Media Release

The 2009 Helpmann Awards®
Celebrating excellence and achievement in live performance

Nominations for 2009 Helpmann Awards®
announced concurrently in Sydney & Melbourne

Live Performance Australia (LPA) today announced the List of Nominations in each of the 41 categories for the 2009 Helpmann Awards®. The announcement was made concurrently at The Lyric Theatre, Sydney, and at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne.

Vanessa Scammell (2008 Winner of the Brian Stacey Award and Musical Director for the 2009 Helpmann Awards® Ceremony), announced that Daniel Smith is the winner of the Brian Stacey Award for Emerging Australian Conductors and presented Daniel with a $6,000 prize. Daniel Smith is the 13th recipient of this award.

The 2009 Helpmann Awards® Ceremony will be held on Monday 27 July at 6.30pm at Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House, whilst the After Party will be held at The Argyle in The Rocks. Jonathan Biggins and Julia Zemiro, both acclaimed actors, broadcasters and comedians, will jointly MC the Awards Ceremony. The Ceremony will include 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.

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 attract over 20 million people to shows across the nation with revenues of over $A1.2 billion, and growing

The Awards Ceremony will be broadcast live on the Bio Channel, Foxtel.