As cross-dressing Broadway hit "Kinky Boots" is named Best New Musical in London. Meanwhile, Martin McDonagh's killer comedy "Hangmen" won the prize for Best New Play at Olivier awards.

Broadway hit 'Kinky Boots' wins Best New Musical

The ceremony at London's Royal Opera House opened with Imelda Staunton belting out the "Gypsy" number "Everything's Coming Up Roses" - and the words proved prophetic.

Staunton was named Best Actress in a Musical for playing showbiz matriarch Mama Rose, while "Gypsy" took four trophies in all, including Best Musical Revival.

Judi Dench set an Olivier Awards record, taking her eighth career trophy - Supporting Actress - for her role as Paulina in Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale', directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Judi Dench set an Olivier Awards record, taking her eighth career trophy - Supporting Actress - for her role as Paulina in Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale', directed by Kenneth Branagh.

The lead acting prizes went to Kenneth Cranham and Denise Gough, who beat big-name nominees including Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Rylance, and Nicole Kidman with emotionally lacerating performances that wowed audiences and critics.

Cranham, a veteran of five decades on the British stage, won for playing a man unmoored by dementia in "The Father" by French playwright, Florian Zeller.

There was a strong Broadway flavor to the prizes, Britain's equivalent of the Tony Awards. "Kinky Boots" - a British story given a buoyant musical makeover by songwriter Cyndi Lauper and playwright Harvey Fierstein - won three trophies, including Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for Matt Henry, and Best Costumes.

Another New York import, Lin-Manuel Miranda's hip-hop musical "In The Heights," took three prizes: Choreography, Achievement in Music, and Supporting Actor in a Musical for David Bedella.

Founded in 1976, the Oliviers celebrated their 40th anniversary with an exuberant ceremony.

Named in honor of the late actor Laurence Olivier, the prizes honor achievements in London theater, dance, and opera. Winners in most categories are chosen by a panel of stage professionals and theatergoers.