2014 Rob Guest Endowment Award Semi-Finalists Announced

The 30 Semi-Finalists for the 2014 Rob Guest Endowment Award were announced today. They are Daniel Assetta, Ben Bennett, Hilary Cole, Andy Cook, Thomas Davis, Daniel Downing, Vivien Emsworth, Anna Freeland, Nelson Gardner, Nick Hedger, Matt Holly, Georgina Hopson, Loren Hunter, Graeme Isaako, Kirby Lunn, Seann Matthew Moore, Katie McKee, Lauren McKenna, Emily Mercurio, Joel Parnis, Daniel Raso, Joshua Robson, Angela Scundi, Rebecca Selley, Zach Smith, Monica Swayne, Connor Sweeney, Karla Tonkich, Tarisai Vushe and Sophie Wright.

The Semi-Finalists will all perform in front of a panel of judges in Sydney on August 11 to determine the six Finalists.

The Rob Guest Endowment Award, now in its 6th year, is awarded annually to an emerging musical theatre performer selected by a panel of industry experts. It seeks out Australia's brightest and most talented young rising stars by putting them through a gruelling audition process. Six finalists showcase their talents at the Rob Guest Endowment Gala concert, and this year the 2014 winner will take home $20,000, an $8,000 increase on the 2013 prize package. Runners up will each take home $1,500. The prize is intended to help a current artist in the musical theatre genre gain the performance experience, media training, guidance and a public image to help them become a leading artist in the Australian musical theatre industry.

Past winners and finalists of the Rob Guest Endowment Award are performing in lead roles in musical theatre around Australia, including Gretel Scarlett (Sandy in Grease), Ed Grey (Boq in Wicked), Euan Doidge (Marius in Les Miserables) and Francine Cain (Frenchy in Grease).

This year, with the support of Destination NSW and ANZ, the 2014 Rob Guest Endowment Gala Concert will be held on Monday 13 October, 2014 at Capitol Theatre, Sydney. Like past concerts, this night promises to be a highlight on the musical theatre calendar, showcasing the 2014 finalists alongside some of Australia's finest professional musical theatre performers.