‘Stranger Things,’ Nicole Scherzinger’s ‘Sunset Boulevard’ Win at U.K. Theater Awards – Global Bulletin
THEATER AWARDS
“Sunset Boulevard” was the big winner at the U.K.’s 24th annual WhatsOnStage Awards, which are decided entirely by the theatregoers themselves. It won seven awards, including best performer in a musical for Nicole Scherzinger, professional debut performance for Grace Hodgett Young, direction for Jamie Lloyd, lighting design for Jack Knowles, sound design for Adam Fisher, video design for Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom and music direction/supervision for Alan Williams.
“Guys & Dolls” won best musical revival, set design for Bunny Christie and graphic design by Muse Creative. “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” won best new play. James Norton won best performer in a play and Luke Thompson supporting performer for “A Little Life,” Ivo van Hove’s adaptation of the novel by Hanya Yanagihara. Best play revival was won by Chekhov’s “Vanya, adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens and starring Andrew Scott. Best new musical was won by “Operation Mincemeat.”
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Jack Wolfe won supporting performer in a musical for “Next to Normal”; Aimee Lou Wood best takeover for her turn as Sally Bowles in “Cabaret,” with the production also winning best West End show; and Matt Cole choreopgraphy for Disney’s “Newsies.” This year’s award for services to U.K. theater was presented to Rufus Norris, director of the National Theatre.
Performances at Sunday’s event at The London Palladium hosted by Bonnie Langford and Melanie La Barrie, included Disney’s “Newsies,” “Flowers for Mrs Harris,” “Guys & Dolls,” “La Cage aux Folles,” “Next to Normal,” “Operation Mincemeat,” “The Sound of Music,” a world premiere from “Burlesque the Musical” and a tribute to Chita Rivera.
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
Warner Bros. Discovery has upped Philippe Roucoule to SVP of EMEA consumer products, effective immediately. He was previously VP for category and retail business development.
Roucoule, who will report to WBD’s head of global consumer products Robert Oberschelp, succeeds Julian Moon, who is set to retire after 33 years with the company. The London-based exec will now be responsible for implanting strategic, operational and financial initiatives to maximize WBD’s key brands and franchises, including DC, Harry Potter and ‘Game of Thrones.
Moon will continue to oversee consumer producers for the Asia Pacific region as he works on a succession plan with Oberschelp and WBD leadership.
“I’ve known and worked with Philippe for a long time. His business acumen and deep relationships with retailers and partners across the region are unparalleled and I am thrilled for him to take on this role as we continue to grow our business in EMEA,” Robert Oberschelp.
ADVISORY ROLE
Tota Pte, an entertainment IP and Web3 undertaking from Singapore, has brought in David M. Uslan as a strategic advisor. Tota operates the Planet Tota ecosystem, which features hundreds of Asian superhero characters. It aims to expand the ecosystem to include games, comics and metaverse products, live action and animation movies and series. Korea’s CJ ENM is attached as distributor in some territories. It has opened a game development studio in Vietnam.
With a long career as a publisher and producer, and a legacy of involvement in the development of the “Batman” franchise, Uslan brings decades of IP and entertainment industry experience through the role.
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