Nominations announced for 2009 MTM:UK Awards at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Musical Theatre Matters (MTM:UK) is a not-for-profit organisation established in the UK by and for professional theatre creatives/producers wishing to develop and champion new musicals, new opportunities and new writers throughout the UK.

The MTM:UK Awards were established in 2007 to champion the next generation of Musical Theatre producers, writers and shows.  Whilst Musical Theatre is not excluded from many other Edinburgh awards, the artform did not seem to be achieving the plaudits deserved by the creatives.  In addition we wanted to ensure that all new works received a review on-line which could help lead audiences, other critics, and talent spotters to this new work.  In the first two years we reviewed 132 mainly new works and 11 shows were selected for commendations and awards.

Many of those pieces, or the creatives involved have moved on – 6 of the 11 have had presentations in London, one has recently played the New York Summer Play Festival, three have had UK tours. With the help of the whole industry we can, we hope, raise the profile of the next generation of Musical Theatre so that audiences will grow familiar of new names, and welcome new projects.

This year, we’re proud to be associated with our sponsors, OD Musical (Korea) and Whatsonstage.com.

The nominations are as follows:

Nominations for the BEST BOOK for a NEW MUSICAL

• A-TEAM – THE MUSICAL – Gareth Kane
• ED: THE MUSICAL – Stuart Price
• MURDER MYSTERY MUSICAL – Alister Cameron and Shaun McKenna

Nominations for the BEST LYRICS for a NEW MUSICAL

• BARBERSHOPERA II – Rob Castell and Tom Sadler
• ED: THE MUSICAL – Michael Bruce
• OVER THE THRESHOLD – Christopher Hamilton

Nominations for the BEST MUSIC for a NEW MUSICAL

• BLOODBATH – THE MUSICAL – David Young & Julie Maguire
• ED: THE MUSICAL – Michael Bruce
• OVER THE THRESHOLD – Christopher Hamilton

Nominations for the BEST NEW MUSICAL

• ED: THE MUSICAL – Stuart Price (book), Michael Bruce (music/lyrics), Lauren Southwick (director) and Stopped Clock (producer)
• GREAT BRITISH SOAP OPERA, THE – Jake Brunger (book/lyrics), Pippa Cleary (music/lyrics), Luke Sheppard (director) and Take Note Theatre (producer)
• OVER THE THRESHOLD – Christopher Hamilton (music/book/lyrics), John Brant (director) and Jomo Productions in Association with Perfect Pitch (producers)
• PORN THE MUSICAL – Malcolm Galea (book/lyrics), Kris Spiteri (music/lyrics) and Boris Cezek (music/lyrics), Malcolm Galea (director) and Indiskarf with Latina Pictures (producers)

Nominations for the BEST PRODUCTION of a MUSICAL
(Both new productions and revivals are eligible for the award)

• ACCIDENTAL NOSTALGIA – Cynthia Hopkins with Jim Findlay and Jeff Sugg
• GREAT BRITISH SOAP OPERA, THE – Take Note Theatre
• REBEL CELL, THE – SPL
• SHOWSTOPPER! THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL – Showstopper Productions in association with The Sticking Place and Festival Highlights

In addition to the nominations, above, the panel wished to put forward nominations for a JUDGES DISCRETIONARY AWARD

• CYNTHIA HOPKINS – Accidental Nostalgia, for pushing the boundaries of performance through technology
• REBEL CELL, THE – For creative use of technology
• SHOWSTOPPER! THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL – For an ensemble that creates a first night, every night!

Commenting on the process, Awards Co-ordinator Fiona Orr said: "The nominations were reached unanimously after a passionate and lengthy debate within the assessment panel. The amount and quality of Musical Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year has impressed and we now look forward to the judging panel's final decisions on the winners."

Over the next week the Judges will review each show and reach agreement by the time of the announcement as part of a special gala event in aid of the Musicians Benevolent Fund at Musical Theatre @ George Square, Tuesday 25th August at 7.00pm.

Please click here to download the full press release.