The Countdown to the 19th Annual Helpmann Awards is on, following the announcement of the 2019 Helpmann Award Nominees.
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 and young people, regional touring and cabaret.
Live Performance Australia (LPA) announced the Nominees in the 42 categories of the Helpmann Awards at simultaneous events in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
The 19th Annual Helpmann Awards will be presented in Melbourne for the very first time on 14th and 15th July in two parts at the Victorian home of the performing arts, Arts Centre Melbourne.
Below are the list of nominations announced at the official presentations around Australia.
BEST BALLET
AURUM
The Australian Ballet
CARMEN
Semperoper Ballett
DRACULA
West Australian Ballet
GISELLE
Teatro alla Scala and QPAC
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A BALLET, DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
ANTONY HAMILTON
Forever & Ever
Sydney Dance Company
GARRY STEWART
The Beginning of Nature
Australian Dance Theatre
HOFESH SHECHTER
Grand Finale
Hofesh Shechter Company and Adelaide Festival
RAFAEL BONACHELA
ab [intra]
Sydney Dance Company
BEST DANCE PRODUCTION
FOREVER & EVER
Sydney Dance Company
GRAND FINALE
Hofesh Shechter Company and Adelaide Festival
OVERTURE
Arts House and Jo Lloyd
THE BEGINNING OF NATURE
Australian Dance Theatre
BEST FEMALE DANCER IN A BALLET, DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
ASHLEY MCLELLAN
Dust
Dancenorth Australia and Liminal Spaces, with Brisbane Festival, Sydney Festival, Ten Days on the Island, Merrigong Theatre Company, Monash Academy of Performing Arts and Théâtre National de Chaillot
CARINA ROBERTS
Dracula
West Australian Ballet
CHARMENE YAP
Cinco
Sydney Dance Company
TARA JADE SAMAYA
Common Ground
Chunky Move
BEST MALE DANCER IN A BALLET, DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
KEVIN JACKSON
Spartacus
The Australian Ballet
KIMBALL WONG
The Beginning of Nature
Australian Dance Theatre
NELSON EARL
ab [intra]
Sydney Dance Company
WAANGENGA BLANCO
Dark Emu
Bangarra Dance Theatre
BEST VISUAL OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
MAN WITH THE IRON NECK
Legs On The Wall
OUT OF CHAOS…
Gravity & Other Myths
PERSONAL
Jodee Mundy Collaborations
PLAYLIST
PYT Fairfield
CABARET
BEST CABARET PERFORMER
ALI MCGREGOR
Yma Sumac – The Peruvian Songbird
Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival
DICKIE BEAU
Re-Member Me
Perth Festival
LIBBY O’DONOVAN
Kate Leigh – The Worst Woman in Sydney
Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival
MICHAELA BURGER
A Migrant’s Son
Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival
COMEDY
BEST COMEDY PERFORMER
ANNE EDMONDS
What’s Wrong With You?
A Token Event
CASSIE WORKMAN
Giantess
Century
DAMIEN POWER
Man Puts His Dreams In A Sock
A Token Event
HANNAH GADSBY
Douglas
A Token Event
JAMES ACASTER
Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
RHYS NICHOLSON
Nice People Nice Things Nice Situations
Century
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
BEST AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
DARWIN FESTIVAL AND RPM RECORDS AND BAD APPLES MUSIC
RPM vs Bad Apples
KYLIE MINOGUE AND FRONTIER TOURING, ROUNDHOUSE ENTERTAINMENT AND MELLEN EVENTS
Golden Tour 2019
PAUL KELLY AND FRONTIER TOURING
Making Gravy 2018
TIM MINCHIN AND LIVE NATION AUSTRALASIA
Back
BEST CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL
CHUGG ENTERTAINMENT AND ROB POTTS ENTERTAINMENT EDGE
CMC Rocks 2019
MUSEUM OF OLD AND NEW ART (MONA)
MONA FOMA 2019
VIVID LIVE 2018 AND SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE PRESENTS
Vivid LIVE 2018
WOMADELAIDE FOUNDATION
WOMADelaide 2019
BEST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
CELINE DION AND FRONTIER TOURING, CONCERTS WEST AND AEG PRESENTS
Celine Dion – Live 2018
CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS AND PERTH FESTIVAL
Christine And The Queens
DAVID BYRNE AND FRONTIER TOURING
American Utopia Tour 2018
THE KILLERS AND FRONTIER TOURING
The Killers 2018
INDUSTRY
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
GABRIELA TYLESOVA
Twelfth Night Melbourne Theatre Company
JENNIFER IRWIN
Dark Emu Bangarra Dance Theatre
KATRINA LINDSAY
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two)
Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, and Australian Executive Producer, Michael Cassel
RENÉE MULDER
The Harp in the South: Part One and Part Two Sydney Theatre Company
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
DAMIEN COOPER ab [intra] Sydney Dance Company MARK HOWETT The Long Forgotten Dream Sydney Theatre Company NEIL AUSTIN Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two) Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, and Australian Executive Producer, Michael Cassel NICK SCHLIEPER Saint Joan Sydney Theatre Company
BEST MUSIC DIRECTION
AARON WYATT
Speechless
Tura New Music and Perth Festival
ANDREA MOLINO
Wozzeck
Opera Australia
ERIN HELYARD
Artaserse
Pinchgut Opera
JORDAN DE SOUZA
Komische Oper Berlin’s The Magic Flute
Adelaide Festival and Perth Festival by arrangement with Arts Projects Australia
BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK
ADRIANE DAFF, ARIELLE GRAY, CHRIS ISAACS, TIM WATTS, GITA BEZARD, BEN COLLINS, MATTHEW EDGERTON, JEFFREY JAY FOWLER, CAITRI JONES, MICHAEL MACLEAN, JO MORRIS, KRISTIE SMITH, CLARE TESTONI AND ANTHONY WATTS
Lé Nør [the rain]
The Last Great Hunt, Perth Festival, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art and Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
FELIX RIEBL
Spinifex Gum
Adelaide Festival, Sydney Festival and Monash Academy of Performing Arts
KATE MULVANY
The Harp in the South: Part One and Part Two
Sydney Theatre Company
NAKKIAH LUI
Blackie Blackie Brown: The Traditional Owner of Death
Sydney Theatre Company and Malthouse Theatre
S.SHAKTHIDHARAN AND EAMON FLACK
Counting & Cracking
Belvoir & Co-Curious
URSULA YOVICH AND ALANA VALENTINE Barbara and the Camp Dogs Belvoir
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
IMOGEN HEAP Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two) Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, and Australian Executive Producer, Michael Cassel
KATE MILLER-HEIDKE & KEIR NUTTALL
Twelfth Night Melbourne Theatre Company
URSULA YOVICH, ALANA VALENTINE AND ADM VENTOURA
Barbara and the Camp Dogs Belvoir
WILLIAM BARTON
The Long Forgotten Dream Sydney Theatre Company
BEST SCENIC DESIGN
ADRIANE DAFF, ARIELLE GRAY, CHRIS ISAACS, TIM WATTS, ANTHONY WATTS, GITA BEZARD, JEFFREY JAY FOWLER, CAITRI JONES, JO MORRIS, KRISTIE SMITH AND CLARE TESTONI Lé Nør
[the rain]
The Last Great Hunt, Perth Festival, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art and Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
BRIAN THOMSON
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story Opera Australia
CHRISTINE JONES
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two) Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, and Australian Executive Producer, Michael Cassel
DALE FERGUSON
Counting & Cracking Belvoir & Co-Curious JACOB NASH The Long Forgotten Dream Sydney Theatre Company
BEST SOUND DESIGN
GARETH FRY
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two) Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, and Australian Executive Producer, Michael Cassel
NATE EDMONDSON
The Harp in the South: Part One and Part Two Sydney Theatre Company
STEFAN GREGORY
Counting & Cracking
Belvoir & Co-Curious
STEVE FRANCIS
Dark Emu
Bangarra Dance Theatre
BEST SPECIAL EVENT
DARK MOFO 2018 Museum of Old and New Art
MUSICALS
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL
AMY CAMPBELL
In The Heights
Sydney Opera House and The Arthouse Wyong Presents, produced by Blue Saint Productions in association with Neil Gooding
JOSHUA BERGASSE
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The New Musical
John Frost, Craig Donnell, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and Neal Street Productions
JULIO MONGE
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story
Opera Australia
MALIK LE NOST & MITCHELL WOODCOCK
Saturday Night Fever
John Frost in Association with Robert Stigwood
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story
Opera Australia
HAL PRINCE
Evita
Opera Australia, John Frost and David Ian
JACK O’BRIEN
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The New Musical
John Frost, Craig Donnell, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and Neal Street Productions
LUKE JOSLIN
In The Heights
Sydney Opera House and The Arthouse Wyong Presents, produced by Blue Saint Productions in association with Neil Gooding
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
LUISA SCROFANI
In The Heights
Sydney Opera House and The Arthouse Wyong Presents, produced by Blue Saint Productions in association with Neil Gooding
NATALIE ABBOTT
Muriel’s Wedding the Musical
Global Creatures
TINA ARENA
Evita
Opera Australia, John Frost and David Ian
URSULA YOVICH
Barbara and the Camp Dogs
Belvoir
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
ELAINE CROMBIE
Barbara and the Camp Dogs
Belvoir
KARLI DINARDO
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story
Opera Australia
LUCY MAUNDER
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The New Musical
John Frost, Craig Donnell, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and Neal Street Productions
PIPPA GRANDISON
Muriel’s Wedding the Musical
Global Creatures
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
ALEXANDER LEWIS
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story
Opera Australia
BLAKE BOWDEN
The Book of Mormon
Anne Garefino, Scott Rudin, Important Musicals and John Frost
BRENT HILL
School of Rock the Musical
GWB Entertainment and S&Co in association with Kham Inc by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Limited
PAUL SLADE SMITH
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The New Musical
John Frost, Craig Donnell, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and Neal Street Productions
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
JOEL GRANGER
The Book of Mormon
Anne Garefino, Scott Rudin, Important Musicals and John Frost
MARK HILL
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story
Opera Australia
MARTY ALIX
In The Heights
Sydney Opera House and The Arthouse Wyong Presents, produced by Blue Saint Productions in association with Neil Gooding
TONY SHELDON
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The New Musical
John Frost, Craig Donnell, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and Neal Street Productions
BEST MUSICAL
BARBARA AND THE CAMP DOGS
Belvoir
HANDA OPERA ON SYDNEY HARBOUR: WEST SIDE STORY
Opera Australia
IN THE HEIGHTS
Sydney Opera House and The Arthouse Wyong Presents, produced by Blue Saint Productions in association with Neil Gooding
ROALD DAHL’S CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
John Frost, Craig Donnell, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and Neal Street Productions
OPERA & CLASSICAL MUSIC
BEST CHAMBER AND/OR INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE CONCERT
GABRIELI CONSORT & PLAYERS – PURCELL’S KING ARTHUR Melbourne Recital Centre and State Opera of South Australia
SABINE MEYER & ALLIAGE QUINTETT Musica Viva Australia
SARA MACLIVER IN CONCERT WITH CAMERATA Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra
SRETENSKY MONASTERY CHOIR
Adelaide Festival
BEST DIRECTION OF AN OPERA
BARRIE KOSKY AND SUZANNE ANDRADE AND 1927 Komische Oper Berlin’s The Magic Flute
Adelaide Festival and Perth Festival by arrangement with Arts Projects Australia
LINDY HUME
Don Giovanni
Opera Queensland
SARAH GILES
Lorelei
Victorian Opera
WILLIAM KENTRIDGE
Wozzeck
Opera Australia
BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA
ALEKSANDRA OLCZYK
Komische Oper Berlin’s The Magic Flute
Adelaide Festival and Perth Festival by arrangement with Arts Projects Australia
EMMA PEARSON
Carmen in the Square
State Opera South Australia
NATALIE AROYAN
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Opera Australia
TARYN FIEBIG
Metamorphosis
Opera Australia
BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
JESSICA PRATT
Lucia di Lammermoor
Opera Australia
LISE LINDSTROM
Salome
Opera Australia
LORINA GORE
Wozzeck
Opera Australia
VIVICA GENAUX
Artaserse
Pinchgut Opera
BEST INDIVIDUAL CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE
ASHER FISCH
Tristan und Isolde
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
DIANA DOHERTY
Sydney Symphony Orchestra 2019 Season Opening Gala: Doherty plays Westlake
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
STUART SKELTON
Tristan und Isolde
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
VIVICA GENAUX
Vivica Genaux in Concert
Pinchgut Opera
BEST MALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA
DEREK WELTON
Parsifal
Victorian Opera
JOHN LONGMUIR
Wozzeck
Opera Australia
NICHOLAS JONES
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Opera Australia
TOM ERIK LIE
Komische Oper Berlin’s The Magic Flute
Adelaide Festival and Perth Festival by arrangement with Arts Projects Australia
BEST MALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
AARON BLAKE
Komische Oper Berlin’s The Magic Flute
Adelaide Festival and Perth Festival by arrangement with Arts Projects Australia
DAVID HANSEN
Artaserse
Pinchgut Opera
MICHAEL FABIANO
Werther
Opera Australia
MICHAEL HONEYMAN
Wozzeck
Opera Australia
SIMON LOBELSON
Metamorphosis
Opera Australia
BEST OPERA
ARTASERSE
Pinchgut Opera
KOMISCHE OPER BERLIN’S THE MAGIC FLUTE
Arts Projects Australia, Adelaide Festival and Perth Festival
METAMORPHOSIS
Opera Australia
WOZZECK
Opera Australia
BEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
DANIEL BARENBOIM CONDUCTING STAATSKAPELLE BERLIN
Sydney Opera House Presents
MAHLER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Adelaide Festival
MAHLER SIX: SIMONE YOUNG CONDUCTS
Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Simone Young
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
BEST PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
A CALL TO DANCE
Performing Lines
BABA YAGA
Windmill Theatre Company and Imaginate
ROBOT SONG
Arena Theatre Company
WOLFGANG’S MAGICAL MUSICAL CIRCUS
Circa
REGIONAL TOURING
BEST REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION
AB [INTRA]
Sydney Dance Company
BENNELONG
Bangarra Dance Theatre
PRIZE FIGHTER
La Boite Theatre Company
THE BEGINNING OF NATURE
Australian Dance Theatre
THEATRE
BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
DECLAN GREENE
Blackie Blackie Brown: The Traditional Owner of Death Sydney Theatre Company and Malthouse Theatre
EAMON FLACK AND S. SHAKTHIDHARAN
Counting & Cracking
Belvoir & Co-Curious
IMARA SAVAGE
Saint Joan
Sydney Theatre Company
KIP WILLIAMS
The Harp in the South: Part One and Part Two Sydney Theatre Company
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
HELEN THOMSON
Mary Stuart Sydney Theatre Company
KATE MULVANY
Every Brilliant Thing
Belvoir
MELITA JURISIC Arbus & West Melbourne Theatre Company
PAULA ARUNDELL
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two) Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, and Australian Executive Producer, Michael Cassel SARAH SNOOK Saint Joan Sydney Theatre Company
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
HELEN THOMSON
The Harp in the South: Part One and Part Two
Sydney Theatre Company
MAUDE DAVEY
Melancholia
Malthouse Theatre
VAISHNAVI SURYAPRAKASH
Counting & Cracking
Belvoir & Co-Curious
ZOE TERAKES
A View from the Bridge
Melbourne Theatre Company
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
AMER HLEHEL
TAHA
Arts Centre Melbourne by arrangement with Arts Projects Australia
KELTON SPELL
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll
Black Swan State Theatre Company
PRAKASH BELAWADI
Counting & Cracking
Belvoir & Co-Curious
WAYNE BLAIR
The Long Forgotten Dream
Sydney Theatre Company
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
ANTONY THASAN JESUTHASAN.
Counting & Cracking Belvoir & Co-Curious
ASH FLANDERS
Blackie Blackie Brown: The Traditional Owner of Death
Sydney Theatre Company and Malthouse Theatre
PAUL BLACKWELL
Faith Healer A Belvoir Production presented by State Theatre Company South Australia
WILLIAM MCKENNA
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two) Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, and Australian Executive Producer, Michael Cassel
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
BLACKIE BLACKIE BROWN:
THE TRADITIONAL OWNER OF DEATH
Sydney Theatre Company and Malthouse Theatre
COUNTING & CRACKING
Belvoir & Co-Curious
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD (PARTS ONE AND TWO) Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, and Australian Executive Producer, Michael Cassel
SONG FOR A WEARY THROAT
Rawcus
THE HARP IN THE SOUTH: PART ONE AND PART TWO
Sydney Theatre Company
THE SECOND WOMAN
Performing Lines
Tickets for the 19th Annual Helpmann Awards are now on sale via Ticketmaster HERE!
2019 Helpmann Awards Act I, Sunday 14 July, Arts Centre Melbourne
Act I will see the gravitas of Australia’s most prestigious live theatre and entertainment awards meet the atmosphere of a sophisticated jazz lounge, for an up close, upbeat, exclusive industry-only night to remember.
Hosted by the legendary performer, writer, artistic director and national treasure Robyn Archer AO, this special evening will recognise artistic excellence and achievements on stage as well as the creative and technical genies behind the scenes.
The 2019 Sue Nattrass Award for exceptional service to the live performance industry will be presented to long standing Artistic Director of La Mama Theatre, Liz Jones AO. The evening’s performances will include The Jack Earle Jazz Trio, the dazzling Rhonda Burchmore OAM and the musical theatre stars of Swing on This.
2019 Helpmann Awards Act II, Monday 15 July, Arts Centre Melbourne
Act II is a black-tie gala event, saluting artistic excellence and achievement on Australian stages over the past year including musicals, contemporary music, comedy, opera, classical music, theatre, ballet, dance, physical theatre and cabaret.
Hosted by the fabulous dynamic duo of comedian, writer and actor Susie Youssef and actor, singer, writer and director Mitchell Butel. This year’s special guest presenters include Kate Miller-Heidke, Keir Nuttall, Paul Kelly AO, Greta Bradman and James Egglestone. The 2019 JC Williamson Award for outstanding contribution to, and for changing our industry for the better will be presented to the legendary singer songwriter Kev Carmody.
Acclaimed performances will include Victorian Opera with their new work Lorelei featuring Ali McGregor, Dimity Shepherd and Danielle Calder; The Australian Ballet with a new piece from Aurum by choreographer Alice Topp; Bangarra dancers Beau Dean Riley Smith, Rikki Mason, Tyrel Dulvarie, Ryan Pearson, Baden Hitchcock and Bradley Smith in an excerpt from the Helpmann Award winning production Bennelong, a special performance from mesmerizing electronic soul pop duo Electric Fields; much loved musical theatre performer Silvie Paladino; and bringing the show home will be sensational Brent Hill and the extraordinary kids from the hit musical School of Rock.
Once again, The Helpmann Awards Orchestra will be led by exceptional musical director Vanessa Scammell.
For further information: www.helpmannawards.com.au
Watch The Helpmann Awards LIVE on ABC TV on Monday 15 July !
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