Music
A Night to Remember at the Helpmann Awards
The ‘who’s who’ of the Australian live entertainment industry gathered recently at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre for the 14th Annual Helpmann Awards to recognise excellence in live performance in various sectors including musical theatre, dance, comedy, cabaret, physical theatre, opera, classical music and contemporary music.
The Helpmann Awards were established by Live Performance Australia (LPA) in 2001 to recognise and celebrate the live performance industry and the remarkable people who contribute to it.
Ticketmaster has been a supporter of the Helpmann Awards for many years and is proud to have two senior executives on the Helpmann Awards Administration Committee (HAAC), Managing Director Maria O’Connor and National Promoter Relationship Manager Rob D’Orazio.
Big winners on the night included musical The King and I, which won awards for Best Musical, Best Costume Design and Best Sound Design. Fan favourite Craig McLachlan won the award for Best Male Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Frank N Furter in the Rocky Horror Show, while Heather Mitchell and Reg Livermore won awards for their performances in Strictly Ballroom the Musical and Wicked respectively.
The event took place against the back drop of The Lion King set and the ceremony was opened with an incredible performance of Circle of Life. The audience also saw performances from cast members of The King and I, Les Miserables and Strictly Ballroom the Musical.
Opera Australia took multiple awards on the night, including Best Opera, while the contemporary music categories were won by the Hunters & Collectors, Bruce Springsteen and Bluesfest Byron Bay.
For the first time in Helpmann Award history, the Sue Nattrass Award was presented. The award was presented to Patricia Boggs for her outstanding contribution to the live performance industry. The award is designed to acknowledge people who have made an outstanding contribution to the industry in a role that does not necessarily receive a high profile.
Ticketmaster is very proud to have contributed to the Helpmann Awards and would like to congratulate all winners and nominees. It is due reward for the people who work tirelessly to provide live event fans with world-class performances and shows.
The Winners List
Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play
Luke Mullins, Waiting for Godot, Sydney Theatre Company
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play
Robyn Nevin, Angels In America, Belvoir
Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Reg Livermore, Wicked, Marc Platt, David Stone, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, John Frost
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Heather Mitchell, Strictly Ballroom The Musical, Global Creatures
Best Costume Design
Roger Kirk, The King and I, Opera Australia and John Frost
Best Scenic Design
Gabriela Tylesova, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Sydney Theatre Company
Best Lighting Design
Nick Schlieper, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
Best Sound Design
Michael Waters, The King and I
Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera
Warwick Fyfe, The Melbourne Ring Cycle, Opera Australia
Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera
Jacqueline Dark, The Melbourne Ring Cycle
Best Comedy Performer
Sam Simmons, Sam Simmons – Death Of A Sails-Man, Token Events
Best Cabaret Performer
Sarah Ward, Yana Alana Between The Cracks, Ebony Bott at fortyfivedownstairs
Best International Contemporary Concert
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band 2014
Best Contemporary Music Festival
Bluesfest Byron Bay 2014
Best Australian Contemporary Concert
Hunters & Collectors
Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work
Stephanie Lake, A Small Prometheus, Melbourne Festival, Arts House and Insite Arts
Best Choreography in a Musical
Andrew Hallsworth, Sweet Charity, Luckiest Productions & Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co.
Best Direction of a Musical
Dean Bryant, Sweet Charity
Best Direction of an Opera
Neil Armfield, The Melbourne Ring Cycle
Best Direction of a Play
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
Best Male Performer in an Opera
Terje Stensvold, The Melbourne Ring Cycle
Best Female Performer in an Opera
Christine Goerke, Elektra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Best Original Score
Iain Grandage, When Time Stops, Expressions Dance Company and Queensland Performing Arts Centre in association with Brisbane Festival
Best Individual Classical Music Performance
Julia Lezhneva, Julia Lezhneva with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Hobart Baroque
Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert
The Jerusalem Project, Melbourne Recital Centre and Sydney Opera House
Best Symphony Orchestra Concert
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Arts Centre Melbourne, Perth Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Sydney Opera House
Best Music Direction
Pietari Inkinen, The Melbourne Ring Cycle
Best Regional Touring Production
Jack Charles V The Crown, ILBIJERRI Theatre Company toured by Performing Lines
Best Presentation for Children
Pinocchio, Windmill Theatre & State Theatre Company of South Australia
Best New Australian Work
Rosemary Myers with Julianne O’Brien, Pinocchio
Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production
Whelping Box, Branch Nebula, Matt Prest & Clare Britton, produced by Intimate Spectacle & Performing Lines, presented by Performance Space & Arts House
Best Male Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work
James Vu Anh Pham, 247 Days, Chunky Move
Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work
Charmene Yap, 2 in D Minor as part of Interplay, Sydney Dance Company
Best Male Actor in a Musical
Craig McLachlan, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show, Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost
Best Female Actor in a Musical
Verity Hunt-Ballard, Sweet Charity
Best Male Actor in a Play
Richard Roxburgh, Waiting For Godot
Best Female Actor in a Play
Cate Blanchett, The Maids
Best Opera
The Melbourne Ring Cycle
Best Play
Angels In America
Best Ballet or Dance Work
Chroma, Australian Ballet
Best Musical
The King And I