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The 2009 Helpmann Awards were presented last night, in a ceremony at the Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House.

The Helpmann Awards, established in 2001 by Live Performance Australia (LPA), saw the presentation of awards in 41 categories. In addition Michael Gudinski AM and John Bell AO OBE were honoured as the recipients of the prestigious J C Williamson Award that recognises their outstanding contribution to the Australian live performance industry. John Bell received tributes from Anna Volska, Jackie Weaver and his daughter, Lucy Bell, with a performance by Drew Forsythe and Darren Gilshenan, whilst Michael Gudinski received tributes from Molly Meldrum, a filmed tribute from Kylie, and a surprise performance from the band Skyhooks, especially reunited for this event with Jimmy Barnes and Diesel as lead singers.

Jonathan Biggins and Julia Zemiro, both acclaimed actors, broadcasters and comedians, jointly MC’d the Awards Ceremony. The Ceremony included performances by the casts of Avenue Q, Candy Man, Chicago, Jerry Springer – The Opera, Metro Street, Shane Warne - The Musical, Spamalot, 7 Fingers and Wicked, as well as performances from The Australian Ballet, David Campbell, Kate Miller-Heidke, Scared Weird Little Guys, Sydney Dance Company, Tyler Coppin, and Emma Matthews from Opera Australia.

Award Presenters included – Neil Armfield, Damien Bermingham, Richard Bonynge, Joan Carden, Marta Dusseldorp, Joel Edgerton, Kate Fitzpatrick, Hale & Pace, Hi 5, Lindy Hume, Marilyn Jones, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Matt Lee, Craig McLachlan, Meow Meow, Sharon Millerchip, Rob Mills, Sarah Murdoch, Julianne Newbould, Glynn Nicholas, Bonjana Novakovic, Stephen Page, Gina Riley, Tim Rogers, Ruby Rose, Leo Schofield, Jim Sharman, Tiffany Speight, Lyndon Terracini, Liv Ulmann, Ben Winspear, and Ursula Yovich.

Also in attendance at the event were - Cate Blanchett, Rafael Bonachela, Michael Chugg, Kate Fitzpatrick, Nancye Hayes, David McAllister, Todd McKenney, Robyn Nevin, Amanda Pelman, Eddie Perfect, and Pamela Rabe.

President of Live Performance Australia, Andrew Kay, said “This is the Helpmann Awards 9th year and we’re delighted, for the first time, to be presenting them live from the Sydney Opera House.

The Helpmanns are a celebration of the very best in live performance in Australia. They also serve as a reminder of the central place live performance takes in the lives of so many Australians, whether it be a child attending a live concert for the very first time, a young Australian attending a concert by their favourite band or comedian, or one of the millions of Australians who attend our major musicals or performances by our extraordinary performing arts companies.

Live performance engages and entertains audiences across the breadth of Australia from the smallest rural community to the largest city. And the strength of the industry is evidenced in the extraordinary list of outstanding Helpmann nominees we honour tonight."

Events NSW CEO Geoff Parmenter congratulated the winners of this year’s Helpmann Awards and also the team at Live Performance Australia for putting on such a fantastic event.

“This is the ninth year the Helpmann Awards have been held in Sydney and Events NSW support of the event ensured its move to Sydney Opera House.

Holding the Helpmann Awards in one of the world’s leading performance arts venues has lifted the event to a new level. It’s fitting that the pinnacle awards ceremony for the industry in Australia is held in this iconic building,” he said.

www.helpmannawards.com.au


2009 HELPMANN AWARDS - FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Best Costume Design
Susan Hilferty
Wicked
Marc Platt, David Stone, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and John Frost

Best Scenic Design
Eugene Lee
Wicked
Marc Platt, David Stone, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and John Frost

Best Lighting Design
Nick Schlieper
War of the Roses
Sydney Theatre Company in association with the Sydney Festival and Perth International Arts Festival present the STC Actors Company in War of the Roses

Best Sound Design
Max Lyandvert
War of the Roses
Sydney Theatre Company in association with the Sydney Festival and Perth International Arts Festival present the STC Actors Company in War of the Roses

Best Regional Touring Production
Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps
Fiery Angel Ltd and Kay & McLean Productions Pty Ltd

Best Special Event
Sound Relief
The Frontier Touring Company, Chugg Entertainment, IMC & Mark Pope Music

Best Original Score
David Page
Mathinna
Bangarra Dance Theatre

Best Music Direction
Richard Hickox
Billy Budd
Opera Australia

Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production
Stephen Page
Mathinna
Bangarra Dance Theatre

Best Choreography in a Musical
Wayne Cilento
Wicked
Marc Platt, David Stone, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and John Frost

Best Direction of an Opera
Neil Armfield
Billy Budd
Opera Australia

Best Direction of a Musical
Lisa Leguillou
Wicked
Marc Platt, David Stone, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and John Frost

Best Direction of a Play
Benedict Andrews
War of the Roses
Sydney Theatre Company in association with the Sydney Festival and Perth International Arts Festival present the STC Actors Company in War of the Roses

Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production
Compagnie Philippe Genty - Lands End
Arts Projects Australia

Best Contemporary Music Festival
Big Day Out 2009
Vivian Lees and Ken West

Best Australian Contemporary Concert
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Presented by: WA, Perth International Arts Festival. NSW, Sydney Opera House Trust

Best International Contemporary Concert
Leonard Cohen World Tour 2009
The Frontier Touring Company

Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera
John Wegner
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk
Opera Australia

Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera
Dominica Matthews
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk
Opera Australia

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play
Ewen Leslie
War of the Roses
Sydney Theatre Company in association with the Sydney Festival and Perth International Arts Festival present the STC Actors Company in War of the Roses

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play
Marta Dusseldorp
War of the Roses
Sydney Theatre Company in association with the Sydney Festival and Perth International Arts Festival present the STC Actors Company in War of the Roses

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Rob Guest
Wicked
Marc Platt, David Stone, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and John Frost

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Nancye Hayes
My Fair Lady
Opera Australia

Best Symphony Orchestra Concert
A Flowering Tree
Perth International Arts Festival/WA Opera/West Australian Symphony Orchestra

Best Chamber and Instrumental Ensemble Concert
Ecstatic Dances
Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre's OzAsia Festival and Soundstream Contemporary Music Ensemble

Best Presentation for Children
The Promise
The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Presented by Sydney Festival

Best New Australian Work
Eddie Perfect
Shane Warne The Musical
Token Events

Best Comedy Performer
Tim Minchin
Tim Minchin – Ready For This?
Fox In The Snow

Best Male Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production
Antony Hamilton
Two Faced Bastard
Melbourne International Arts Festival and Chunky Move

Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production
Lana Jones
Graeme Murphy's Firebird
The Australian Ballet

Best Individual Classical Performance
Pianist Herbert Schuch
The Beethoven Festival
Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre's Symphonic program with The Australian Youth Orchestra

Best Male Performer in an Opera
John Wegner
Billy Budd
Opera Australia

Best Female Performer in an Opera
Tiffany Speight
The Coronation of Poppea
Victorian Opera

Best Male Actor in a Play
Ben Winspear
Baghdad Wedding
Company B

Best Female Actor in a Play
Robyn Nevin
Women of Troy
Sydney Theatre Company

Best Male Actor in a Musical
Bille Brown
Monty Python's Spamalot
Boyett Ostar Productions, Michael Coppel, Jam Theatricals, S. Arthur Morris, Louise Withers, Lawrence Horowitz, Roy Furman, Bill Rollnick/Nancy Ellison Rollnick

Best Female Actor in a Musical
Sharon Millerchip
Chicago
John Frost in association with Barry & Fran Weissler

Best Ballet or Dance Work
Mathinna
Bangarra Dance Theatre

Best Opera
Billy Budd
Opera Australia

Best Play
War of the Roses
Sydney Theatre Company in association with the Sydney Festival and Perth International Arts Festival present the STC Actors Company in War of the Roses

Best Musical
Wicked
Marc Platt, David Stone, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and John Frost