Canadian Broadway hit Come From Away wins best new musical in U.K.

Musicals Come From Awayand Companyas well as the play The Inheritance, an epic drama about gay lives in New York, were the big winners at British theatre's Olivier Awards on Sunday, receiving four trophies apiece.

Come From Away,inspired by a small Canadian town that sheltered thousands of stranded airline passengers after the 9/11 attacks, was named best new musical at Britain's equivalent of Broadway's Tony Awards. The play also took trophies for sound, outstanding achievement in music and choreography.

Choreographer Kelly Devine dedicated the award in her category to the people of Gander, Nfld.who in real life, "effortlessly showed the world how easy it is to be kind."

Director Marianne Elliott attributed the show's success partly to "a wind of change blowing in the industry, where celebrating female stories is not only possible, but absolutely vital."

Companyalso delivered a supporting actress prize to Broadway diva Patti LuPone and a supporting actor trophy to Jonathan Bailey. It took another award for set design.

The Inheritance,Matthew Lopez's drama about young gay men living in New York a generation after the AIDS crisis was declared best new play.

Lopez said he was "overwhelmed and overjoyed" by the trans-Atlantic success of his seven-hour epic, which had its world premiere at London's Young Vic Theatre.

"We've seen a lot of Brits come over and take home Tonys," Lopez said backstage, clutching a statuette topped with a bust of the late actor for whom the award is named, Laurence Olivier. "It's only fair."

Lopez said he was hopeful the show would get a Broadway run now that London has shown the play, mined from his own experience, resonates with audiences.

"You could have blown me over with a feather," he said of the reaction his play got from theatregoers in Britain's capital. "Even some of the New York jokes, they got."

The Inheritancealso took prizes for lighting and for Stephen Daldry's direction, while star Kyle Soller beat rivals who included Ian McKellen to be garlanded best actor in a play.

Sally Field, Kelsey Grammer, Tom Hiddleston, David Suchet and Gloria Estefan were among the stars walking the red carpet in a drizzle before the ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall.

The show saluted long-running musicals The Lion Kingand Mamma Mia,both celebrating 20 years of playing in London's West End.