2024 Best Supporting Performance in a Musical

Winners

Melanie La Barrie, Hadestown
Jenna Russell, Hello, Dolly!
La Barrie’s innate warmth makes her the perfect fit for narrator Hermes, such a classy performer delivering such a classy performance. And there was real joy in watching Russell’s Irene be celebrated as the sexy sophisticated woman she is by a fit younger man, a nice turn-up for the books.

Honourable mentions

Wilf Scolding, Little Shop of Horrors
Noah Thomas, Why Am I So Single?
Scolding is supremely good as the malevolent dentist but his later multi-roling is also huge fun, amping up the quality in an already excellent production. And in just a few choice appearance, Thomas’ bestie is a vibrant shot in the arm for the central pair in this sprightly new musical.

Other nominees

Sam Buttery, Little Shop of Horrors
Amy Di Bartolomeo, The Devil Wears Prada
Ashley Goh, Babies
Harry Hepple, Hello, Dolly!
Tyrone Huntley, Hello, Dolly!
Jamie Muscato, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Minal Patel, My Fair Lady
Jez Unwin, Cable Street

After some reflection and looking at how other theatre awards have addressed the issue of gendered awards, I’ve come up with my own solution. I’ve merged categories but doubled the number of awards, so that I’m still recognising the same number of performances rather than halving them, as so many others seem to have done. Each to their own, but I’d always want to celebrate more than less of the performances I’ve loved throughout the year.