The 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
Orlando – Hobart 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