WhatsOnStage Awards

It's time to pull the glad rags out of the wardrobe because the biggest night in the theatrical calendar is almost here, and this year it's going to be a big one as the WhatsOnStage Awards celebrate their 25th annual ceremony on 9 February. The star-studded evening will see performances from top West End talent and stellar celebrations as winners are crowned—previous years have seen the likes of Nicole Scherzinger, Jodie Comer, and Eddie Redmayne take home a win.

The whole night is sure to be a splendid affair, but we're particularly eager to find out who will take home the title of Best New Musical, as we're very excited to be sponsoring this award for another year. So many incredible productions burst onto the scene last year, but just six have made the final cut. Let's take a look at the nominations below…

'Babies'

This fun-filled coming-of-age story took over The Other Palace for just six weeks last summer, but it certainly made quite the impression. Written by Jack Godfrey and Martha Geelan, the story follows a group of year 11 students who have been tasked with looking after a plastic baby simulator doll for a week, in a bid to warn the youngsters of the perils of teenage pregnancy. As the week goes on, the students realise they’re not quite as ready to grow up yet as they had once thought.

Soundtracked by an "absolutely electric" (Radio Times) pop-rock score, this "sweetly affecting" (London Theatre) musical follows the students as they make heartwarming discoveries about friendship, family, life and love. 

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

This "deeply moving" (Time Out) adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's famed short story follows the life of Benjamin Button—a man born at the age of 70, with the fate of growing younger each day. Re-imagined in a Cornish fishing village, Jethro Compton's production offers a whimsical spin on the classic, with a playfulness that brings a lighter feel to this heartfelt story.

Audiences are whisked away to the coast by Darren Clark's "richly orchestrated and evocative" (Financial Times) score of folk tunes and sea shanties, brought to life by a 13-strong cast of actor-musicians playing 30 instruments. With high praise across the board, WhatsOnStage heralds it as "the best British musical in decades"—will we see this one bring home the prize?

'The Devil Wears Prada'

The icon herself, Miranda Priestley, strutted her way onto the West End last autumn when "The Devil Wears Prada" opened at the Dominion Theatre. Packed with "irresistible" (The Standard) songs from Elton John, this is "theatrical haute couture" (Digital Spy), with glitzy production, dramatic staging and, of course, stunning frocks.

Like the blockbuster film, this "razzle-dazzle" (British Vogue) musical adaptation follows aspiring journalist Andy as she navigates her new job at a prestigious fashion magazine—how far will she go to keep up with Priestley's demands and keep her place in this glamorous new world?  

The cast is full of talent, from the impressive Georgie Buckland in her West End debut as Andy to the ever-glamorous Vanessa Williams, who plays steely-eyed Priestley to a T. What else is there to say, except: "absolutely fabulous" (The Standard).

'MJ the Musical'

Speaking of icons... After taking Broadway by storm in 2021 with four Tony Award wins, "MJ the Musical" has finally made its way across the pond to us Brits. Centered around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour, audiences get an inside look into the creative mind of the legendary 'King of Pop' in this jukebox bio-musical.

Perhaps to be expected, the production features an "immaculate setlist and superb choreography" (Time Out), with plenty of the singer's best hits and no shortage of moonwalking. You'll also leave with a deeper understanding of the star's often tragic life, brought to the stage by the "formidable writing muscle" (The Independent) of Pulitzer-Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. 

'Mean Girls'

Like the 2004 movie, the stage production of "Mean Girls" "never allows for a dull moment", says The Telegraph. Tina Fey's adaptation of her original film script weaves in new and hilarious references to current pop culture and slang. 

The story is the same—at North Shore High, newbie Cady Heron has forged a plan to end the reign of the so-called 'Plastics' (Gretchen, Karen, and Regina—the queen bee). Except, this version also features a "riot of peppy, poppy" (The i) and "incredibly catchy" (London Theatre) songs, from Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin.

We finally got to see this "very, very funny" (Time Out) musical adaption on the West End last year after (eagerly) waiting six years since its Broadway premiere. So fetch! Now that it's here, London Theatre's advice is to "don your best pink shirt for this fun, life-affirming, super grool musical".

'Why Am I So Single?'

"Why Am I So Single?" is the latest venture from Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the writers of the smash-hit musical 'SIX'. It follows two best friends, Oliver and Nancy, sitting on the sofa quaffing prosecco as they ponder just why they are so single. They unpack the modern dating scene in a way that is "relatable and fun" (The Times) and at times moving, touching upon queerness, shame, rejection, and loss. WhatsOnStage says "once you give it your heart, it holds you".

It's "warm, bold, and overflowing with ideas" (WhatsOnStage), with "big outrageous musical numbers... that make you want to just get up there and dance" (Radio Times). You'll need to be quick if you want to catch this one while you still can, its last date at the Garrick Theatre is 19 January.

So, there we have it. One of these six spectacular productions will be taking home the prize in just a few weeks—which one will get your vote?