Pinocchio Dominates Local Helpmann Nominations

Windmill Theatre and the State Theatre Company of South Australia’s Pinocchio received six Helpmann Award nominations last night, the most of any local production. The New York-bound musical received nominations for Best New Australian Work and Best Presentation for Children while Windmill’s Artistic Director Rosemary Myers was nominated for Best Direction of a Musical. The children’s theatre co-production wasn’t the only local success story from last night’s nominations for the national annual awards for live entertainment, as the Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) received three nominations for its productions Nought and G while ADT’s Garry Stewart is up for Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production for the Australian Ballet’s Monument. The State Opera of South Australia was recognised with two nominations for La Traviata while Paul Blackwell is up for Best Actor for the State Theatre’s Vere (Faith). Adelaide Festival-hosted productions such as Roman Tragedies, An Iliad, Sadeh21 and The Shadow King are up for gongs for the 14^th annual Helpmann Awards held in Sydney next month. Pinocchio’s six nominations follows it recent news that the co-production hit its crowdfunding target of $15,000 to send the musical to New York. The Adelaide Review recently published an article on its successful year, which has continued with its Helpmann and crowdfunding success. The annual awards for live entertainment will announce its winners on Monday, August 18 at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. The awards will be broadcasted on Foxtel. helpmannawards.com.au The South Australian nominations (productions, talent or presents) are below: Best Lighting Design: Geoff Cobham, Pinocchio (Windmill Theatre and State Theatre) Best Original Score: Jethro Woodward, Pinocchio (Windmill Theatre and State Theatre) Best Scenic Design: Jonathon Oxlade, Pinocchio (Windmill Theatre and State Theatre) Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera: Mario Bellanova, La Traviata (State Opera) Best Opera: La Traviata (State Opera) Best Cabaret Performer: Lady Rizo (Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Sydney Festival; Tommy Bradson, REG (Adelaide Cabaret Festival) Best Ballet or Dance Work: Sadeh21 (Adelaide Festival & Perth International Arts Festival) Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production: Daniel Jaber, Nought (ADT), Garry Stewart, Monument (Australian Ballet) Best Male Dancer in a Dance of Physical Theatre Production: Kimball Wong, Nought (ADT) Best Regional Touring Production: G (ADT) Best Presentation for Children: Pinocchio (Windmill Theatre and State Theatre) Best Direction of a Play: Ivo Van Hove, Roman Tragedies (Adelaide Festival) Best Male Actor in a Play: Denis O’Hare, An Iliad (Adelaide Festival and Perth International Arts Festival, Paul Blackwell, Vere (Faith) (State Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company) Best Play: Roman Tragedies (Adelaide Festival) Best Direction of a Musical: Rosemary Myers, Pinocchio (Windmill Theatre and State Theatre) Best New Australian Work: Rosemary Myers, Pinocchio (Windmill Theatre and State Theatre)