The Full List of Olivier Award Winning Musicals
Get ready to dive into the world of Laurence Olivier Award winning musicals! This blog post celebrates the outstanding achievements of the productions that have left a lasting impact on the West End. From beloved classics to groundbreaking contemporary works, here’s a list of every show that has earned the prestigious title of Best New Musical.
Olivier Award Winning Musicals
Music/Lyrics/Book: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, Zoë Roberts
Olivier Award Year: 2024
Music/Lyrics: Richard Hawley Book: Chris Bush
Olivier Award Year: 2023
Music/Lyrics: Alan Silvestri, Glen Ballard Book: Bob Gale
Olivier Award Year: 2022
Music/Lyrics: Benj Pasek, Justin Paul Book: Steven Levenson
Olivier Award Year: 2020
Music/Lyrics/Book: Irene Sankoff, David Hein
Olivier Award Year: 2019
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Olivier Award Year: 2018
Music/Lyrics: Tim Minchin Book: Danny Rubin
Olivier Award Year: 2017
Music/Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper Book: Harvey Fierstein
Olivier Award Year: 2016
Music/Lyrics: Ray Davies Book: Joe Penhall
Olivier Award Year: 2015
Music/Lyrics/Book: Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone
Olivier Award Year: 2014
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: Matthew White, Howard Jacques
Olivier Award Year: 2013
Music/Lyrics: Tim Minchin Book: Dennis Kelly
Olivier Award Year: 2012
Music/Lyrics: Nell Benjamin, Laurence O’Keefe Book: Heather Hach
Olivier Award Year: 2011
Music: Duncan Sheik Lyrics/Book: Steven Sater
Olivier Award Year: 2010
Music: Bob Gaudio Lyrics: Bob Crewe Book: Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice
Olivier Award Year: 2009
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Mark O’Donnell, Thomas Meehan
Olivier Award Year: 2008
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Tony Kushner
Olivier Award Year: 2007
Music: Elton John Lyrics/Book: Lee Hall
Olivier Award Year: 2006
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mel Brooks Book: Thomas Meehan
Olivier Award Year: 2005
Music/Lyrics/Book: Richard Thomas, Stewart Lee
Olivier Award Year: 2004
Music/Lyrics: Madness Book: Tim Firth
Olivier Award Year: 2003
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: George Furth
Olivier Award Year: 2001
Music: George Stiles Lyrics/Book: Anthony Drewe
Olivier Award Year: 2000
Music: Taliep Petersen Lyrics/Book: David Kramer
Olivier Award Year: 1999
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Howard Ashman, Tim Rice Book: Linda Woolverton
Olivier Award Year: 1998
Music/Book: Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics/Book: Alain Boublil Lyrics: Edward Hardy, Stephen Clark
Olivier Award Year: 1997
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Francis Essex, Rob Bettinson
Olivier Award Year: 1996
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Olivier Award Year: 1995
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: David Zippel Book: Larry Gelbart
Olivier Award Year: 1994
Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Book: Ken Ludwig
Olivier Award Year: 1993
Music: Georges Bizet Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Olivier Award Year: 1992
Sunday in the Park with George
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Olivier Award Year: 1991
Return to the Forbidden Planet
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Bob Carlton
Olivier Award Year: 1989/1990
Music/Lyrics: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Richard Wilbur, John La Touche, Stephen Sondheim, Dorothy Parker Book: John Caird, Hugh Wheeler, Lillian Hellman
Olivier Award Year: 1988
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Goldman
Olivier Award Year: 1987
Music/Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Charles Hart Lyrics/Book: Richard Stilgoe
Olivier Award Year: 1986
Music: Noel Gay Lyrics/Book: Douglas Furber, L. Arthur Rose
Olivier Award Year: 1985
Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin, Johnny Mercer Book: Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble
Olivier Award Year: 1984
Music/Lyrics/Book: Willy Russell
Olivier Award Year: 1983
Music: Monty Norman Lyrics/Book: Peter Nichols
Olivier Award Year: 1982
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: T.S. Eliot, Trevor Nunn, Richard Stilgoe
Olivier Award Year: 1981
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Hugh Wheeler
Olivier Award Year: 1980
Music/Book: Monty Norman Lyrics/Book: Julian More
Olivier Award Year: 1979
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Olivier Award Year: 1978
Music: Guy Woolfenden Lyrics/Book: Trevor Nunn
Olivier Award Year: 1977
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: Edward Kleban Book: James Kirkwood, Nicholas Dante
Olivier Award Year: 1976
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Which of these Laurence Olivier Award winning musicals is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the above Best New Musical winners? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you enjoy exploring these lists, check out the musical database, where you can discover musicals organized by composer, theme, setting, and much more!
Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She holds a BA in theatre and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.