Media Release: Friday June 30, 2017

2017 HELPMANN AWARDS Watch the awards Exclusively Live on Arts on Monday July 24

Foxtel Arts is proud to honour excellence in ’s vibrant live performance industry in its LIVE broadcast of the prestigious and glamorous 2017 Helpmann Awards, direct from the set of Kinky Boots at the Capitol Theatre on Monday July 24 at 7.30pm.

The Helpmann Awards, now in its 17th year, will be hosted by some of Australia’s most dynamic performers including Queenie van de Zandt, Brooke Satchwell, Trevor Ashley, Garry Stewart, David McAllister AM, Stephen Page AM, Richard Mills AM, Emma Mathews, Lyndon Terracini AM, Charles Edwards, Jimmy Barnes AO and Foxtel stars Tim Draxl (A Place To Call Home), Deborah Hutton ( host) and Kate Mulvany (Fighting Season).

The Helpmann Awards are the premier celebration of Australia’s vibrant live performance industry and recognise distinguished achievement and excellence in Australia’s live performance sectors including , contemporary music, comedy, , classical music, theatre, ballet, dance and physical theatre, presentation for children, regional touring and cabaret.

The awards will also feature spectacular live performances and an array of Australia’s biggest stars with performances by the casts of musicals ‘My Fair Lady’ with Reg Livermore, ‘Kinky Boots’, ‘Disney’s ’, ‘The Book of Mormon’ and ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ featuring Dami Im and the star of the show Esther Hannaford.

The Living End’s Chris Cheney and Grinspoons’ Phil Jamieson are joined by the cast of Green Day’s ‘’ to perform “21 Guns”.

Australian Dance Theatre performs a tribute to choreographer Tanja Liedtke with her International success ‘Construct’.

The Sydney Children’s Choir present a piece by Sally Whitwell ‘Lux Aeterna’ for the In Memoriam and the cabaret circus hit ‘Velvet’ starring Foxtel Smooth host Marcia Hines closes the night.

A total of 42 categories will be presented at the 2017 Helpmann Awards. Richard Tognetti AO, Artistic Director of Chamber Orchestra, will be the recipient of the 2017 JC Williamson Award. This award is bestowed on an individual who has made a truly outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Australia’s live performance culture and shaped the future of the industry for the better. Additionally, Rob Brookman AM will be the recipient of this year’s Sue Nattrass Award which honours an exceptional individual in a service role that supports the industry.

Aladdin, Kinky Boots, My Fair Lady and The Book of Mormon have all been nominated in the ‘Best Musical’ category.

Nominees for ‘Best Male Actor in a Musical’ are Ainsley Melham (Aladdin), AJ Holmes (The Book of Mormon), Callum Francis (Kinky Boots) and Charles Edwards (My Fair Lady).

Amy Lehpamer (DUSTY), Anna O’Byrne (My Fair Lady), Sophie Wright (Kinky Boots) and Zahra Newman (The Book of Mormon) have all been nominated for ‘Best Female Actor in a Musical’.

Jasper Jones, Once In Royal David’s City, The Drover’s Wife and Things I Know To Be True have all been nominated for ‘Best ’.

Nominees for ‘Best Female Actor in a Play’ include Alison Whyte (Faith Healer), Helen Morse (John), Kate Mulvany (Richard 3) and (The Drover’s Wife).

Nominees for ‘Best Male Actor in a Play’ include Colin Friels (Faith Healer), Jason Chong (Chimerica), Jason Klarwein (Once In Royal David’s City) and Mark Cole Smith (The Drover’s Wife).

The complete list of 2017 nominations, further information and other news about the Helpmann Awards is available at www.helpmannawards.com.au/mediaresources/.

Tickets for the 17th Annual Helpmann Awards are available now from Ticketmaster.

THE 2017 HELPMANN AWARDS Exclusively LIVE on Foxtel Arts on Monday July 24 at 7.30pm AEST The Awards Ceremony will also be simulcast on foxtelarts.com.au

With a special encore screening on Tuesday July 25 at 12pm and 9.30pm and throughout the week

Following its live broadcast on Foxtel Arts, the 2017 Helpmann Awards will be available to watch from Foxtel’s on demand library, or streamed on demand.

Find your story, find your vision, find your beat, and find your self on Foxtel Arts, Channel 133. www.foxtelarts.com.au

Join the conversation and stay connected with Helpmanns news Website: www.helpmannawards.com.au Official hashtag: #Helpmanns Facebook: www.facebook.com.au/TheHelpmannAwards Twitter: @HelpmannAwards Instagram: @Helpmann_Awards

About Foxtel Foxtel is one of Australia’s most progressive and dynamic media companies, directly employing around 2,800 people and delivering a diverse subscription television service over cable, satellite and broadband distribution. Foxtel effortlessly connects Australians to all the stories they love by offering a better entertainment experience every day to more than 2.8 million subscribing homes through delivery of new and inspiring programming across all genres, the world’s most popular channel brands, and investment in high quality local content. As constant champions of innovation we have brought customers the iQ personal digital recorder; Australia’s largest HD channel offering; the Foxtel Go App for tablets and mobile devices; internet TV service, Foxtel Play; and television, broadband and home phone bundles with Foxtel internet and voice services delivered over Australia’s largest telecommunications network. Foxtel is owned by Telstra Corporation Limited ACN 051 775 556 (50%) and News Corporation (50%).

About The Helpmann Awards 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, cabaret, regional touring, presentations for children, opera, classical music, theatre, dance and physical theatre. The Helpmann Awards also incorporate the JC Williamson and Sue Nattrass Awards for outstanding contribution to the Australian live performance industry. The Helpmann Awards, named in honour of Sir 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 on Broadway and the Olivier Awards in London.

Media enquiries: Foxtel Publicity- Victoria Richards [email protected] 02 9813 7439 / 0418 630 100

The Helpmann Awards media enquiries National – Pollack Consulting Bruce Pollack T: (02) 9331 5276 E: [email protected]