Olivia Colman, Glenn Close and Mary Poppins receive Oscar nominations
The nominations for the 91st Academy Awards have now been announced, with the award ceremony taking place on Sunday 24th February. Over the 24 categories, some of theatre's biggest stars and composers have received nominations for awards at the upcoming ceremony.
Mary Poppins Returns has received four nominations, including best original score and best original song for "The Place Where Lost Things Go". Composing and creating the lyrics for the film was Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who are no strangers to creating a catchy song, having created the score for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Hairspray. If Shaiman wins an Academy Award at the ceremony, he will join an illustrious list of 15 previous winners including Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony award.
Nominations for Mary Poppins Returns have been announced days after dates for the upcoming production of Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre were announced. Mary Poppins tickets go on sale on 28th January.
In the best actress category, Olivia Colman is nominated for her performance as Queen Anne in The Favourite. Currently starring in the BBC television adaptation of Les Misérables as Madame Thenardier, she also starred in the 2017 production of Mosquitoes in the Dorfman Theatre at the National Theatre, opposite Olivia Williams.
Glenn Close has also received a nomination in the best actress category for her performance in The Wife. In 2016, Close starred as Norma Desmond in the 2016 revival of Sunset Boulevard at the London Coliseum and went on to reprise the role in the Broadway revival the following year. Throughout her career, she has won the Tony Award for best actress in a play twice and best actress in a musical, as well as being nominated for seven Academy Awards. Currently, Close has more Oscar nominations without winning a category than any other living actor.
Bohemian Rhapsody is up for five awards, including best picture and a nomination for Rami Malek as best actor for his performance as Freddie Mercury. The songs of Queen have been performed across stage and screen, with We Will Rock You playing at the Dominion Theatre from 2002 to 2014.
A Star Is Born has received the most nominations out of any musical film at the ceremony and is up for eight awards, including best movie, best actor, best actress as well as "Shallow" for best original song. The romantic country ballad sung between Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper reached the top spot on 20 separate music charts around the world.
The 91st Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday 24th February.
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