2 BIG NIGHTS AS 2019 HELPMANN
AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
THE 2019 HELPMANN AWARDS Act II last Monday night was a star studded black-tie gala event hosted by the fabulous dynamic duo of comedian, writer and actor, Susie Youssef, and Artistic Director of State Theatre SA, Mitchell Butel.
Saluting artistic excellence and achievement on Australian stages over the past year, 23 prestigious Helpmann Awards were presented in the categories of comedy, cabaret, contemporary music, musicals, opera, classical music, theatre and ballet, dance and physical theatre.
These Awards complement the 20 Awards announced on Sunday night at the 2019 Helpmann Awards Act I.
In addition, the 2019 JC Williamson Award was presented by Paul Kelly AO to the legendary singer-songwriter Kev Carmody, for his outstanding contribution to the live performance industry.
This year’s special guest presenters included industry luminaries Greta Bradman, Rhonda Burchmore OAM, Uncle Jack Charles, Joel Creasey, Lucy Durack, James Egglestone, Nancye Hayes AM, Stephanie Lake, Chong Lim, Paul Kelly AO, Rachael Maza, David McAllister AM, Kate Miller-Heidke, Jacob Nash, Keir Nuttall, Beau Dean Riley Smith and Vanessa Scammell.
The Helpmann Awards were established in 2001 by Live Performance Australia (LPA).
Richard Evans, President of LPA, said: “We are proud to present the 19h Annual Helpmann Awards in Melbourne this year for the very first time.
"The breadth and diversity of Winners, Nominees and performances at Sunday's and Monday’s events shines a spotlight on Australia’s world-class creative and artistic talent. Congratulations to all 2019 Helpmann Award Nominees and Winners!”
In a world first, the cast of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD performed an exclusive montage at the play’s Australian home, Melbourne’s Princess Theatre, which was beamed live to the thrilled 2019 Helpmann Awards audience at Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre.
As well as the special live cross to Melbourne’s Princess Theatre, acclaimed performances at the State Theatre included Victorian Opera with their new work Lorelei, featuring divas Ali McGregor, Dimity Shepherd and Danielle Calder; The Australian Ballet with an exquisite new piece from Aurum by choreographer Alice Topp; the breathtaking Bangarra dancers Beau Dean Riley Smith, Rikki Mason, Tyrel Dulvarie, Ryan Pearson, Baden Hitchcock and Bradley Smith in an excerpt from the Helpmann Award winning production Bennelong; a special tribute to Kev Carmody from electronic soul pop duo Electric Fields; musical theatre darling Silvie Paladino; and bringing the show home was the sensational Brent Hill and the extraordinary kids from the hit musical School of Rock.
Once again, the Helpmann Awards Orchestra was led by exceptional musical director Vanessa Scammell.
The Helpmann Awards Act II was preceded by the Red Carpet Walk with its fun and fabulous frocks, hosted by colourful comedienne Cal Wilson.
The celebrations continued late into the night with the After Party at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.
On Sunday, the 2019 Helpmann Awards Act I saw the gravitas of Australia’s most prestigious live theatre and entertainment awards meet the atmosphere of a sophisticated jazz lounge, for an up close, upbeat, exclusive industry-only night to remember.
Hosted by the legendary performer, writer, artistic director and national treasure, Robyn Archer AO, the evening’s presenters included industry favourites Annie Aitken, Casey Bennetto, Tony Briggs, Uncle Jack Charles, Ako Kondo, Matt Lee, Ali McGregor, Natalie O’Donnell, Gareth Reeves, Graeme Russell, Claire Spencer, Anne Wood and the legendary punk rock duo from Die Roten Punkte, Otto and Astrid Rot.
The Helpmann Awards were established in 2001 by Live Performance Australia (LPA). Below ON WITH THE SHOW has published the full list of winners for 2019.
2019 HELPMANN AWARDS WINNERS
BALLET, DANCE & PHYSICAL THEATRE
BEST BALLET
AURUM
The Australian Ballet
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A BALLET, DANCE
OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
ANTONY HAMILTON
Forever & Ever
Sydney Dance Company
BEST DANCE PRODUCTION
THE BEGINNING OF NATURE
Australian Dance Theatre
BEST FEMALE DANCER IN A BALLET, DANCE
OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
TARA JADE SAMAYA
Common Ground
Chunky Move
BEST MALE DANCER IN A BALLET, DANCE
OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
WAANGENGA BLANCO
Dark Emu
Bangarra Dance Theatre
BEST VISUAL OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION
OUT OF CHAOS...
Gravity & Other Myths
CABARET
BEST CABARET PERFORMER
ALI MCGREGOR
Yma Sumac - The Peruvian Songbird
Adelaide Festival Centre's Adelaide Cabaret Festival
COMEDY
BEST COMEDY PERFORMER
HANNAH GADSBY
Douglas
A Token Event
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
BEST AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
TIM MINCHIN AND LIVE NATION AUSTRALASIA
Back
BEST CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL
MUSEUM OF OLD AND NEW ART (MONA)
MONA FOMA 2019
BEST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
DAVID BYRNE AND FRONTIER TOURING
American Utopia Tour 2018
INDUSTRY
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
GABRIELA TYLESOVA
Twelfth Night
Melbourne Theatre Company
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
NEIL AUSTIN
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two)
Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical
Productions, and Australian Executive Producer, Michael Cassel
BEST MUSIC DIRECTION
ERIN HELYARD
Artaserse
Pinchgut Opera
BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK
S. SHAKTHIDHARAN AND EAMON FLACK
Counting & Cracking
Belvoir & Co-Curious
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
URSULA YOVICH, ALANA VALENTINE AND ADM VENTOURA
Barbara and the Camp Dogs
Belvoir
BEST SCENIC DESIGN
DALE FERGUSON
Counting & Cracking
Belvoir & Co-Curious
BEST SOUND DESIGN
STEFAN GREGORY
Counting & Cracking
Belvoir & Co-Curious
BEST SPECIAL EVENT
DARK MOFO 2018
Museum of Old and New Art
MUSICALS
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL
MALIK LE NOST & MITCHELL WOODCOCK
Saturday Night Fever
John Frost in Association with Robert Stigwood
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story
Opera Australia
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
URSULA YOVICH
Barbara and the Camp Dogs
Belvoir
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
ELAINE CROMBIE
Barbara and the Camp Dogs
Belvoir
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
BRENT HILL
School of Rock the Musical
GWB Entertainment and S&Co in association with Kham Inc by
arrangement with The Really Useful Group Limited
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
TONY SHELDON
Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The New Musical
John Frost, Craig Donnell, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park
Productions and Neal Street Productions
BEST MUSICAL
BARBARA AND THE CAMP DOGS
Belvoir
OPERA & CLASSICAL MUSIC
BEST CHAMBER AND/OR INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE CONCERT
GABRIELI CONSORT & PLAYERS - PURCELL'S KING ARTHUR
Melbourne Recital Centre and State Opera of South Australia
BEST DIRECTION OF AN OPERA
BARRIE KOSKY AND SUZANNE ANDRADE AND 1927
Komische Oper Berlin’s The Magic Flute
Adelaide Festival and Perth Festival by arrangement with Arts Projects
Australia
BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA
TARYN FIEBIG
Metamorphosis
Opera Australia
BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
LISE LINDSTROM
Salome
Opera Australia
BEST INDIVIDUAL CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE
ASHER FISCH
Tristan und Isolde
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
BEST MALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA
TOM ERIK LIE
Komische Oper Berlin’s The Magic Flute
Adelaide Festival and Perth Festival by arrangement with Arts Projects
Australia
BEST MALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
MICHAEL HONEYMAN
Wozzeck
Opera Australia
BEST OPERA
KOMISCHE OPER BERLIN'S THE MAGIC FLUTE
Arts Projects Australia, Adelaide Festival and Perth Festival
BEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
BEST PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
ROBOT SONG
Arena Theatre Company
REGIONAL TOURING
BEST REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION
BENNELONG
Bangarra Dance Theatre
THEATRE
BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
EAMON FLACK AND S. SHAKTHIDHARAN
Counting & Cracking
Belvoir & Co-Curious
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
KATE MULVANY
Every Brilliant Thing
Belvoir
BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
VAISHNAVI SURYAPRAKASH
Counting & Cracking
Belvoir & Co-Curious
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY
PRAKASH BELAWADI
Counting & Cracking
Belvoir & Co-Curious
BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
PAUL BLACKWELL
Faith Healer
A Belvoir Production presented by State Theatre Company South Australia
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
COUNTING & CRACKING
Belvoir & Co-Curious
2019 SUE NATTRASS AWARD
LIZ JONES AO
Artistic Director of La Mama Theatre, Liz Jones AO, announced as the recipient of the 2019 Sue Nattrass Award® for exceptional service to the live performance industry.
As artistic director of Carlton’s legendary La Mama Theatre, Liz Jones has been a cornerstone of Melbourne’s independent theatre scene since 1976. She took over the helm just nine years after it was founded (and just three weeks after giving birth to her first child) and her steadfast commitment to the foundation model of ‘low financial risk, high artistic risk’ has ensured La Mama remains a place where experimental and emerging theatre-makers can try out new ideas and hone their craft.
2019 JC WILLIAMSON AWARD
KEV CARMODY
Kev Carmody announced as the recipient of the 2019 JC Williamson Award Australia’s most prestigious live performance industry accolade.
Kev Carmody, one of Australia’s pre-eminent singer songwriters, is known for his lyrical passion and musical imagination.
A tireless traveller and performer, Kev has played in some of the world’s foremost venues, been a feature artist at many major Australian and international music festivals and has worked with some of the world’s most acclaimed musicians. He is also known for his work with youth and prison inmates. Kev has presented song-writing and recording workshops in communities in Western NSW, NT and Queensland.
He has received numerous awards including the Deadly Awards Jimmy Little Award, Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame inductee and Australia Council Don Banks Award.
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July 17, 2019
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