Nominees For 2012 Helpmann Awards Announced

Live Performance Australia (LPA) today announced that a List of Nominations in each of the 41 categories for the Helpmann Awards® will be announced in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, concurrently, on Monday 6 August at 6pm at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Arts Centre, Melbourne and Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Brisbane.

This is the first time that this event will be held in Brisbane. Chairman of the Helpmann Awards® Administration Committee (HAAC), Ross Cunningham said “We are delighted to be hosting the Helpmann Awards® Nominations Announcement in Brisbane this year. These national Awards are important to our Queensland performing arts sector and we look forward to announcing all the Nominees.”

The Helpmann Awards® are the premier awards event for the Australian performing arts and live entertainment industry, and celebrate the significant contribution the sector makes to the Australian community. This year a record 829 entries were received across 41 categories.

MCs and Presenters at the Nominations Announcement Event will be –

Sydney - MC Simon Burke, with Bobby Fox, Verity Hunt-Ballard, Lucy Maunder Eddie Perfect and Teddy Tahu Rhodes

Melbourne - MC Bert LaBonte with Michael Cormick, Blake Bowden, Martin Crewes, Chloe Dallimore, Nicole Da Silva, and Silvie Paladino

Brisbane - MC Bille Brown AM with Lisa Gasteen, Tony Gould AM D UNI, Glaston Toft, and Natalie Weir

Each year LPA gives two JC Williamson AwardsTM to distinguished members of Australia's live entertainment industry for their extraordinary contribution to the industry. Earlier this year, LPA announced that the late Jimmy Little AO will be one of the recipients of this prestigious award. The second recipient will be announced on 6 August.

In addition Kathryn Sadler, Chair of the Brian Stacey Memorial Trust will, in Melbourne, announce the winner of the Brian Stacey Award for Emerging Australian Conductors. The winner will be presented with an $8,000 prize.

The 2012 Helpmann Awards® Ceremony, the 12th presentation of the Awards, will be held on Monday 24 September at 8pm at the Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House.

LPA is excited to announce that Simon Burke will return as MC of the Awards Ceremony. Simon was the inaugural Host and co-writer of the Helpmann Awards® in 2001 and hosted the event for six consecutive years. In 2007 Simon was invited to the UK to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber's acclaimed production of The Sound of Music at the London Palladium. Since that time Simon has performed extensively in the West End, including starring in La Cage Aux Folles and the London premiere of the award-winning Australian play Holding The Man.

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 17 million people to shows across the nation with revenues of $1.3 billion."

The Helpmann Awards® will be broadcast exclusively the following night on Australia’s arts and entertainment channel STUDIO – channel 132 on Foxtel. See the full ceremony recorded live on Tuesday 25 September at 8.30pm.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Tuesday 7 August and can be purchased from the Sydney Opera House Box Office 02 9250 7777 or www.sydneyoperahouse.com

What: Nominations Announced for 2012 Helpmann Awards®

Date & Time: Monday 6 August at 6pm

Venue: Capitol Theatre, Campbell St, Sydney
Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC),
Corner Grey and Melbourne Streets, Brisbane

For further information, please visit: www.helpmannawards.com.au