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