LPA announce 2010 Helpmann Awards nominations

Live Performance Australia (LPA) has announced the List of Nominations in each of the 42 categories for the 2010 Helpmann Awards®. The announcement was made concurrently at the Sydney Opera House, and at the Arts Centre, Melbourne.

The LPA also announced that Tony Gould AM and Brian Nebenzahl OAM RFD as the recipients of the prestigious JC Williamson Award™. This Award recognises an extraordinary contribution by distinguished members of the live entertainment industry, and will be presented at the Helpmann Awards®.

Kathryn Sadler, Chair of the Brian Stacey Memorial Trust announced that Burhan Güner as the winner of the Brian Stacey Award for Emerging Australian Conductors, and presented Burhan with a $7,000 prize. Burhan Güner is the 14th recipient of this award.

The 2010 Helpmann Awards® Ceremony will be held on Monday 6th September in the Opera Theatre at the Sydney Opera House, while the After Party will be held at The Argyle in The Rocks. David Campbell, acclaimed performer and Artistic Director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, will MC the Awards Ceremony which will include include performances by the casts of Jersey Boys, Avenue Q, Wizard of Oz, Drowsy Chaperone, West Side Story, Bangarra Dance Company, Australian String Quartet, Man in Black and the full cast of Mary Poppins. 

An opening number, specially written to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Awards, will be presented by the Ceremony MC, David Campbell.

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 attracts over 15 million people to shows across the nation with revenues of over $1.8 billion, and growing."

The Helpmann Awards® will be broadcast live and exclusively on STVDIO, channel 132 on FOXTEL.

Tickets for the 2010 Helpmann Awards® Ceremony, will go on sale on Monday 9th August available to the general public through the Sydney Opera House.

Specific nominations include:

BEST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY CONCERT
George Michael – LIVE: Dainty Consolidated Entertainment
AC/DC Black Ice Tour: Garry Van Egmond & Chugg Entertainment
Beyonce: Michael Coppel Presents
Pink - Funhouse Tour: Michael Coppel Presents

BEST CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Homebake Music & Arts Festival 2009 - The 15th Anniversary: Domestic Music Concepts
2010 Melbourne International Jazz Festival: Melbourne International Jazz Festival
big day out 2010: Vivian Lees and Ken West
WOMADelaide: WOMADelaide Foundation

BEST REGIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION
Bangarra Dance Theatre: True Stories
Critical Stages and Matrix Theatre: The Kursk
Force Majeure /Performing Lines: The Age I'm In
Spoon Tree Productions: Letter's End

BEST SPECIAL EVENT
Dirtsong: Arts House/ Melbourne International Arts Festival
La Fura Dels Baus - Lotterywest Opening Celebration: Perth International Arts Festival
Festival First Night: Sydney Festival
A R Rahman: Sydney Festival

BEST AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORAY CONCERT
Ross Wilson ‘5 Decades of Cool’: Empire Touring
John Farnham – Live By Demand: Glenn Wheatley - Talentworks
The RocKwiz National Tour 2010: Renegade Films and RocKwiz Touring
Dirty Three & Laughing Clowns: Sydney Festival by arrangement with ATP and Feel Presents a
Don't Look Back concert
The Man in Black - The Johnny Cash Story: Tex Perkins and the Sydney Opera House presents in
association with Folsom Prison Productions

A full list of nominations is available at www.helpmannawards.com.au

30th July 2010 - 2010 HELPMANN AWARDS VENUE AND NEW CABARET AWARD ANNOUNCED