WICKED, 'ROSES' Win At Australia's Helpmann Live Performance Awards

WICKED and Sydney Theater Company's dramatic play "The War of the Roses" were the big winners at the ninth Helpmann Awards at the Sydney Opera House on Monday, collecting six awards each including best musical for WICKED and best play for "Roses."

The 2009 Helpmann Awards Ceremony was held on Monday 27 July at 6.30pm at Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House, whilst the After Party was held at The Argyle in The Rocks. 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, Shane Warne - The Musical, 7 Fingers and Wicked, as well as performances from The Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company and Opera Australia.

2009 HELPMANN AWARDS 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

The annual Helpmann Awards® recognise distinguished artistic achievement and excellence in the many disciplines of Australia's vibrant live performance sectors, including musical theatre, contemporary music, comedy, opera, classical music, dance and physical theatre. The Helpmann Awards also incorporates the JC Williamson Award for outstanding contribution to the Australian live performance industry.

The Helpmann Awards®, named in honour of Sir Robert Helpmann and to commemorate his memory and achievements, were established in 2001 by Live Performance Australia (LPA) to recognise, celebrate and promote our live performance industry, similar to the Tony Awards on Broadway and the Olivier Awards in London.

Photo: Wicked Australia