The 2010 Helpmann Awards® were presented last night, Monday 6 September at the Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House.
The Helpmann Awards, established in 2001 by Live Performance Australia (LPA), saw the presentation of awards in 42 categories. In addition Tony Gould AM and Brian Nebenzahl OAM RFD were honoured as the recipients of the prestigious JC Williamson Award that recognises their outstanding contribution to the Australian live performance industry. Tony Gould received tributes from Donald McDonald, John Frost, and acclaimed performer Dennis Olsen whose career was guided by Tony Gould; whilst Brian Nebenzahl received tributes from Cameron Mackintosh, Tim McFarlane, James Thane and a host of other colleagues representing his extensive career.
David Campbell was host of the Awards Ceremony and sang two numbers during the evening. The Ceremony included performances by the casts of Jersey Boys, Avenue Q, The Wizard Of Oz, The Drowsy Chaperone, West Side Story, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Smoke & Mirrors featuring iOTA, The Australia String Quartet, The Man In Black and the cast of Mary Poppins.
President of Live Performance Australia, Andrew Kay, said
“We’re delighted to be presenting our 10th anniversary Helpmann Awards live from the Sydney Opera House this evening.
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." FULL LIST OF WINNERS Best Male Actor in supporting role in a Musical Luke Joslin
Avenue Q Best Female Actor in supporting role in a Musical Christina O' Neil
Avenue Q Best Male Actor in supporting role in a Play Humphrey Bower
Richard III Best Female Actor in supporting role in a Play Alison Whyte
Richard III Best Costume Design Gabriela Tylesova
Cosi fan tutte Best Scenic Design Dale Ferguson
August - Osage County Best Sound Design Paul Charlier
A Streetcar Named Desire Best Lighting Design Nigel Levings
Bliss Best Male Actor in supporting role in an Opera Andrew Foote
Peter Grimes Best Female Actor in supporting role in an Opera Taryn Fiebig
Bliss Best International Contemporary Concert Michael Coppel -
Pink Funhouse Tour Best Contemporary Music Festival A Big Day Out
Best Regional Touring Production Bangarra Dance Theatre -
True Stories Best Special Event Sydney Festival 'Festival First Night'
Best Original Score Smoke and Mirrors
Best Individual Classical performance Imogen Cooper
Best Chamber and Instrumental Ensemble Concert Imogen Cooper with the Sydney Symphony
Best Music Direction Ron Melrose and Luke Hunter
Jersey Boys Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Production Stephen Page
Fire Best Choreography in a Musical Kelley Abbey
Fame The Musical Best Direction of a Musical Jonathan Biggins
Avenue Q Best Direction of an Opera Neil Armfield
Peter Grimes Best Direction of a Play Simon Phillips
Richard III Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production This Kind of Ruckus
Version 1.0 inc Best Cabaret Performer iOTA
Best Male Actor in a Play Ewen Leslie
Richard III Best Female Actor in a Play Julie Forsyth
Happy Days Best Male Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production Richard Cilli
We Unfold Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production Danielle Rowe
Dyad 1929 Best Symphony Orchestra Concert Oedipus Rex and Symphony of Psalms
Sydney Festival with Sydney Symphony and the Sydney Philharmonia Choir Best Male Actor in a Musical Mitchell Butel
Avenue Q Best Female Actor in a Musical Michala Banas
Avenue Q Best Presentation for Children Sonya Hartnett's Thursday Child
Monkey Baa Best New Australian Work Smoke and Mirrors
iOTA and Craig Illott Best Comedy Performer Wil Anderson
Best Australian Contemporary Concert The Man in Black: The Johnny Cash Story Best Male Performer in an Opera Stuart Skelton
Peter Grimes Best Female Performer in an Opera Emma Mathews
La Sonnambula Best Opera Peter Grimes
Opera Australia Best Ballet or Dance Work Fire
Bangarra Dance Theatre Best Play Richard III
Melbourne Theatre Company Best Musical Jersey Boys
Dodger Theatricals, Rodney Rigby and Dainty Consolidated www.helpmannawards.com.au