Covering a unique mix of opera, dance, music theatre, plays, live music and more, the 2016 Helpmann Nominations were announced this evening at performing arts venues around Australia. Read on for all the nominations, plus a look at the surprises, snubs and sure bets.
The Helpmann Awards have risen in prominence over the past several years, and several of last year’s winners gained a noticeable benefit from the exposure. After winning four 2015 Helpmann Awards, including Best New Australian Work and Best Original Score, The Rabbits enjoyed sold out seasons in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. 2015 Best Play The Glass Menagerie made a keenly anticipated Melbourne appearance at Malthouse Theatre, with Best Actress winner Pamela Rabe reprising her starring role. Meanwhile The Secret River, winner of six 2013 Helpmann Awards, toured to Melbourne and Brisbane before returning to Sydney.
LPA Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson (below) introduced the Announcement of Nominations.
Nominations were announced by James Millar and Sarah Ward
Jacqueline Dark and Brett Kelly
Jonathon Biggins and Queenie van de Zandt
Highly original import Matilda swept the music theatre categories with thirteen nominations, including James Millar as Miss Trunchbull, Tim Minchin for Original Score, and all eight Sydney and Melbourne actresses who have played the title character. Actors Daniel Frederiksen (Mr Wormwood) and Else McCann (Miss Honey) were also nominated, making the absence of fabulous actress Marika Aubrey (Mrs Wormwood) a fairly noticeable snub. A sweep of the awards on the night seems very likely for Matilda.
2012 London hit Ghost misfired in its use of chorus as just moving bodies but won audiences over thanks to its trio of talented lead performers, Jemma Rix, Rob Mills, Wendy Mae Brown. Mills (Sam) and Brown (Oda Mae) were nominated for their performances, but, despite her powerhouse vocals and moving performance as Molly, Rix was passed over.
New Australian musical Georgy Girl seems to have not been entered for consideration in the awards, with the same presumption holding for the recent Australian tour of Cats.
Original Australian musical Ladies in Black, acclaimed by reviewers and audiences alike, was a worthy recipient of six nominations. Composer Tim Finn, will compete against fellow music theatre newcomer Minchin for Best Original Score. Fingers crossed that some wins for Ladies in Black would lead to further seasons, including one in Sydney, and possibly even a cast recording. Curiously, none of the members of the highly talented ensemble cast were nominated.
As usual, a large number of revivals have been seen over the past year. Amy Lehpamer and Jacqueline Dark, the two dazzling female stars of The Sound of Music, were both nominated (for their roles as Maria and Mother Abbess, respectively). Cameron Daddo was overlooked, as was long-term music theatre star Marina Prior.
Revered actor Anthony Warlow received a nomination for his starring role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. Veteran actress Sigrid Thornton, who was not quite up to the singing required to play Golde, was not nominated, and neither was terrific young leading man Blake Bowden (Perchik).
Director Dean Bryant was recognised for his excellent work on Little Shop of Horrors, which also earned nominations for Esther Hannaford (Audrey), Brent Hill (Seymour/voice of Audrey II) and Tyler Coppin (Mr Mushnik).
Recently opened London import revival Singin in the Rain brought nominations for co-stars Jack Chambers (Cosmo Brown) and Erica Heynatz (Lina Lamont) but not lead couple Adam Garcia (Don Lockwood) and Gretel Scarlett (Kathy Selden)
Given their stunning return to top form with an electrifying season of West Side Story and the Australian premiere of recent Broadway musical Nice Work If You Can Get It, the complete absence of The Production Company from the nominations suggest that they did not enter. This is a shame for stellar work in these shows, particularly for West Side Story, which featured Anna O’Byrne’s wonderful performance as Maria and Michael Ralph’s excellent recreation of Jerome Robbins’ choreography.
Victorian Opera’s Sweeney Todd, the final of their of three-year Sondheim trilogy, received a worthy nomination for Antoinette Halloran for her vivacious turn as Mrs Lovett. It was no surprise, however, that opera star Teddy Tahu Rhodes was ignored for his wooden performance in the title role.
The requirement of membership of Live Performance Australia means that well-received independent productions such as Violet and Heathers are excluded from nominations.
Over the past 12 months, Opera Australia has staged a number of high profile productions. Director Sir David McVicar, nominated twice last year, was recognised again for The Marriage of Figaro, the second of his Mozart/da Ponte trilogy for the national opera company. The opera was also nominated for Best Costume Design, with Andrei Bondarenko, seen in Sydney, nominated for Best Male Performer in an Opera.
Lavish extravaganza Don Carlos scored nominations for the Sydney cast, where visiting international artists Ferruccio Furlanetto and Latonia Moore performed. Popular guest artist Yonghoon Lee was nominated for Turandot, which was performed in Sydney last winter.
A new co-production of Luisa Miller brought another nomination for fast rising Australian soprano Nicole Car as Best Female Performer in an Opera.
The sole nomination for this year’s Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour Turandot was for designer Dan Potra.
Acclaimed soprano Jessica Pratt returned to Melbourne to play the title role in Victorian Opera’s season of Lucia di Lammermoor, deservedly earning a nomination as Lucia.
Victorian Opera’s dedication to new works continued with children’s opera The Grumpiest Boy in the World and new pastiche baroque opera Voyage To The Moon. In-demand director Cameron Menzies earned a nomination for The Grumpiest Boy in the World. Singers Sally-Anne Russell (Astolfo) and emerging bass Jeremy Kleeman (Magus) were recognised, but not multiple Helpmann Award winner Emma Matthews, who was the third member of the three-person cast.
The centrepiece of the past year for flourishing arts organisation The Australian Ballet was their lavish new production of The Sleeping Beauty, helmed by The Australian Ballet’s artistic director David McAllister. Although designer Gabriela Tylesova was nominated for Best Costumes and Best Scenic Design, and maestro Nicolette Fraillon was nominated for Best Music Direction, the ballet was not nominated Best Ballet or Dance Work.
The sole dancer recognised from The Australian Ballet’s stable of revered, highly talented dancers was Chengwu Guo, seen as Puck in The Dream last year.
The 2016 Helpmann Awards will be presented live in Sydney at the Lyric Theatre and broadcast live on Foxtel Arts, Monday 25 July 2015 at 7.30pm.
INDUSTRY AWARDS
BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK
CAROLYN BURNS AND TIM FINN WITH SIMON PHILLIPS: Ladies in Black, A Queensland Theatre Company production
CHRISTOPHER LATHAM, OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK, GARETH FARR, RICHARD NUNNS, GRAEME KOEHNE AO, PETER SCULTHORPE AO OBE, ELENA KATS-CHERNIN, KAMRAN INCE, ROSS HARRIS, ANDREW SCHULTZ, ROSS EDWARDS AND DEMIR DEMIRKAN: The Gallipoli Symphony Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Queensland Government, QPAC and Qantas Airways
DAN GIOVANNONI AND LUKE KERRIDGE: Bambert’s Book of Lost Stories, Barking Gecko Theatre Company
FRANCES RINGS, DEBORAH BROWN AND WAANGENGA BLANCO: Lore, Bangarra Dance Theatre
FUTURE D. FIDEL: Prize Fighter, La Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival
TOM WRIGHT: Picnic at Hanging Rock, Malthouse Theatre and Black Swan State Theatre Company
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
GABRIELA TYLESOVA: The Sleeping Beauty, The Australian Ballet
GABRIELA TYLESOVA: Ladies in Black, A Queensland Theatre Company production
JENNY TIRAMANI, The Marriage of Figaro: Opera Australia
ROB HOWELL: Matilda The Musical, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
HUGH VANSTONE: Matilda The Musical, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
HUGH VANSTONE: Ghost The Musical, Ambassador Theatre Group Asia Pacific, GWB Entertainment and Red Live
NICK SCHLIEPER: North by Northwest, Presented by Melbourne Theatre Company and Kay + McLean Productions, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures
PAUL JACKSON: Picnic at Hanging Rock, Malthouse Theatre and Black Swan State Theatre Company
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
DAVID PAGE: Ochres, Bangarra Dance Theatre
EDDIE PERFECT: Songs From The Middle, Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival
TIM FINN; Ladies in Black, A Queensland Theatre Company production
TIM MINCHIN: Matilda The Musical, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
BEST MUSIC DIRECTION
IAIN GRANDAGE: Home, Perth International Arts Festival
ISAAC HAYWARD: Ladies in Black, A Queensland Theatre Company production
NICOLETTE FRAILLON: The Sleeping Beauty, The Australian Ballet
STEPHEN AMOS: Matilda The Musical, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
BEST SCENIC DESIGN
DAN POTRA: Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour Turandot, Opera Australia
GABRIELA TYLESOVA: The Sleeping Beauty, The Australian Ballet
NICK SCHLIEPER AND SIMON PHILLIPS: North by Northwest, Presented by Melbourne Theatre Company and Kay + McLean Productions, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures
ROB HOWELL: Matilda The Musical, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
BEST SOUND DESIGN
DAVID PAGE: Ochres, Bangarra Dance Theatre
IAN MCDONALD: North by Northwest, Presented by Melbourne Theatre Company and Kay + McLean Productions, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures
MICHAEL WATERS: Fiddler on the Roof, Tim Lawson for TML Enterprises
SIMON BAKER: Matilda The Musical, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
CABARET
BEST CABARET PERFORMER
ALAN CUMMING: Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs, Brisbane Powerhouse, NORPA, Arts Centre Melbourne and Sydney Festival with Hyam, Horne and Hall
MICHAELA BURGER AND GREG WAIN; Exposing Edith, Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival with I’ll Wager Productions
MICHAEL GRIFFITHS: Cole, Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival
PHIL SCOTT: Reviewing The Situation, Tekule in association with Hayes Theatre Co
COMEDY
BEST COMEDY PERFORMER
DOUG ANTHONY ALLSTARS – PAUL MCDERMOTT, TIM FERGUSON, PAUL LIVINGSTON: Reunion. Rebirth, Doug Anthony Allstars
JULIA MORRIS: I Don’t Want Your Honest Feedback, Live Nation
TOM BALLARD: The World Keeps Happening, Token Events
ZOË COOMBS MARR: Trigger Warning, Zoë Coombs Marr
CHILDRENS PRESENTATION
BEST PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN
BAMBERT’S BOOK OF LOST STORIES, Barking Gecko Theatre Company
ODDYSEA, Performing Lines WA and Sensorium Theatre
ROALD DAHL’S REVOLTING RHYMES & DIRTY BEASTS, shake & stir theatre co, originally co-produced with La Boite Theatre Company
THE YOUNG KING, Slingsby Theatre Company
REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTIONS
BEST REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION
DE NOVO, Sydney Dance Company
MOTHER, If Theatre
ROALD DAHL’S REVOLTING RHYMES & DIRTY BEASTS, shake & stir theatre co and arTour Queensland
SUGARLAND, Australian Theatre for Young People and Performing Lines
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
BEST AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
A STATE OF GRACE: THE MUSIC OF TIM AND JEFF BUCKLEY, Gaynor Crawford Presents, Kirsten Siddle, State of Grace Company
FLIGHT FACILITIES PERFORM LIVE WITH MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, Flight Facilities with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Festival
MOFO 2016 – KATE MILLER-HEIDKE AND THE TASMANIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH VISUALS BY AMY GEBHARDT, MOFO 2016, Kate Miller-Heidke and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra with visuals by Amy Gebhardt
VANCE JOY | FIRE AND THE FLOOD TOUR APRIL 2016, Vance Joy, Frontier Touring, Unified and Village Sounds
BEST CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL
MOFO 2016. MONA
ST JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2016, Laneway Presents and Chugg Entertainment
THE 27TH ANNUAL BLUESFEST BYRON BAY, Bluesfest
WOMADELAIDE 2016 – THE WORLD’S FESTIVAL, Womadelaide Foundation
BEST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
BRIAN WILSON LIVE AT THE PALAIS THEATRE, Brian Wilson and Bluesfest Touring
FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE, Florence and The Machine, Laneway Presents, Chugg Entertainment in association with Sydney Opera House
ON WITH THE SHOW TOUR 2015, Fleetwood Mac and Live Nation
PRINCE ‘PIANO & A MICROPHONE’ TOUR 2016, Prince, Dainty Group and ICO ApS
DANCE AND PHYSICAL THEATRE
BEST BALLET OR DANCE WORK
COCKFIGHT, Performing Lines and The Farm
HABITUS, Australian Dance Theatre
SHEOAK, Bangarra Dance Theatre
SPECTRA, Dancenorth
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A DANCE OR PHSYICAL THEATRE WORK
GARRY STEWART: Habitus, Australian Dance Theatre
KYLE PAGE AND AMBER HAINES: Spectra, Dancenorth
STEPHEN PAGE, BERNADETTE WALONG-SENE, DJAKAPURRA MUNYARRYUN: Ochres, Bangarra Dance Theatre
BEST FEMALE DANCER IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE WORK
AMBER HAINES: Syncing Feeling, Dancenorth
JULIETTE BARTON: Lux Tenebris, Sydney Dance Company
LONII GARNONS-WILLIAMS: Habitus, Australian Dance Theatre
YOLANDA LOWATTA: Sheoak, Bangarra Dance Theatre
BEST MALE DANCER IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE WORK
CHENGWU GUO: The Dream, The Australian Ballet
DARYL BRANDWOOD: Natalie Weir’s The Host, Expressions Dance Company and QPAC
GAVIN WEBBER: Cockfight, Performing Lines and The Farm
KIMBALL WONG: Habitus, Australian Dance Theatre
BEST VISUAL OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
IL RITORNO, Brisbane Festival and Circa
PLEXUS, Compagnie 111 – Aurélien Bory and Perth International Arts Festival
TANGI WAI… THE CRY OF WATER, Victoria Hunt, Artful Management and Performance Space
THE LAST BLAST, The Farm and Bleach* Festival
OPERA AND CLASSICAL MUSIC
BEST DIRECTION OF AN OPERA
CAMERON MENZIES: The Grumpiest Boy in the World, Victorian Opera
DAVID MCVICAR: The Marriage of Figaro, Opera Australia
LAURENCE DALE: Agrippina, Brisbane Baroque in association with QPAC
MICHAEL GOW: Voyage to the Moon, Musica Viva Australia
BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA
KERI FUGE, Agrippina, Brisbane Baroque in association with QPAC
SALLY-ANNE RUSSELL: Voyage to the Moon, Victorian Opera, Musica Viva and the ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions
BEST MALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA
DOUGLAS MCNICOL: Don Giovanni, State Opera SA
JEREMY KLEEMAN: Voyage to the Moon,Victorian Opera, Musica Viva and the ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions
JOÃO FERNANDES: Agrippina, Brisbane Baroque in association with QPAC
RUSSELL HARCOURT: Agrippina, Brisbane Baroque in association with QPAC
BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
JESSICA PRATT: Lucia di Lammermoor, Victorian Opera
LATONIA MOORE: Don Carlos, Opera Australia
NICOLE CAR: Luisa Miller, Opera Australia
ULRIKE SCHNEIDER: Agrippina, Brisbane Baroque in association with QPAC
BEST MALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
ANDREI BONDARENKO: The Marriage of Figaro, Opera Australia
CARLO VISTOLI: Agrippina, Brisbane Baroque in association with QPAC
FERRUCCIO FURLANETTO: Don Carlos, Opera Australia
YONGHOON LEE: Turandot (Sydney Winter), Opera Australia
BEST OPERA
AGRIPPINA, Brisbane Baroque and QPAC
FLY AWAY PETER, Arts Centre Melbourne and Sydney Chamber Opera in association with Melbourne Festival
LUISA MILLER, Opera Australia
THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, Opera Australia
BEST CHAMBER AND/OR INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE CONCERT
FRENCH BAROQUE WITH CIRCA, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
HOME, Camerata of St John’s
KIRILL GERSTEIN IN RECITAL, Sydney Symphony Orchestra
WINTERREISE, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence
BEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
ANIMA ETERNA BRUGGE BEETHOVEN’S SYMPHONIES CONDUCTED BY JOS VAN IMMERSEEL Sydney Festival
BEETHOVEN’S MISSA SOLEMNIS, Sydney Symphony Orchestra
BRITTEN’S WAR REQUIEM, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
SIR SIMON RATTLE CONDUCTS THE AUSTRALIAN WORLD ORCHESTRA, Australian World Orchestra
BEST INDIVIDUAL CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE
ANDREW HAVERON: Sibelius 2, Sydney Symphony Orchestra
FLORIAN BOESCH AND MALCOLM MARTINEAU: Florian Boesch and Malcolm Martineau, Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney Opera House
GIL SHAHAM: Tchaikovsky’s Manfred, Sydney Symphony Orchestra
PIERRE-LAURENT AIMARD: Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney Symphony Orchestra
RENÉE FLEMING: Renée Fleming in Recital, Sydney Opera House, QPAC and Brisbane Festival in association with Opera Queensland
THEATRE
BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
EAMON FLACK: Ivanov, Belvoir
KIP WILLIAMS: Love and Information, Sydney Theatre Company and Malthouse Theatre
LEE LEWIS: The Bleeding Tree, Griffin Theatre Company
SIMON PHILLIPS: North by Northwest, Presented by Melbourne Theatre Company and Kay + McLean Productions, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
ANNA SAMSON: Birdland, Melbourne Theatre Company
KATRINA MILOSEVIC: The Distance, Melbourne Theatre Company
MICHELLE DOAKE: Romeo and Juliet, Bell Shakespeare
SARAH PEIRSE: The Golden Age, Sydney Theatre Company
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
COLIN FRIELS: Mortido, Belvoir and State Theatre Company of South Australia
JOHN HOWARD: Ivanov Belvoir
MARK LEONARD WINTER: King Lear, Sydney Theatre Company
THUSO LEKWAPE: Prize Fighter, La Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
CATE BLANCHETT: The Present, Sydney Theatre Company
CATHERINE MCCLEMENTS: The Events, Belvoir, Malthouse and State Theatre Company of South Australia
NONI HAZLEHURST: Mother, If Theatre and GPAC
PAULA ARUNDELL: The Bleeding Tree, Griffin Theatre Company
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
DAN SPIELMAN: The Blind Giant is Dancing, Belvoir
MARK LEONARD WINTER: Birdland, Melbourne Theatre Company
PACHARO MZEMBE: Prize Fighter, La Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival
RICHARD ROXBURGH: The Present, Sydney Theatre Company
BEST PLAY
PIECE FOR PERSON AND GHETTO BLASTER, Performing Lines and Nicola Gunn
PRIZE FIGHTER, La Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival
NORTH BY NORTHWEST, Melbourne Theatre Company and Kay + McLean Productions, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures
THE BLEEDING TREE, Griffin Theatre Company
MUSICALS
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
DEAN BRYANT: Little Shop of Horrors, Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions
MATTHEW WARCHUS: Matilda The Musical, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
ROGER HODGMAN: Fiddler on the Roof, Tim Lawson for TML Enterprises
SIMON PHILLIPS: Ladies in Black, A Queensland Theatre Company production
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL
ANDREW HALLSWORTH: Little Shop of Horrors, Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions
ANDREW WRIGHT AND JAYE ELSTER: Singin’ in the Rain, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, Michael Cassel Group, David Atkins Enterprises and Dainty Group
ARLENE PHILLIPS: The Sound of Music, Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian, John Frost and The Really Useful Group
PETER DARLING: Matilda The Musical, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
ELISE MCCANN: Matilda The Musical, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
ERIKA HEYNATZ: Singin’ in the Rain
Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, Michael Cassel Group, David Atkins Enterprises and Dainty Group
JACQUELINE DARK: The Sound of Music, Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian, John Frost and The Really Useful Group
WENDY MAE BROWN: Ghost The Musical, Ambassador Theatre Group Asia Pacific, GWB Entertainment and Red Live
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
DANIEL FREDERIKSEN: Matilda The Musical, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
JACK CHAMBERS: Singin’ in the Rain, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, Michael Cassel Group, David Atkins Enterprises and Dainty Group
SIMON GALLAHER: Wicked, Marc Platt, David Stone, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, John Frost
TYLER COPPIN: Little Shop of Horrors, Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
ANTHONY WARLOW: Fiddler on the Roof, Tim Lawson for TML Enterprises
BRENT HILL: Little Shop of Horrors, Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions
JAMES MILLAR: Matilda The Musical, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
ROB MILLS: Ghost The Musical, Ambassador Theatre Group Asia Pacific, GWB Entertainment and Red Live
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
AMY LEHPAMER: The Sound of Music, Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian, John Frost and The Really Useful Group
ANTOINETTE HALLORAN: Sweeney Todd, Victorian Opera and New Zealand Opera
ESTHER HANNAFORD: Little Shop of Horrors, Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions
MOLLY BARWICK, DUSTY BURSILL, TIANA MIRRA, ALANNAH PARFETT, SASHA ROSE, GEORGIA TAPLIN, BELLA THOMAS AND INGRID TORELLI: Matilda The Musical, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
BEST MUSICAL
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Tim Lawson
LADIES IN BLACK, Queensland Theatre Company
MATILDA THE MUSICAL, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt with Chokey Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Glass Half Full Productions, Paula Marie Black, Greenleaf Productions and Michael Lynch
THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian, John Frost and The Really Useful Group
BESTOWED HELPMANN AWARD
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMEDY IN AUSTRALIA
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
SUE NATTRASS AWARDTM
Michael Lynch CBE AM
JC WILLIAMSON AWARDTM
The JC Williamson Award Recipient will be announced on Wednesday 29 June.
Photos: Simon Parris
