The Helpmann Awards are the premier celebration of Australia's vibrant live performance industry and recognise distinguished achievement and excellence in Australia's live performance sectors including musical theatre, contemporary music, comedy, opera, classical music, theatre, ballet, dance and physical theatre, presentation for children, regional touring and cabaret.
Live Performance Australia (LPA) today announced the Nominees in the 42 categories of the Helpmann Awards at simultaneous events in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Scroll down to see the full list of nominees!
The winners of the 2017 Helpmann Awards will be announced at a ceremony on Monday 24 July at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney, on the set of Kinky Boots.
LPA Chief Executive, Evelyn Richardson said, "This year has been a remarkable year for live performances in Australia reflecting a vibrant industry with more than 18 million people attending shows across the country and ticket revenues of $1.4 billion".
"Over the past seventeen years, the Helpmann Awards have received over 10,000 entries and announced 2,600 Nominations, which further illustrates the scale of the live performance industry in Australia. We are thrilled to be announcing on 24 July a further 42 winners to add to the existing 550 Helpmann Awards alumni."
NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the Helpmann Awards is hosted in Sydney thanks to the support of the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.
"It's been another remarkable year for live performance in Australia and this year's Nominees reflect the strength and vibrancy of this sector. I congratulate all of the 2017 Helpmann Awards Nominees and wish them the best of luck," Mr Marshall said.
As previously announced, Richard Tognetti AO, Artistic Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, will be the recipient of the 2017 JC Williamson Award. This award is bestowed on an individual who has made a truly outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Australia's live performance culture and shaped the future of the industry for the better. Additionally, Rob Brookman AM will be the recipient of this year's Sue Nattrass Award which honours an exceptional individual in a service role that supports the industry.
The 2017 Helpmann Awards will be broadcast live on Foxtel Arts and webcast free via www.foxtelarts.com.au.
The Helpmann Awards are proudly supported by the New South Wales Government, through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
Tickets for the 17th Annual Helpmann Awards are available now from Ticketmaster. For more information, visit www.helpmannawards.com.au.
2017 Nominees List
INDUSTRY
BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK
BUSTY BEATZ AND LISA FA'ALAFI
Hot Brown Honey
Arts Centre Melbourne and Sydney Opera House in association with Briefs Factory presents
David Morton
The Wider Earth
Queensland Theatre and Dead Puppets Society
JACOB RANDELL, JASCHA BOYCE, SIMON MCCLURE, LACHLAN BINNS, MIEKE LIZOTTE, LEWIE WEST, MARTIN SCHREIBER, JOANNE CURRY, LACHLAN HARPER, JACKSON MANSON AND LEWIS RANKIN
Backbone
Gravity and Other Myths and 2017 Adelaide Festival
KATE MULVANY
Jasper Jones
Melbourne Theatre Company
The Drover's Wife
Belvoir
Girl Asleep
Windmill Theatre Co
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
My Fair Lady
Opera Australia & John Frost
Aladdin
Disney Theatrical Productions (Australia)
OUR land people stories
Bangarra Dance Theatre
The Drover's Wife
Belvoir
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
GEOFF COBHAM
Backbone
Gravity and Other Myths and 2017 Adelaide Festival
JOACHIM KLEIN
Saul
2017 Adelaide Festival in association with the State Opera of South Australia, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Festival Centre
Mark Howett AND SEAN MCKERNAN
Boorna Waanginy
Perth International Arts Festival
Green Day's American Idiot
shake & stir co and QPAC
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
IAIN GRANDAGE AND RAHAYU SUPANGGAH
Satan Jawa
Arts Centre Melbourne and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Paul Kelly AND CAMILLE O'SULLIVAN WITH FEARGAL MURRAY
Ancient Rain
Far and Away Productions in association with Brink Productions, co-commissioned by Melbourne Festival and Adelaide Cabaret Festival
RULLY SHABARA AND WUKIR SURYADI
Attractor
Dancenorth and Lucy Guerin Inc, with Melbourne Arts Centre, WOMADelaide and Brisbane Festival
Trey Parker, Matt Stone AND Robert Lopez
The Book of Mormon
Anne Garefino, Scott Rudin, IMPORTANT MUSICALS, John Frost, Roger Berlind, Scott M. Delman, Jean Doumanian, Roy Furman, Stephanie P. McClelland, Kevin Morris, Jon B. Platt, Sonia Friedman Productions
BEST MUSIC DIRECTION
CHONG LIM
Rolling Thunder Vietnam
Blake Entertainment
ERIN HELYARD
Saul
2017 Adelaide Festival in association with the State Opera of South Australia, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Festival Centre
LUKE HUNTER
Kinky Boots
MICHAEL CASSEL by special arrangement with Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig
NICOLETTE FRAILLON
Nijinsky
The Australian Ballet
BEST SCENIC DESIGN
ANNA CORDINGLEY
Jasper Jones
Melbourne Theatre Company
Aladdin
Disney Theatrical Productions (Australia)
David Morton & AARON BARTON
The Wider Earth
Queensland Theatre & Dead Puppet Society
KATRIN LEA TAG
Saul
2017 Adelaide Festival in association with the State Opera of South Australia, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Festival Centre
BEST SOUND DESIGN
The Encounter
Complicite, Sydney Festival, Malthouse Theatre, Adelaide Festival & Perth International Arts Festival
KINGSLEY REEVE
Boorna Waanginy
Perth International Arts Festival
My Fair Lady
Opera Australia and John Frost
TONY DAVID CRAY
Sydney Opera House - The Opera (The Eighth Wonder)
Opera Australia
CABARET
BEST CABARET PERFORMER
BETTY GRUMBLE
Grumble: Sex Clown Saves the World
Don't Be Lonely
Working Class Boy: An Evening of Stories & Songs
Frontier Touring and in Association with Premier Artists
MATERHARERE HOPE HAAMI, JUAnita Duncan, OFA FOTU, CRYSTAL STACEY, LISA FA'ALAFI AND KIM 'BUSTY BEATZ' BOWERS
Hot Brown Honey
Arts Centre Melbourne and Sydney Opera House in Association with Briefs Factory Presents
SVEN RATZKE
Starman
Adelaide Festival Centre's Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Release Creative
COMEDY
BEST COMEDY PERFORMER
AUNTY DONNA
Big Boys
Century Entertainment
HANNAH GADSBY
Nanette
Token Events
JOEL CREASEY
Poser
Live Nation Australasia
NAZEEM HUSSAIN
Public Frenemy Nazeem Hussain
Live Nation Australasia
SAMMY J
Hero Complex
Laughing Stock Productions
TOM BALLARD
Problematic
Token Events
PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN
BEST PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN
CERITA ANAK
Polyglot Theatre and Arts Centre Melbourne
IN A DEEP DARK FOREST
The Inhabitors and Arts Centre Melbourne
JUMP FIRST, ASK LATER
Powerhouse Youth Theatre and Force Majeure
NEW OWNER
The Last Great Hunt
REGIONAL TOURING
BEST REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION
COUNTERMOVE
Sydney Dance Company
TERRAIN
Bangarra Dance Theatre
THE MOON'S A BALLOON
Patch Theatre Company
THEY SAW A THYLACINE
HUMAN ANIMAL EXCHANGE and Performing Lines
Videos