"Hairspray" smashes UK theater nominations record

LONDON (Reuters) - The flamboyant retro musical "Hairspray" on Thursday won a record 11 nominations for the Laurence Olivier Awards, Britain's top theater prizes.

Leanne Jones and Michael Ball, stars of the box office smash, led the show's bid for a clean sweep of acting awards in a musical.

The battle for best actor took on Shakespearean proportions, as Ian McKellen was nominated for his portrayal of King Lear, facing off against Patrick Stewart's Macbeth and Chiwetel Ejiofor's Othello.

The other contenders for best actor were John Simm for his role in "Elling" and Mark Rylance for his performance in "Boeing-Boeing."

Kristin Scott Thomas earned a bid for best actress for her critically acclaimed role in "The Seagull" but could face tough competition from Fiona Shaw in "Happy Days."

London's West End theater district posted 13.6 million box-office admissions in 2007, according to official figures.

Box office receipts were boosted by shows like "The Sound of Music" revival, which had tie-ins to TV reality shows that picked its stars in talent contests.

The Olivier Awards are presented by actor Richard E. Grant in London on March 9.

Reuters/Nielsen