This year's Olivier Awards will include a live link-up to New York featuring British stars who are performing on Broadway.

The theatrical awards, which will be held at the Royal Opera House in central London on Sunday April 15, will also be shown on a big screen in Covent Garden.

Among the names who could feature in the US link-up is Gavin And Stacey star James Corden whose hit show One Man, Two Guvnors will open on Broadway days later.

This year's ceremony will be hosted by Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, who will be appearing in Sweeney Todd in the West End in March.

The event, officially called the 36th Olivier Awards with MasterCard, has been held annually since 1976 and recognises the best in theatrical talent.

Among last year's winners were former EastEnder Jill Halfpenny and Sheridan Smith for their roles in Legally Blonde - The Musical, and West Side Story composer Stephen Sondheim.

This year's nominations will be announced on Thursday March 15.

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre and Executive Producer of the awards, said: "This year's 36th Olivier Awards with MasterCard will reflect a particularly star-studded year for London theatre, and the plethora of high-calibre sell-out productions for which audiences have been queuing around the block.

"I am delighted we have been able to extend our celebrations to New York, and this connection is particularly apt in a year in which we are working closer than ever with VisitBritain and London and Partners to deliver a warm welcome to theatre audiences during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games."