2014 Helpmann Awards Nominations Announced

Strictly Ballroom the musicalThe nominations for the 2014 Helpmann Awards have been announced simultaneously at events in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth.

The events in each city were attended by the local Performing Arts community in support of The Helpmann Awards and what they represent. The Nominations were announced by various acclaimed performers in each city including Lisa McCune, Todd McKenney, Jonathon Biggins, John Wood, Nancye Hayes, Simon Gleeson, Li Cunxin and Greta Scacchi.

This year’s nominees (see below) in 41 categories, come from a wide range of disciplines, reflecting and celebrating our diverse and rich theatrical Australian landscape.

“The Helpmann Awards are the pinnacle ‘night of nights’ event for our industry, recognising the very best in live performances that annually attract over 16 million people to shows across the country with revenues topping $1.2 billion,” said Evelyn Richardson, Chief Executive.

It was also announced that the Best Special Event Award for this year’s Helpmann Awards will be presented to Destination NSW for Vivid Sydney 2013. The event attracted and enthralled more than 800,000 visitors, transforming Sydney buildings, landmarks and Sydney Harbour into a breathtaking outdoor canvass of art every night over 3 weeks and with more than 130 events. Now in its 6th year Vivid has become a landmark event on Sydney’s winter calendar.

The Helpmann Awards also incorporate the Brian Stacey Award for Emerging Australian Conductors. This year the Brian Stacey Memorial Trust announced Russell Ger as the winner of the award – receiving an $8,000 prize. Russell is an orchestral, operatic and choral conductor based in New York. A proud alumnus of the Symphony Services Australia Conductor Development Program, he has worked with all the major symphony orchestras of Australia and recently relocated to the United States to study at the Boston Conservatory under scholarship.

And the 2014 Helpmann Awards Nominees are:

Best Costume Design

Catherine Martin
Strictly Ballroom The Musical – Global Creatures

Gabriela Tylesova
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead – Sydney Theatre Company

Gabriela Tylesova
The Turk In Italy – Opera Australia

Roger Kirk
The King & I – Opera Australia & John Frost

Best Lighting Design

Geoff Cobham
Pinocchio – Windmill Theatre and State Theatre Company of South Australia

Matt Scott
Nixon In China – Victorian Opera

Nick Schlieper
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead – Sydney Theatre Company

Nigel Levings
The King & I – Opera Australia & John Frost

Best Music Direction

Andrew Worboys
Sweet Charity – Luckiest Productions & Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co.

Fabian Russell
Nixon In China – Victorian Opera

Nicolette Fraillon
Cinderella – The Australian Ballet

Pietari Inkinen
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia

Best Original Score

David Chisholm
The Bloody Chamber – Malthouse Theatre

David Page & Paul Mac
‘Blak’ – Bangarra Dance Theatre

Iain Grandage
When Time Stops – Expressions Dance Company and Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Jethro Woodward
Pinocchio – Windmill Theatre & State Theatre Company of South Australia

Nick Wales
AM I – Produced by Shaun Parker & Company in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival and Melbourne Festival.

Best Scenic Design

Brian Thomson
The King & I – Opera Australia & John Frost

Gabriela Tylesova
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead – Sydney Theatre Company

Jonathan Oxlade
Pinocchio – Windmill Theatre & State Theatre Company of South Australia

Robert Cousins
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia

Best Sound Design

Jessica James-Moody
Sweet Charity – Luckiest Productions & Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co.

Jethro Woodward
The Bloody Chamber – Malthouse Theatre

Michael Waters
The King & I – Opera Australia and John Frost

Tony David Cray
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour Madama Butterfly – Opera Australia

Best Australian Contemporary Concert

Tame Impala
Tame Impala & Chugg Entertainment

Australian Chamber Orchestra featuring The Presets
Australian Chamber Orchestra,The Presets, Destination NSW and Sydney Opera House

Hunters & Collectors
Hunters & Collectors, Frontier Touring and Roundhouse Entertainment

Flume – Infinity Prism Tour
Flume, Future Classic, Lunatic Entertainment & Chugg Entertainment

Best Contemporary Music Festival

Bluesfest Byron Bay 2014
Bluesfest

Vivid LIVE
Destination NSW and Sydney Opera House

Laneway Festival 2014
Lunatic Entertainment & Chugg Entertainment

The Falls Music & Arts Festival
Ash Sounds Pty Ltd

Best International Contemporary Concert

The Mrs Carter Show World Tour starring Beyonce
Beyonce & Live Nation

Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder & Chugg Entertainment

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band 2014
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band & Frontier Touring

The Truth About Love Tour
P!nk & Live Nation

Best Direction of an Opera

Chas Rader-Sheiber
OrlandoHobart Baroque

Neil Armfield
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia

Roger Hodgmann
Nixon In China – Victorian Opera

Simon Phillips
The Turk In Italy – Opera Australia

Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera

Eva Jinhee Kong
Nixon In China – Victorian Opera

Jacqueline Dark
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia

Miriam Gordon-Stewart
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia

Best Female Performer in an Opera

Christine Goerke
Elektra – Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Emma Matthews
The Turk In Italy – Opera Australia

Jessica Pratt
La Traviata – Victorian Opera

Kathryn Lewek
Orlando – Hobart Baroque

Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera

Andrew Collis
Cinderella – Opera Queensland

Daniel Sumegi
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia

Mario Bellanova
La Traviata – State Opera of South Australia, New Zealand Opera, Opera Queensland

Warwick Fyfe
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia

Best Male Performer in an Opera

Barry Ryan
Nixon In China – Victorian Opera

Riccardo Massi
La Forza del Destino – Opera Australia

Stefan Vinke
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia

Terje Stensvold
The Melbourne Ring Cycle – Opera Australia

Yonghoon Lee
Tosca – Opera Australia

Best Opera

The Turk In Italy
Opera Australia

The Melbourne Ring Cycle
Opera Australia

La Traviata
State Opera of South Australia, New Zealand Opera, Opera Queensland

Nixon In China
Victorian Opera

Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert

The Jerusalem Project
Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney Opera House

Tokyo String Quartet
Musica Viva Australia

Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin
Sydney Festival

Murray Perahia in Recital
Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Best Symphony Orchestra Concert

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Arts Centre Melbourne, Perth Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Sydney Opera House

Bach Christmas Oratorio
Australian Chamber Orchestra

War Requiem
Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Asher Fisch Conducts and Plays Mozart
West Australian Symphony Orchestra

Best Individual Classical Music Performance

Andreas Scholl
Andreas Scholl sings Vivaldi
Australian Chamber Orchestra

Julia Lezhneva
Julia Lezhneva with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
Hobart Baroque

Mariss Jansons
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Arts Centre Melbourne, Perth Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Sydney Opera House

Murray Perahia
Murray Perahia
Melbourne Recital Centre in association with Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Best Comedy Performer

Ronny Chieng
Chieng Reaction – Century Entertainment

Sam Simmons
Sam Simmons: Death Of A Sails-Man – Token Events

The Boy With Tape On His Face
The Boy With Tape on His Face: More Tape – Live Nation & Gag Reflex

Tom Gleeson
Tom Gleeson: Quality – Token Events

Best Cabaret Performer

Jerick Hoffer (as Jinkx Monsoon)
The Vaudevillians starring Jinkx Monsoon – Strut & Fret Production House

Lady Rizo
Lady Rizo – Presented by Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Sydney Festival

Sarah Ward
Yana Alana Between The Cracks – Ebony Bott at fortyfivedownstairs

Tommy Bradson
REG – Adelaide Cabaret Festival

Best Ballet or Dance Work

Sadeh21
Adelaide Festival & Perth International Arts Festival

Bolshoi Ballet – The Bright Stream
Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Chroma
The Australian Ballet

Ballet At The Quarry: Radio and Juliet
West Australian Ballet

Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production

Daniel Jaber
Nought – Australian Dance Theatre

Garry Stewart
Monument – The Australian Ballet

Natalie Weir
When Time Stops – Expressions Dance Company and Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Rafael Bonachela
Les Illuminations – Co-commissioned by Sydney Dance Company and Sydney Opera House

Stephanie Lake
A Small Prometheus – Melbourne Festival, Arts House and Insite Arts

Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production

Charmene Yap
 ‘2 in D Minor’ as part of ‘Interplay’ – Sydney Dance Company

Dalisa Pigram
Gudirr Gudirr – Produced by Marrugeku. Presented by Sydney Festival

Fiona Evans
Onegin – West Australian Ballet

Lucinda Dunn OAM
Manon – The Australian Ballet

Best Male Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production

Andre Santos
Russell Kerr’s Peter Pan – West Australian Ballet

Daniel Gaudiello
Cinderella – The Australian Ballet

James Vu Anh Pham
247 Days – Chunky Move

Kimball Wong
Nought – Australian Dance Theatre

Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production

Opus
Circa. A Nuits de Fourvière production/ Département du Rhône, coproduced with Les Théâtres de la ville de Luxembourg, GREC Festival of Barcelona, Le Cirque-Théâtre d’Elbeuf, Dusseldorf Festival, Barbican Theatre, CACCV Espace Jean Legendre-Compiegne. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Major Festivals Initiative, managed by the Australia Council its arts funding and advisory body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Brisbane Festival, Perth International Arts Festival and Melbourne Festival.

Whelping Box
Branch Nebula, Matt Prest & Clare Britton, produced by Intimate Spectacle & Performing Lines, presented by Performance Space & Arts House.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (As You Like It)
Perth International Arts Festival

Circus Under My Bed
Sydney Opera House, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Arts Centre Melbourne, The Flying Fruit Fly Circus.

Best Regional Touring Production

G
Australian Dance Theatre

Jack Charles vs The Crown
Ilbijerri Theatre Company

Djuki Mala
Chooky Dancers

Happy As Larry
Shaun Parker & Company

Best Presentation for Children

Miss Ophelia
Arts Centre Melbourne and Sydney Opera House

Storm Boy
Barking Gecko Theatre Company & Sydney Theatre Company

Wulamanayuwi & the Seven Pamanui
Darwin Festival & Performing Lines

The House Where Winter Lives
Perth International Arts Festival

Pinocchio
Windmill Theatre & State Theatre Company of South Australia

Best Direction of a Play

Andrew Upton
Waiting For Godot – Sydney Theatre Company

Ivo Van Hove
Roman Tragedies – Adelaide Festival

Michael Kantor
The Shadow King – Malthouse Theatre in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals – Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Melbourne Festival, Perth International Arts Festival and Sydney Festival.

Sam Strong
The Floating World – Griffin Theatre Company

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play

Elizabeth Debicki
The Maids – Sydney Theatre Company

Robyn Nevin
Angels In America – Belvoir

Susan Prior
Small and Tired – Belvoir

Zahra Newman
The Government Inspector – Belvoir & Malthouse Theatre

Best Female Actor in a Play

Alison Whyte
The Bloody Chamber – Malthouse Theatre

Cate Blanchett
The Maids – Sydney Theatre Company

Ursula Yovich
Mother Courage and Her Children – Queensland Theatre Company and Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Zahra Newman
The Mountaintop – Melbourne Theatre Company

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play

Ewen Leslie
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead – Sydney Theatre Company

Jimi Bani
The Shadow King – Malthouse Theatre in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals – Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Melbourne Festival, Perth International Arts Festival and Sydney Festival

Luke Mullins
Waiting for Godot – Sydney Theatre Company

Tom Budge
The Beast – Melbourne Theatre Company

Best Male Actor in a Play

Denis O’Hare
An Iliad – Adelaide Festival and Perth International Arts Festival

Luke Carroll
The Cake Man – Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company and Belvoir

Paul Blackwell
Vere (Faith) – State Theatre Company of South Australia & Sydney Theatre Company

Richard Roxburgh
Waiting For Godot – Sydney Theatre Company

Best Play

Roman Tragedies
Adelaide Festival

Angels In America
Belvoir

Waiting For Godot
Sydney Theatre Company

The Shadow King
Malthouse Theatre and Melbourne Festival in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals – Sydney Festival, Perth International Arts Festival, Adelaide Festival and Brisbane Festival.

Best Choreography in a Musical

Andrew Hallsworth
Sweet Charity – Luckiest Productions & Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co.

David Atkins & Dein Perry
Hot Shoe Shuffle – David Atkins Enterprises

John O’Connell
Strictly Ballroom The Musical – Global Creatures

Susan Kikuchi
The King & I – Opera Australia & John Frost

Best Direction of a Musical

Baz Luhrmann
Strictly Ballroom The Musical – Global Creatures

Christopher Renshaw
The King & I – Opera Australia & John Frost

Dean Bryant
Sweet Charity – Luckiest Productions & Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co.

Rosemary Myers
Pinocchio – Windmill Theatre & State Theatre Company of South Australia

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Debora Krizak
Sweet Charity – Luckiest Productions & Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co.

Heather Mitchell
Strictly Ballroom The Musical – Global Creatures

Lucy Maunder
Grease – John Frost

Shu-Cheen Yu
The King & I – Opera Australia & John Frost

Best Female Actor in a Musical

Caroline O’Connor
Gypsy: A Musical Fable – The Production Company (Aust) Ltd

Lisa McCune
The King & I – Opera Australia & John Frost

Phoebe Panaretos
Strictly Ballroom The Musical – Global Creatures

Verity Hunt-Ballard
Sweet Charity – Luckiest Productions & Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co.

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Drew Forsythe
Strictly Ballroom The Musical – Global Creatures

Marty Rhone
The King & I – Opera Australia & John Frost

Reg Livermore
Wicked – Marc Platt, David Stone, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, John Frost

Russell Dykstra
The Lion King – Disney Theatrical Productions

Best Male Actor in a Musical

Craig McLachlan
Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show – Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost

Josh Quong Tart
The Lion King – Disney Theatrical Productions

Martin Crewes
Sweet Charity – Luckiest Productions & Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co.

Matt Hetherington
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – James Anthony Productions

Best Musical

Strictly Ballroom The Musical
Global Creatures

Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show
Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost

Sweet Charity
Luckiest Productions & Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co.

The King & I
Opera Australia & John Frost

Best New Australian Work

Jason De Santis & Eamon Flack
Wulamanayuwi & the Seven Pamanui – Darwin Festival and Performing Lines

Tom E Lewis and Michael Kantor
The Shadow King – Malthouse Theatre in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals – Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Melbourne Festival, Perth International Arts Festival and Sydney Festival.

Tom Wright
Black Diggers – Produced by Queensland Theatre Company and Sydney Festival in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals. Presented by Sydney Festival, Brisbane Festival, Queensland Theatre Company and Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

Rosemary Myers
Pinocchio – Windmill Theatre & State Theatre Company of South

The 14th Annual Helpmann Awards will be presented at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on Monday 18th August and broadcast on FOXTEL’s Arena. For more information, visit: www.helpmannawards.com.au for details.

Image: Strictly Ballroom The Musical – photo by Jeff Busby