The Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of the "world-class status of London theatre." The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
Winners and nominees 1970s Year Musical Book Music Lyrics 1976 A Chorus Line James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante Marvin Hamlisch Edward Kleban Ipi Tombi Bertha Egnos Gail Lakier Side by Side by Sondheim Ned Sherrin Various Artists Stephen Sondheim Very Good Eddie Philip Bartholomae and Guy Bolton Jerome Kern Schuyler Green and Herbert Reynolds 1977 The Comedy of Errors Trevor Nunn Guy Woolfenden Trevor Nunn Bubbling Brown Sugar Loften Mitchell Eubie Blake I Love My Wife Michael Stewart Cy Coleman Michael Stewart Something's Afoot James MacDonald, Davis Vos and Robert Gerlach 1978 Evita Tim Rice Andrew Lloyd Webber Tim Rice Annie Thomas Meehan Charles Strouse Martin Charnin Elvis Jack Good and Ray Cooney Various Artists 1979 Songbook Monty Norman and Julian More Monty Norman Monty Norman and Julian More Ain't Misbehavin' Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr. Fats Waller Various Artists Bar Mitzvah Boy Jack Rosenthal Jule Styne Don Black Chicago Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse John Kander Fred Ebb
1980s Year Musical Book Music Lyrics 1980 Sweeney Todd Hugh Wheeler Stephen Sondheim They're Playing Our Song Neil Simon Marvin Hamlisch Carole Bayer Sager Tom Foolery Cameron Mackintosh Tom Lehrer On the Twentieth Century Betty Comden and Adolph Green Cy Coleman Betty Comden and Adolph Green 1981 Cats Trevor Nunn Andrew Lloyd Webber T. S. Eliot Barnum Mark Bramble Cy Coleman Michael Stewart One Mo' Time Vernel Bagneris Various Artists The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Larry L. King and Peter Masterson Carol Hall 1982 Poppy Peter Nichols Monty Norman Peter Nichols Andy Capp Trevor Peacock Alan Price Trevor Peacock and Alan Price Underneath the Arches Patrick Garland, Brian Glanville and Roy Hudd Various Artists Windy City Dick Vosburgh Tony Macaulay Dick Vosburgh 1983 Blood Brothers Willy Russell Bashville Benny Green and David William Denis King Benny Green Little Shop of Horrors Howard Ashman Alan Menken Howard Ashman Snoopy Warren Lockhart, Arthur Whitelaw and Michael Grace Larry Grossman Hal Hackady 1984 42nd Street Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble Harry Warren Al Dubin The Hired Man Melvyn Bragg Howard Goodall Pump Boys and Dinettes Various Artists Starlight Express Trevor Nunn Andrew Lloyd Webber Richard Stilgoe 1985 Me and My Girl L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber Noel Gay L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber Les Misérables Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg Claude-Michel Schönberg Alain Boublil and Herbert Kretzmer 1986 The Phantom of the Opera Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe Andrew Lloyd Webber Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe Chess Richard Nelson Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus Tim Rice and Björn Ulvaeus H.M.S. Pinafore Bill Whelan Arthur Sullivan W. S. Gilbert Wonderful Town Joseph A. Fields and Jerome Chodorov Leonard Bernstein Betty Comden and Adolph Green 1987 Follies James Goldman Stephen Sondheim Blues in the Night Sheldon Epps Various Artists Kiss Me, Kate Samuel and Bella Spewack Cole Porter Up on the Roof Simon Moore and Jane Prowse Various Artists 1988 Candide Hugh Wheeler Leonard Bernstein Richard Wilbur and Stephen Sondheim Babes in Arms Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart Richard Rodgers Lorenz Hart Blood Brothers Willy Russell The Wizard of Oz John Kane Harold Arlen and Herbert Stothart E. Y. Harburg 1989/90 Return to the Forbidden Planet Bob Carlton The Baker's Wife Joseph Stein Stephen Schwartz Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story Alan Janes Various Artists Miss Saigon Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil Claude-Michel Schönberg Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr.
1990s Year Musical Book Music Lyrics 1991 Sunday in the Park with George James Lapine Stephen Sondheim Into the Woods James Lapine Stephen Sondheim 1992 Carmen Jones Oscar Hammerstein II Bizet Oscar Hammerstein II Phantom of the Opera Ken Hill 1993 Crazy for You Ken Ludwig George and Ira Gershwin Assassins John Weidman Stephen Sondheim Grand Hotel Luther Davis Robert Wright, George Forrest and Maury Yeston Kiss of the Spider Woman Terrence McNally John Kander Fred Ebb 1994 City of Angels Larry Gelbart Cy Coleman David Zippel Sunset Boulevard Don Black and Christopher Hampton Andrew Lloyd Webber Don Black and Christopher Hampton 1995 Once on This Island Lynn Ahrens Stephen Flaherty Lynn Ahrens Copacabana Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman Barry Manilow Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman Hot Shoe Shuffle Larry Buttrose and Kathryn Riding Various Artists Only the Lonely, The Roy Orbison Story Shirlie Roden and Jon Miller Keith Strachan 1996 Jolson Francis Essex and Rob Bettinson Fame José Fernandez Steve Margoshes Jacques Levy Hot Mikado David H. Bell Rob Bowman David H. Bell Mack & Mabel Michael Stewart Jerry Herman 1997 Martin Guerre Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil Claude-Michel Schönberg Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil Nine Arthur Kopit Maury Yeston Passion James Lapine Stephen Sondheim 1998 Beauty and the Beast Linda Woolverton Alan Menken Howard Ashman and Tim Rice Enter the Guardsman Scott Wentworth Craig Bohmler Marion Adler The Fix John Dempsey Dana P. Rowe John Dempsey Lady in the Dark Moss Hart Kurt Weill Ira Gershwin 1999 Kat and the Kings David Kramer Taliep Petersen David Kramer Rent Jonathan Larson Saturday Night Fever Various Writers Bee Gees Whistle Down the Wind Patricia Knop, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gale Edwards Andrew Lloyd Webber Jim Steinman
2000s Year Musical Book Music Lyrics 2000 Honk! Anthony Drewe George Stiles Anthony Drewe Mamma Mia! Catherine Johnson Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus Spend Spend Spend Steve Brown and Justin Greene Steve Brown Steve Brown and Justin Greene The Lion King Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi Elton John Tim Rice 2001 Merrily We Roll Along George Furth Stephen Sondheim Fosse Richard Maltby Jr. and Ann Reinking Various Artists The Beautiful Game Ben Elton Andrew Lloyd Webber Ben Elton The Witches of Eastwick John Dempsey Dana P. Rowe John Dempsey 2003 Our House Tim Firth Madness Bombay Dreams Meera Syal A. R. Rahman Don Black Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jeremy Sams Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman Taboo Mark Davies Markham Boy George 2004 Jerry Springer Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas Ragtime Terrence McNally Stephen Flaherty Lynn Ahrens Thoroughly Modern Millie Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan Jeanine Tesori Dick Scanlan 2005 The Producers Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan Mel Brooks Mary Poppins Julian Fellowes Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, George Stiles and Anthony Drewe The Woman in White Charlotte Jones Andrew Lloyd Webber David Zippel 2006 Billy Elliot Lee Hall Elton John Lee Hall Acorn Antiques Victoria Wood The Big Life Paul Sirett Paul Joseph Paul Sirett 2007 Caroline, or Change Tony Kushner Jeanine Tesori Tony Kushner Avenue Q Jeff Whitty Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx Spamalot Eric Idle John Du Prez and Eric Idle Eric Idle Porgy and Bess DuBose Heyward George Gershwin DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin 2008 Hairspray Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan Marc Shaiman Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman The Drowsy Chaperone Bob Martin and Don McKellar Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison The Lord of the Rings Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus A. R. Rahman, Värttinä and Christopher Nightingale Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus Parade Alfred Uhry Jason Robert Brown 2009 Jersey Boys Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice Bob Gaudio Bob Crewe Zorro Stephen Clark and Helen Edmundson Gipsy Kings and John Cameron Stephen Clark
2010s Year Musical Book Music Lyrics 2010 Spring Awakening Steven Sater Duncan Sheik Steven Sater Dreamboats and Petticoats Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran Various Artists Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott Various Artists Sister Act Cheri and Bill Steinkellner Alan Menken Glenn Slater 2011 Legally Blonde Heather Hach Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin Fela! Bill T. Jones and Jim Lewis Fela Kuti Love Never Dies Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton Andrew Lloyd Webber Glenn Slater Love Story Stephen Clark Howard Goodall Stephen Clark and Howard Goodall 2012 Matilda Dennis Kelly Tim Minchin Betty Blue Eyes Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman George Stiles Anthony Drewe Ghost Bruce Joel Rubin Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard Dave Stewart, Glen Ballard and Bruce Joel Rubin London Road Alecky Blythe Adam Cork Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork Shrek David Lindsay-Abaire Jeanine Tesori David Lindsay-Abaire 2013 Top Hat Matthew White and Howard Jacques Irving Berlin Loserville James Bourne and Elliot Davis Soul Sister John Miller and Pete Brooks Various Artists The Bodyguard Alexander Dinelaris Various Artists 2014 The Book of Mormon Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone Charlie and the Chocolate Factory David Greig Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Once Enda Walsh Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová The Scottsboro Boys David Thompson John Kander Fred Ebb 2015 Sunny Afternoon Joe Penhall Ray Davies Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Douglas McGrath Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil Here Lies Love David Byrne David Byrne and Fatboy Slim David Byrne Memphis Joe DiPietro David Bryan David Bryan and Joe DiPietro 2016 Kinky Boots Harvey Fierstein Cyndi Lauper Bend It Like Beckham Gurinder Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges Howard Goodall Charles Hart In the Heights Quiara Alegría Hudes Lin-Manuel Miranda Mrs Henderson Presents Terry Johnson George Fenton and Simon Chamberlin Don Black 2017 Groundhog Day Danny Rubin Tim Minchin Dreamgirls Tom Eyen Henry Krieger Tom EyenThe Girls Tim Firth and Gary Barlow School of Rock Julian Fellowes Andrew Lloyd Webber Glenn Slater2018HamiltonLin-Manuel MirandaAn American in ParisCraig LucasGeorge GershwinIra GershwinEverybody's Talking About JamieTom MacRaeDan Gillespie SellsTom MacRaeGirl from the North CountryConor McPhersonBob DylanYoung FrankensteinMel Brooks and Thomas MeehanMel Brooks2019Come from Awaycolspan=3 |David Hein and Irene Sankoff'|- |Fun Home|Lisa Kron |Jeanine Tesori |Lisa Kron |- |Six|colspan=3 |Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss |- |Tina''Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar and Kees PrinsTina Turner
2020s Year Musical Book Music Lyrics2020Dear Evan HansenSteven LevensonJustin PaulBenj Pasek& Juliet David West ReadMax MartinAmélieCraig LucasDaniel Messé Daniel Messé and Nathan TysenWaitressJessie NelsonSara Bareilles 2021 Not presented due to extended closing of theatre productions during COVID-19 pandemic2022Back to the Future: The MusicalBob Gale and Robert Zemeckis Alan Silvestri Glen BallardThe Drifters GirlEd Curtis and Tina TreadwellVarious ArtistsFrozen Jennifer LeeKristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert LopezGet Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley MusicalLee HallBob MarleyMoulin Rouge! The MusicalJohn LoganVarious Artists2023Standing at the Sky's EdgeChris Bush Richard HawleyThe Band's VisitItamar MosesDavid YazbekSylviaKate Prince and Priya ParmarKate PrinceJosh Cohen and DJ WaldeTammy FayeJames GrahamElton JohnJake Shears2024Operation MincemeatDavid Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë RobertsThe Little Big ThingsJoe WhiteNick ButcherNick Butcher & Tom LingNext to NormalBrian YorkeyTom KittBrian YorkeyA Strange LoopMichael R. Jackson2025The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonJethro ComptonDarren Clark and Jethro ComptonDarren ClarkMJ the MusicalLynn NottageVarious ArtistsNatasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812Dave MalloyWhy Am I So Single?Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss2026Paddington: The MusicalJessica Swale Tom FletcherHere We AreDavid IvesStephen SondheimShuckedRobert HornBrandy Clark and Shane McAnallyThe Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold FryRachel JoycePassenger
Multiple awards and nominations for Best New Musical
Awards
Five awards Stephen Sondheim
Three awards Andrew Lloyd Webber
Two awards Thomas Meehan Tim Minchin Trevor Nunn