Nominees announced for Understudy of the Year 2014

We are thrilled to announce the list of nominees for West End Frame's 2014 Understudy of the Year Award.

Voting for West End Frame's Understudy of the Year 2014 will open at 1pm tomorrow (Friday 6th June) and run for just under six weeks, with voting closing at 3pm on Wednesday 16th July.

UPDATE: Voting is now open. CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Understudy of the Year is a celebration of West End stand-bys, alternates and understudies. Without them it would be impossible for shows to run smoothly and delight audiences night after night. For six weeks it is always inspiring to see some of the West End's most talented yet unrecognised stars step into the limelight.

The 18 nominees are:

• Adam Lilley (Understudy Richard Hannay / The 39 Steps)
• Alice Fearn (Understudy Christine & Muriel / Dirty Rotten Scoundrels)
• Carolyn Maitland (Understudy Ellen / Miss Saigon)
• Dan Burton (Understudy Sid Sorokin / The Pajama Game)
• David O'Reilly (Standby Elder Cunningham / The Book of Mormon)
• Dawn Buckland (Understudy Rosie / Mamma Mia)
• Emma Hatton (Standby Elphaba / Wicked)
• Gillian Elisa (Alternate Grandma / Billy Elliot)
• Ian McIntosh (Alternate Deco / The Commitments)
• Jade Davies (Understudy Cosette / Les Miserables)
• Joelle Moses (Alternate Rachel Marron / The Bodyguard)
• Lara Denning (Understudy Miss Honey / Matilda)
• Layla Harrison (Understudy Meg / The Phantom of the Opera)
• Marc McBride (Understudy Boq / Wicked)
• Mark Isherwood (Understudy Nick Massi / Jersey Boys)
• Melanie Bright (Understudy Fantine / Les Miserables)
• Paul Kendrick (Understudy / Ghost Stories)
• Tanya Manalang (Alternate Kim / Miss Saigon)

Last year the award was won by Ashley Day for understudying Elder Price in The Book of Mormon. Top Hat's Alan Burkitt finished second whilst Wicked's Hayley Gallivan finished third. In 2012 Katy Treharne won Understudy of the Year for alternating Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. Chicago's Jenny Gayner came second and We Will Rock You's Lauren Varnham came third.

Understudy of the Year runs as part of the 2014 West End Frame Awards. Unlike other theatre awards, West End Frame only opens voting for one category at a time and combines male and female actors from musicals and plays into the same categories (where applicable).

The 2014 West End Frame Awards began in March, with The Book of Mormon winning Funniest West End Show. Earlier this month Tam Mutu picked up our Best Performance of a Song in a Musical award for his rendition of Stars in Les Miserables.

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