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Live Performance Australia (LPA) yesterday announced a List of Nominations in each of the 41 categories for the 2008 Helpmann Awards. The announcement was made simultaneously at The Capitol Theatre, Sydney, and at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne.

In addition Barry Humphries and Sue Nattrass were announced as the recipients of the prestigious J C Williamson Award that recognises an outstanding contribution to the Australian live performance industry.

Kathryn Sadler, Chair of the Stacey Memorial Trust, announced that Paul Fitzsimon and Vanessa Scammell are the joint winners of the Brian Stacey Memorial Award for Emerging Australian Conductors and presented each with a $3,000 prize. Paul and Vanessa are the 11th recipients of this award.

The 2008 Helpmann Awards Ceremony will be held on Monday 28 July at 6.30pm at The Lyric Theatre, Star City, Sydney, whilst the After Party will be held at Star City Ballroom. Jonathan Biggins and Julia Zemiro, both acclaimed actors, broadcasters and comedians, will jointly MC the Awards Ceremony. The Ceremony will include performances by the casts of The Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot The Musical, The Rocky Horror Show, Guys and Dolls, and My Fair Lady, with performances by The Australian Ballet, The Umbilical Brothers, Ray Crowe, the NG Twins, Vanessa Amorosi and Ana Marina.

LPA's Chief Executive, Evelyn Richardson, said "the Helpmann Awards are the pinnacle industry event for Australia's live performance industry, recognising the very best in live performances that annually attract over 13.7 million people to shows across the nation with revenues of over $A834 million, and growing".

The Awards Ceremony will be broadcast live on the Bio Channel Foxtel.

Tickets for the 2008 Helpmann Awards are currently on sale to the general public through
Ticketmaster.

www.helpmannawards.com.au

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Full list of 2008 Helpmann Award Nominees


::BEST COSTUME DESIGN::

Stephen Curtis The Government Inspector
Bell Shakespeare

Julie Lynch Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show
Howard Panter and Paul Dainty for Rocky Horror Australia and Star City

John F Macfarlane The Nutcracker
The Australian Ballet

Robert Perdziola Arabella
Opera Australia


::BEST SCENIC DESIGN::

John F Macfarlane The Nutcracker
The Australian Ballet

Ian MacNeil Billy Elliot the Musical
Universal Pictures, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions

Peter McKintosh The 39 Steps
Melbourne Theatre Company

Dan Potra Dead Man Walking
Andrew McManus Presents and Alexander Productions


::BEST LIGHTING DESIGN::

Trudy Dalgleish Dead Man Walking
Andrew McManus Presents and Alexander Productions

Rick Fisher Billy Elliot the Musical
Universal Pictures, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions

Paul Jackson Moving Target
Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Opera House and Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts

Niklas Pajanti When The Rain Stops Falling
Brink Productions


::BEST SOUND DESIGN::

Paul Arditti Billy Elliot the Musical
Universal Pictures, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions

Gareth Fry Black Watch
National Theatre of Scotland, presented by Sydney Festival & Perth International Arts Festival and Brisbane Powerhouse

Chris Full, John Scandrett and Nick Reich Guys and Dolls
Ambassador Theatre Group, Shows Inc, Marriner Theatres and Tulchin/Bartner Productions

Mic Pool The 39 Steps
Melbourne Theatre Company


::BEST REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION::

Heroes
Queensland Theatre Company

Keating!
Company B

Mr McGee and the Biting Flea
Patch Theatre Company

True Stories
Bangarra Dance Theatre


::BEST SPECIAL EVENT::

An Audience With Stephen Sondheim
Kookaburra: The National Musical Theatre Company

Ignition! And Northern Lights
Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts 2008 & The Electric Canvas

Pig City
Queensland Music Festival and Brisbane City Council

The Choir of Hard Knocks
Sydney Opera House and Australian Broadcasting Corporation


::BEST ORIGINAL SCORE::

Ben Frost Mortal Engine
Chunky Move presented by Sydney Festival

Andree Greenwell Venus & Adonis
Malthouse Theatre and Bell Shakespeare

Barrie Kosky The Tell-Tale Heart
Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne International Arts Festival

Richard Mills Songlines for the Heart's Desire
Musica Viva


::BEST MUSIC DIRECTION::

Stephen Amos Billy Elliot the Musical
Universal Pictures, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions

Peter Casey Company
Kookaburra: The National Musical Theatre Company

Peter Farnen Sleeping Beauty
Malthouse Theatre

Lionel Friend Arabella
Opera Australia


::BEST PERFORMANCE IN A CLASSICAL CONCERT::

Aivale Cole Opera In The Park - Madama Butterfly
West Australian Opera

Michael Kieran Harvey Messiaen Catalogue d'oiseaux
Perth International Arts Festival

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Classical Connections - Sir Charles Returns
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Simone Young Turangalila-Symphonie
Sydney Symphony


::BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION::

Tanja Liedke Construct
Presented by Sydney Festival

Lloyd Newson To Be Straight With You
DV8 Physical Theatre Presented by Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts 2008

Gideon Obarzanek Glow
Chunky Move presented by Melbourne International Arts Festival

Christopher Wheeldon After the Rain©
The Australian Ballet


::BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL::

Rob Ashford Guys and Dolls
Ambassador Theatre Group, Shows Inc, Marriner Theatres and Tulchin/Bartner Productions

Ross Coleman Shout! The Musical
Dennis Smith & John Gilbert

Ross Coleman Sweet Charity
The Production Company (AUST) Ltd

Peter Darling Billy Elliot the Musical
Universal Pictures, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions


::BEST DIRECTION OF AN OPERA::

Bruce Beresford A Streetcar Named Desire
Opera Australia

Adam Cook Little Women
State Opera of South Australia/State Theatre Company of SA

John Cox Arabella
Opera Australia

Nigel Jamieson Dead Man Walking
Andrew McManus Presents and Alexander Productions


::BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL::

Stephen Daldry in association with Julian Webber Billy Elliot the Musical
Universal Pictures, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions

Gale Edwards Company
Kookaburra: The National Musical Theatre Company

Michael Grandage and Jamie Lloyd Guys and Dolls
Ambassador Theatre Group, Shows Inc, Marriner Theatres and Tulchin/Bartner Productions

Roger Hodgman Little Me
The Production Company (AUST) Ltd


::BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY::

Benedict Andrews Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf
Company B

Neil Armfield Toy Symphony
Company B

Barrie Kosky The Tell-Tale Heart
Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne International Arts Festival

John Tiffany Black Watch
National Theatre of Scotland, presented by Sydney Festival, Perth International Arts Festival


::BEST VISUAL OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION::

Au Revoir Parapluie
Presented by Sydney Festival

Mortal Engine
Chunky Move presented by Sydney Festival

Secret
Cirque Ici, Presented by Sydney Festival

Paradise City
By Branch Nebula, produced by Performing Lines


::BEST CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL::

19th Annual East Coast Blues and Roots Festival
Chugg Entertainment & Peter Noble Presents

Big Day Out Festival 2008
Vivian Lees & Ken West

St Jeromes Laneway Festival
Chugg Entertainment & Rockin Roll Circus

Womadelaide
Womadelaide Foundation


::BEST AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY CONCERT::

BROAD
Maiden Australia and QPAC

Crowded House
The Frontier Touring Company

Kate Ceberano - Nine Lime Avenue tour
Andrew McManus Presents

The Whitlams with the Sydney Symphony
Sydney Symphony


::BEST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY CONCERT::

Björk On The Steps Of The Sydney Opera House
Presented by Sydney Festival

Bon Jovi - The Lost Highway Tour
Dainty Consolidated Entertainment

Justin Timberlake
The Frontier Touring Company

Rufus Wainwright
Chugg Entertainment and Perth International Arts Festival


::BEST MALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA::

Kanen Breen Les contes d'Hoffmann
Opera Australia

James Egglestone as Laurie Little Women
State Opera of South Australia/State Theatre Company of SA

Luke Gabbedy La Boheme
West Australian Opera

Stuart Skelton A Streetcar Named Desire
Opera Australia


::BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA::

Antoinette Halloran A Streetcar Named Desire
Opera Australia

Anke Hoppner The Love of the Nightingale
Victorian Opera, Opera Queensland, Queensland Music Festival, QPAC Centre, WAO, PIAF

Hye Seoung Kwon Carmen
Opera Australia

Emma Matthews Arabella
Opera Australia


::BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY::

Russell Dykstra Toy Symphony
Company B

Travis McMahon Don's Party
Melbourne Theatre Company

James Stewart The Glass Menagerie
Queensland Theatre Company

David Woods Exit The King
Company B and Malthouse Theatre


::BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY::

Julie Forsyth Exit The King
Company B and Malthouse Theatre

Monica Maughan Toy Symphony
Company B

Susan Prior Riflemind
Sydney Theatre Company

Alison Whyte Don's Party
Melbourne Theatre Company


::BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL::

Linal Haft Billy Elliot the Musical
Universal Pictures, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions

Bill Hunter Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Liz Koops & Garry McQuinn for Back Row Productions, Michael Hamlyn for Specific Films, Allan Scott, John Frost and Michael Chugg for Chugg Entertainment in association with MGM ON STAGE Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber

Shane Jacobson Guys and Dolls
Ambassador Theatre Group, Shows Inc, Marriner Theatres and Tulchin/Bartner Productions

John Paul Young Shout! The Musical
Dennis Smith & John Gilbert


::BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL::

Colette Mann Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Liz Koops & Garry McQuinn for Back Row Productions, Michael Hamlyn for Specific Films, Allan Scott, John Frost and Michael Chugg for Chugg Entertainment in association with MGM ON STAGE Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber

Sharon Millerchip Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show
Howard Panter and Paul Dainty for Rocky Horror Australia and Star City

Lola Nixon Billy Elliot the Musical
Universal Pictures, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions

Jackie Rees The Phantom Of The Opera
The Really Useful Group Asia Pacific Pty Ltd and The Gordon/Frost Organisation


::BEST CLASSICAL CONCERT PRESENTATION::

Baroque Beat
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra with L'Arpeggiata

Opera In The Park - Madama Butterfly
West Australian Opera

Sibelius Festival
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra

Sir Charles Mackerras concerts
Sydney Symphony


::BEST PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN::

Cat (Based on the picturebook Cat by Mike Dumbleton and Craig Smith, Directed by Cate Fowler)
Windmill Performing Arts

Hoods
Real T.V

Mr McGee and the Biting Flea
Patch Theatre Company

My Grandma lived in Gooligulch
Gooligulch Limited in Association with Garry Ginivan Attractions


::BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK::

Andrew Bovell When The Rain Stops Falling
Brink Productions

Michael Gow Toy Symphony
Company B

Gideon Obarzanek Glow
Chunky Move presented by Melbourne International Arts Festival

Alana Valentine Parramatta Girls
Company B


::BEST COMEDY PERFORMER::

David Collins & Shane Dundas The Umbilical Brothers - Don't Explain
A-List Entertainment

Julia Morris Julia Morris in Shoosh Please!
Star 100 Entertainment

Ross Noble Ross Noble
A-List Entertainment

Frank Woodley Possessed
Token Events


::BEST MALE DANCER IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION::

Steven Heathcote After the Rain©
The Australian Ballet

Akram Khan Sacred Monsters
Akram Khan Co. Presented by Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts 2008, Sydney Opera House, Brisbane Powerhouse

Gavin Webber Roadkill
Brisbane Powerhouse and Dancenorth

Paul White Construct
Presented by Sydney Festival


::BEST FEMALE DANCER IN A DANCE OR PHYSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION::

Sara Black Glow
Chunky Move presented by Melbourne International Arts Festival

Lucinda Dunn Don Quixote
The Australian Ballet

Sarah-Jayne Howard Roadkill
Brisbane Powerhouse and Dancenorth

Larissa McGowan G
ADT, Theatre de la Ville, Joyce Theater, Southbank Centre & Merrigong Theatre


::BEST MALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA::

Peter Coleman-Wright Arabella
Opera Australia

Jonathan Summers Il Trittico
Opera Australia

Teddy Tahu Rhodes Dead Man Walking
Andrew McManus Presents and Alexander Productions

John Wegner Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Opera Australia


::BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA::

Cheryl Barker Arabella
Opera Australia

Elvira Fatykhova Rigoletto
West Australian Opera

Kirsti Harms Dead Man Walking
Andrew McManus Presents and Alexander Productions

Emma Matthews Les contes d'Hoffmann
Opera Australia


::BEST MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY::

Marton Csokas Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf
Company B

Martin Niedermair The Tell-Tale Heart
Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne International Arts Festival

Richard Roxburgh Toy Symphony
Company B

Geoffrey Rush Exit The King
Company B and Malthouse Theatre


::BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY::

Kate Dickie Aalst
National Theatre of Scotland, presented by Sydney Festival, Perth International Arts Festival and Brisbane Powerhouse

Catherine McClements Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf
Company B

Genevieve Picot Rock n Roll
Melbourne Theatre Company

Leah Purcell The Story Of The Miracles at Cookie's Table
Griffin Theatre Company and HotHouse Theatre


::BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY CONCERT::

Tina Arena Tina Arena in concert
Spiritworks Pty Ltd

David Campbell David Campbell - The Swing Sessions 2
The Harbour Agency

Kate Cebrano Kate Ceberano - Nine Lime Avenue tour
Andrew McManus Presents

Guy Sebastian Guy Sebastian - The Memphis Tour
The Harbour Agency


::BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL::

"Billy" Lochlan Denholm, Nick Twiney, Rarmian Newton, & Rhys Kosakowski Billy Elliot the Musical
Universal Pictures, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions

Mitchell Butel Little Me
The Production Company (AUST) Ltd

iOTA Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show
Howard Panter and Paul Dainty for Rocky Horror Australia and Star City

Anthony Warlow The Phantom Of The Opera
The Really Useful Group Asia Pacific Pty Ltd and The Gordon/Frost Organisation


::BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL::

Genevieve Lemon Billy Elliot the Musical
Universal Pictures, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions

Ana Marina The Phantom Of The Opera
The Really Useful Group Asia Pacific PTY Ltd and The Gordon/Frost Organisation

Sharon Millerchip Sweet Charity
The Production Company (AUST) Ltd

Marina Prior Guys and Dolls
Ambassador Theatre Group, Shows Inc, Marriner Theatres and Tulchin/Bartner Productions


::BEST BALLET OR DANCE WORK::

Glow
Chunky Move presented by Melbourne International Arts Festival

Roadkill
Brisbane Powerhouse and Dancenorth Choreographed by Splintergroup

The Nutcracker
The Australian Ballet

Sacred Monsters
Akram Khan Co. Presented by Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts 2008, Sydney Opera House, Brisbane Powerhouse


::BEST OPERA::

Arabella
Opera Australia

Dead Man Walking
Andrew McManus Presents and Alexander Productions

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Opera Australia

Little Women
State Opera of South Australia/State Theatre Company of SA


::BEST PLAY::

Black Watch
National Theatre of Scotland, presented by Sydney Festival, Perth International Arts Festival

Toy Symphony
Company B

When The Rain Stops Falling
Brink Productions

Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf
Company B


::BEST MUSICAL::

Billy Elliot the Musical
Universal Pictures, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions

Company
Kookaburra: The National Musical Theatre Company

Guys and Dolls
Ambassador Theatre Group, Shows Inc, Marriner Theatres and Tulchin/Bartner Productions

The Phantom Of The Opera
The Really Useful Group Asia Pacific Pty Ltd and The Gordon/Frost Organisation