fact that so many other people love it. I hope lots more people will come and see it in the West End to see Alistair McGowan and have fun!"
– David Babani, artistic director, Menier Chocolate Factory
Best Regional Production
Me & My Girl - on tour
“I’m totally thrilled to be honoured and recognised on the new theatrical frontline. The internet and websites are becoming more and more important as a means of feedback, promotion and sales. So this award comes from the beating heart of the industry.” - Alex Armitage, Noel Gay, co-producer
The NOW MAGAZINE Theatre Event of the Year
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
– leading to the first West End star being cast via reality TV
“When you try something new in theatre, there are always those who will criticise and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? was no exception. But the whole experience has been so worthwhile. Not only have we achieved our goal of finding a new star for The Sound of Music, but so many of the finalists have gone on to secure their first professional roles in musical theatre, as a direct result of the show. I am hugely proud of the talent the show unearthed and of the fact that we showcased musical theatre in front of millions of TV viewers every week for twelve weeks.” – Andrew Lloyd Webber, judge & The Sound of Music co-producer
"How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? was one of those rare occasions when everything gelled together to create a true phenomenon – great for the TV industry, great for the theatre industry and truly wonderful for Connie Fisher, one of the most talented newcomers to be discovered in decades." – David Ian, judge & The Sound of Music co-producer |
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