Frosty honoured with J C Williamson Award, Brisbane

John Frost – affectionately known as Frosty the Showman – is one of Australia’s leading producers of theatre and last night he was afforded the highest honour the Australian live entertainment industry can bestow.

Live Performance Australia celebrated John Frost’s outstanding contribution to the performing arts industry in a special gala event held at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, with performances from Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Silvie Paladino, Craig McLachlan, Todd McKenney, Lisa McCune, Tom Burlinson and Carolyn Ferrie.

Frost, the Managing Director of the Gordon Frost Organisation, began his career in the arts at the age of 16. Working his way up the ladder from a dresser for JC Williamson to opening the The Gordon/Frost Organisation with the late Ashley Gordon in 1983, he has certainly made his mark on the Australian live performance industry.

Frost’s production of The King and I on Broadway won the coveted Tony Award for ‘Best Revival of a Musical’ as well as the Drama Desk and New York Outer Critics Circle Award, and the production is currently enjoying a revival tour with Lisa McCune and Teddy Tahu Rhodes in the leading roles. He has also been the recipient of two Mo Awards and a Sydney Critics’ Circle Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 from GLUGS.

“I am truly grateful to Live Performance Australia and the JC Williamson Award Committee for this incredible honour,” Frost said in a statement.

“Receiving the JC Williamson Award is the highest tribute that can be bestowed on someone working in the performing arts industry, and to be acknowledged by my peers for a job I love is gratifying and inspiring. I’m humbled to be in the company of Googie Withers and John McCallum, Kenn Brodziak, Clifford Hocking, Tony Gould and other past recipients of this prestigious award.”

Frost’s other shows playing across the country in 2014 include Wicked, Grease, Rocky Horror, along with his co-productions Once and The King And I.

Past winners of the JC Williamson Award include such iconic figures as Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE, Barry Humphries AO CBE, Michael Gudinski AM, John Farnham AO and Graeme Murphy AM.