2017 Rob Guest Endowment Award Winners Announced

AAR 2017 RGEAGeorgina Hopson has been announced the winner of the 2017 Rob Guest Endowment Award held last night during the Grand Final Event at the Capitol Theatre Rehearsal Room.

Competing against five other outstanding Semi-Finalists with her performance of Glitter and be Gay and When Did I Fall in Love, Georgina took out the prestigious award of $20,000 – after being chosen by an expert panel of judges, which included Roger Hodgman, Kellie Dickerson, Sharon Millerchip, Michael Tyack, Guy Simpson and Suzanne Jones.

The runners up Jayme-Lee Hanekom, Thomas McGuane, Imogen Moore and Morgan Palmer were each awarded $1,500. The six Finalists spent the day with the judging panel and creative team in musical, dramatic and movement sessions, allowing the judges to get to know the finalists and see how they work, better informing their decision.

The Melbourne’s East End Theatre District Artist Development Award, an initiative of Mike Walsh and the Marriner family awarding a $5,000 cash prize to a promising young music theatre talent, went to Stefanie Caccamo. The Playbill Future Prospect Award went to Sam Ward. This award, generously sponsored by Playbill, is a $1,500 cash prize to a semi-finalist who didn’t make the finals but the judges wanted to encourage to return to the competition next year.

Following the Presentation, a social function was held for the finalists and award winners to connect with the industry professionals in attendance, and make direct contact with people who can assist them in developing their career. This fulfils the aim of the Rob Guest Endowment to better connect young performers with industry professionals who can encourage, mentor and advise them.

This year also saw the return of two categories recognising further excellence in other fields of musical theatre. The Rob Guest Endowment Technical Award in Honour of Sue Nattrass – awarded to Natalie Carige; and the Rob Guest Endowment Musician Award – presented to Anthony Barnhill. Funded by the Capitol Theatre and the Sydney Lyric Theatre, both winners took home a $10,000 cash prize intended to help fund the tuition and experience needed to help them become leaders in their field.

For more information, visit: www.robguestendowment.com.au for details.

Image: Thomas McGuane, Imogen Moore, Georgina Hopson, Stefanie Caccamo, Jayme-Lee Hanekom and Morgan Palmer (supplied)