In pictures: the launch of the WhatsOnStage Awards

Musical and theatre stars came out for the launch of the WhatsOnStage Awards nominations today at a ceremony in Cafe de Paris in London's West End.

Hamlet, In the Heights and Kinky Boots lead, with nine nominations each, while Gypsy has been nominated eight times and American Idiot seven. Chichester Festival Theatre has also scored 12 nominations across two shows, Gypsy and Mack and Mabel.

The launch saw performances from a section of In The Heights and Kinky Boots.

The WhatsOnStage Awards are the only majoy award where the audience gets to choose who wins.

Vote here for who you want to win now in the WhatsOnStage Awards. Click here for tickets to the concert. The list of all the nominees is here