Nominations for 18th Annual Helpmann Awards Announced
Presented July 15 & 16
The nominations in 42 categories have been announced for the 2019 Helpmann Awards by Live Performance Australia (LPA).
The Helpmann Awards are the premier celebration of Australia’s vibrant live performance industry.The Awards recognise distinguished achievement and excellence in Australia’s live performance sectors including musicals, contemporary music, comedy, opera and classical music, theatre, ballet, dance and physical theatre, presentations for children, regional touring and cabaret.
Featuring in the Musical Theatre category is Muriel’s Wedding the Musical (11 nominations), Dream Lover (6 nominations) and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (6 nominations). In dance the stand outs are Bangarra Dance Theatre (9 nominations including 8 for Bennelong) and The Australian Ballet (7 nominations including 6 for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland).
This year, the winners of the 2018 Helpmann Awards will be announced at two events over two nights. This exciting step in the development of the Helpmanns follows the same model and process adopted by many major international awards ceremonies.
Act I, on Sunday 15 July at Sydney Town Hall, will be a sit down event at cocktail hour celebrating the very best creative, designer and supporting roles. It will also include Awards for Best Presentation for Children and the Best Regional Touring Production. This industry insider event will include sensational performances and be hosted by celebrated broadcaster, director, producer, actor, advisor and artistic director Rhoda Roberts AM and Michael Lynch CBE AO, one of Australia’s most experienced and internationally renowned Arts Administrators.
Act II, on Monday 16 July at the Capitol Theatre, will be staged on the set of Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical. This Black Tie event, will present all live performance Award genres along with celebrating the 2017 Centenary JC Williamson and Sue Nattrass Award recipients. The internationally acclaimed Olivier & Tony Nominee, Helpmann Award winning performer and writer, Tony Sheldon will be one of the evenings revered hosts. Stellar performances will include the cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical.
LPA Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson said, “We are delighted this year to present our 42 Awards over two exciting nights. Two shorter shows enables us to better highlight the artistry and excellence in our dynamic live performance industry. Over the past 18 years the Helpmann Awards have received nearly 11,000 entries and announced over 2,750 Nominees which highlights the scale of the live performance industry enjoyed by 18.4 million people each year in Australia.”
Tickets for the 18th annual Helpmann Awards are now on sale via Ticketmaster.
Nominations in the categories relevant to dance and musical theatre are:
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Bobby Fox, Assassins (Hayes Theatre Co)
Martin Crewes, Dream Lover (John Frost & Gilbert Theatrical)
Mat Verevis, Beautiful (Michael Cassell)
Robert Grubb, Priscilla Queen of the Desert Musical (Michael Cassell Group, Nullarbor Productions, MGM on Stage)
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Amy Lehpamer, Beautiful (Michael Cassell Group)
Christie Whelan Browne, Muriels’ Wedding The Musical (Sydney Theatre Co and Global Creatures)
Jemma Rix, The Wizard of Oz (John Frost, Suzanne Jones, The Production Co)
Madeleine Jones, Muriels’ Wedding The Musical (Sydney Theatre Co and Global Creatures)
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A BALLET, DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Christopher Wheeldon, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (The Australian Ballet)
Phillip Adams, EVER (Balletlab, Melbourne Festival)
Stephen Page, Bennelong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)
Wayne McGregor, Woolf Works (The Royal Ballet, QPAC)
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL
Andrew Hallsworth, Muriel’s Wedding The Musical (Sydney Theatre Co and Global Creatures)
Josh Price, Beautiful (Michael Cassell Group)
Karen Bruce, The Bodyguard (John Frost, Michael Harrison, David Ian)
Tom Hodgson, MAMMA MIA! The Musical (Michael Coppel, Louise Withers, Linda Bewick)
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
David Campbell, Assassins
David Campbell, Dream Lover
David Harris, Priscilla Queen of the Desert Musical
Euan Doige, Priscilla Queen of the Desert Musical
Ian Stenlake, MAMMA MIA! The Musical
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Esther Hannaford, Beautiful
Maggie McKenna, Muriels’ Wedding The Musical
Marina Prior, Dream Lover
Natalie O’Donnell, MAMMA MIA! The Musical
BEST MALE DANCER IN A BALLET, DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Beau Dean Riley Smith, Bennelong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)
Joshua Thomson, TIDE (Bleach Festival, The Farm)
Kevin Jackson, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (The Australian Ballet)
Nelson Earl, Ocho (Sydney Dance Company)
BEST FEMALE DANCER IN A BALLET, DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Ako Kondo, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (The Australian Ballet)
Elise May, Behind Closed Doors (Expressions Dance Co, QPAC)
Melissa Boniface, The Great Gatsby (West Australian Ballet)
Vivienne Wong, Infra (The Australian Ballet)
BEST VISUAL OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
Carrion (Justin Shoulder)
Limbo Unhinged (Strut, Fret Production)
TIDE (Bleach Festival, The Farm)
White Spirit (Zaman Productions and Galerie Itinnerrance with Musée Du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac and Perth Festival)
BEST BALLET
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (The Australian Ballet)
The Great Gatsby (West Australian Ballet)
The Winter’s Tale (The Royal Ballet, QPAC)
Woolf Works (The Royal Ballet, QPAC)
BEST DANCE PRODUCTION
Bennelong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)
Intimate Space (Restless Dance Theatre)
Mozart Airborne (Expressions Dance Co, Opera Australia, QPAC)
One Flat Thing, Reproduced (Strut Dance)
BEST MUSICAL
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Michael Cassell Group)
Dream Lover (John Frost & Gilbert Theatrical)
MAMMA MIA! The Musical (Michael Coppel, Louise Withers, Linda Bewick)
Muriel’s Wedding The Musical (Sydney Theatre Co and Global Creatures)
Muriel’s Wedding The Musical was also nominated for Best Costume Design, Best Sound Design, Best Musical Direction, Best Original Music Score, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best New Australian Work.
Bangarra Theatre‘s Bennelong was also nominated for Best Costume Design, Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Original Score, Best New Australian Work.
