Helpmanns stick with Opera House

Live Performance Australia (LPA) this week announced that the 2010 Helpmann Awards ceremony will again be hosted at the Sydney Opera House.

The Awards Ceremony will be held in the Opera Theatre on Monday, September 6. This will be the 10th presentation of the Helpmann Awards, the pinnacle industry event for Australia’s live performance industry, which annually attracts over 15.5 million people to shows across the nation with revenues of over $A1 billion.

Andrew Kay, President of Live Performance Australia said: “The Helpmann Awards celebrate the very best in Australia’s live entertainment and performing arts, including contemporary music, theatre, musicals, opera and ballet. The Helpmann Awards are incredibly important to the live performance industry in Australia as they acknowledge and celebrate the talent, innovation and strength of our very best performers and productions. In 2010, the Helpmann Awards will be celebrating its 10th year and it promises to be bigger and better than ever before with more awards, bigger celebrations and broader television coverage.”

Entries for the 2010 Helpmann Awards are now open until May 31. Nominees will be announced at a media launch held simultaneously in Melbourne and Sydney on Monday, August 2.

Recipients of the prestigious JC Williamson Award TM, which recognises the most distinguished members of Australia’s live entertainment industry for their extraordinary contributions to shaping and changing the landscape of our dynamic live entertainment industry, will also be announced at the media launch.

LPA also announced a new award category, which recognises excellence in cabaret performance in Australia.

Evelyn Richardson, Chief Executive of Live Performance Australia said: “At this year’s 10th Annual Helpmann Awards we are thrilled to announce a new award category, the Best Cabaret Performer. This Award recognises the vibrancy and excellence of cabaret performance in Australia. Australian performers are at the forefront of an international resurgence in the art form of cabaret. The number, variety and quality of cabaret performances in Australia have grown significantly over the past decade, alongside the establishment of cabaret festivals, new cabaret venues and cabaret programming in many of the major theatres and events around the country. This award recognises and celebrates the immense talent, creativity and skill of artists in this live performance genre.”