Review: Daniel Assetta Awarded 2015 ROB GUEST ENDOWMENT AWARD at GRAND FINAL CONCERT in Sydney

Monday 9 November 2015, Sydney Lyric Theatre

The ROB GUEST ENDOWMENT AWARD GRAND FINAL CONCERT saw six finalists compete for the coveted award that honours Rob Guest - OBE, one of Australia's finest musical theatre performers who passed away suddenly in 2008. Following on from Guest's support of young performers as a mentor and advisor during his 40+ year career, the Award was established to provide financial assistance and industry support to the next generation of musical theatre stars, creators and musicians. The Award which is now in its 7th year also builds and maintains a community for emerging musical theatre artists.

The concert, presented by Destination NSW, the NSW Government's Tourism and Major Events agency, was hosted by David Campbell and Lucy Durack at Sydney Lyric Theatre. The finalists Blake Appleqvist, Daniel Assetta, Hilary Cole, Georgina Hopson, Robert McDougall and Ashleigh Rubenach each performed two songs, one established solo, the other working with another performer to set the scene. Works selected came from a range of styles of musicals from Hopson's sweet If I Loved You from CAROUSEL; Cole's comic If You Hadn't But You Did from TWO IN THE AISLE which she presented with a fabulous physicality and deliciously unique voice; Rubenach's longing Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again from PHANTOM OF THE OPERA; McDougall's stirring Epiphany from SWEENEY TODD and Appelqvist's desperation filled I've Been from NEXT TO NORMAL.

Additional entertainment was provided by Rob Mills, Caroline O'Connor, Jemma Rix, Mark Vincent, 2014 winner Joshua Robson, cast members from CATS and MATILDA THE MUSICAL and a moving duet where Lucy Durack sang Beauty And The Beast with a recording of Rob Guest's voice. .

Judges Kelley Abbey, Peter Casey and Gale Edwards awarded the prestigious Rob Guest Endowment Award, which includes a cash component of $20,000 and head shot package from Blueprint Studios, to Daniel Assetta, currently performing in CATS, following his performance of Goodbye from CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and Memphis Lives In Me from MEMPHIS (performed with Cristina D'Agostino). The other 5 finalists will receive a $1,500 cash prize.

The judges awarded the Melbourne's East End Theatre District Artist Development Award of $5,000 cash to Robert McDougall.

The Playbill Future Prospect Award of $1,500 cash was presented to Rubin Matters with the intent that the recipient, a semi finalist, be encouraged to return to compete next year.

Judges Cameron Flint, Richard Martin and Paul Rigby awarded the Technical Award in Honour of Sue Nattrass, to Drew Cipollone. The Rob Guest Endowment Musician Award, judged by Peter Casey, Kellie Dickerson and Guy Simpson, was awarded to Jack Earl. Both awards of $10,000 cash each, intended to help fund professional development were provided by the Capitol Theatre and Sydney Lyric Theatre.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres shared his support for the event when he said

"As Australia's home of first-run musicals and live performance, Sydney is the perfect host for the Rob Guest Endowment and the NSW Government is very proud to support this event through our tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. This year's winners have proven to be outstanding rising stars in musical theatre and I congratulate them on this prestigious achievement and have not doubt we'll see them gracing the stage for years to come".

The Rob Guest Endowment Executive Committee comprising Kellie Dickerson, Stephen Found and Bernadette Hayes said that they were "blown away" by the calibre of the talent. Rob Guest Endowment Patron, John Frost AM said that the awards were an "incredible legacy" and that "Rob Guest was an inspiration to all, and a great teacher and mentor to those he worked with".

www.robguestendowment.com.au

Rob Guest OBE

The late Rob Guest had a career that spanned over 40 years, making him a much loved Musical Theatre star and a household name to audiences throughout Australia, New Zealand and overseas. Perhaps best known for his role as the Phantom of the Opera, he appeared and starred in over 40 productions including Les Miserables , Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Jolson, Sound of Music and WICKED. Less well known to audiences was his role as mentor and adviser to many young performers he worked with over the years, helping them through rough spots and guiding them in their career development. Following his sudden and unexpected death in 2008 while performing the role of the Wizard of Oz in WICKED, the Rob Guest Endowment was set up as a tribute to this outstanding performer to continue his work in nurturing and progressing young developing talent in the Musical Theatre industry.

To post a comment, you must register and login.