Nominations were announced this evening for the 13th annual Helpmann Awards. The Awards will be presented at the Sydney Opera House on Monday 29 July, in a ceremony that will be telecast live on Foxtel station Arena. Read on for all the nominations, plus a look at surprises, snubs and possible winners.
Nominations were announced simultaneously in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth. The Melbourne announcement event was hosted by Christie Whelan Browne, who will also host the awards show with Eddie Perfect. The pair were seen on stage together just last week in Melbourne in the killer comedy Shane Warne the Musical.
King Kong star Chris Ryan (below) performed “Perfect”, and also read some nominations.
Evelyn Richardson (below) announced the recipients of 2013 Bestowed Awards:
*White Night Melbourne – Best Special Event, Victorian Major Events Company.
*The design, creation and operation of King Kong – the creature, Sonny Tilders and team.
Sue Nattrass AO (left, below) announced Carolyn Watson (right, below) as the recipient of the Brian Stacey Award 2013. Nattrass mentioned that this award would continue until 2016. At that time, a documentary about the life, work and musical impact of Stacey is planned. Watson spoke passionately in praise of the work of musicians with children in terms of creating the musicians of tomorrow and also in fostering interest so as to create the audiences of tomorrow.
On hand to assist with the announcement of nominations were Legally Blonde’s Rob Mills…
…and Erika Heynatz;
Chess star Silvie Paladino;
Casey Donovan from Flowerchildren;
and The Addams Family matriarch Chloe Dallimore.
The Helpmann Awards, which are organized by Live Performance Australia, are unique in that they cover a range of theatrical fields. Musical theatre and opera, ballet and dance, cabaret and concerts, children’s theatre and plays are all eligible for awards, upon submission, by producers, of entries for consideration as nominations. Where else in the world would Legally Blonde, Carmen, Swan Lake, Death of a Salesman and Bruce Springsteen all be given nominations as part of the same awards show!
Expected inclusions, with a high chance of winning, include Emma Matthews as the mad title character in Lucia di Lammermoor, Colin Friels as the noble Willy Loman in Belvoir’s Death of a Salesman, Silvie Paladino as the passionate Florence in Chess, Geoffrey Rush as the hysterical Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Amber Scott in divine form as Odette in Swan Lake (Stephen Baynes) and Gale Edwards for directing Opera Australia’s blood drenched new staging of Salome.
Nominees that could be described as very pleasant surprises include Nicole Car as the sweet, innocent Micaela Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Carmen, Russell Dykstra as the charming Fester in The Addams Family, David Harris as the adorkable Emmett in Legally Blonde, Daniel Gaudiello in Don Quixote and Jennifer Vuletic as the deliciously vicious Baroness in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Notable snubs from the nominations include Lisa McCune, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Kate Ceberano and Eddie Perfect from South Pacific. The absence of Chess from the Best Musial and Best Director of A Musical (Gale Edwards) nominees is a shock. The Production Company should be proud,, however, to note that not only do they have Chess’ Paladino nominated for Best Actress in A Musical, but also her three competitors have all been leading ladies at TPC: Lucy Durack (42nd St and many, many more), Chloe Dallimore (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Esther Hannaford (The Boyfriend).
No surprise, however, was the absence from the nominees of MTC misfires Queen Lear and Other Desert Cities. TPC presentation Promises, Promises was also not on par with the incredible hat trick of smash hits they scored with Grey Gardens, Chess and The Producers. No one will be surprised, or perhaps notice, the absence of 2012 Cat Stevens musical Moonshadow. Opera Australia disappointed fans with the bizarre aspects of staging of their new co-production of A Masked Ball so its nominations were a surprise inclusion.
The full list of nominations is below. Tickets for the general public go on sale Tuesday 25 June 2013. More information is available at the Helpmann Awards website.
Best Costume Design:
Hugh Colman – Swan Lake (Baynes), The Australian Ballet
Julian Crouch & Phelim McDermott – The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical
Roger Kirk – King Kong, Global Creatures
Tess Schofield – The Secret River , Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival
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Best Scenic Design:
Stephen Curtis – The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival
Peter England – King Kong, Global Creatures
Jonathon Oxlade – School Dance, Windmill Theatre
Amon Tobin – Amon Tobin ISAM: Live , Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House Presents
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Best Lighting Design:
Mark Howett – The Secret River , Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival
Peter Mumford – King Kong, Global Creatures
Paul Normandale – Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto Tour, Chugg Entertainment
John Rayment – Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour – Carmen, Opera Australia
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Best Sound Design:
Tony David Cray – Die Tote Stadt, Opera Australia
Tony David Cray – Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour – Carmen, Opera Australia
Peter Hylenski – King Kong, Global Creatures
Luke Smiles –School Dance, Windmill Theatre
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Best Original Score:
Gordon Kerry & Louis Nowra – Midnight Son, Victorian Opera
David Page – TERRAIN , Bangarra Dance Theatre
Original Music Composed by Marius de Vries featuring Songs and Original Compositions by 3D from Massive Attack, Guy Garvey, Sarah McLachlan, Justice and The Avalanches with additional lyrics by Michael Mitnick and Richard Thomas – King Kong , Global Creatures
Iain Grandage – The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival
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Best Individual Classical Music Performance:
Ana Vidovic – Ana Vidovic in Recital, Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide International Guitar Festival
Jordi Savall – Jordi Savall & Andrew Lawrence King, Melbourne Recital Centre
Simone Young Conducting The Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra – Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner (concert performance) & Symphony No. 2 in C Minor Resurrection by Gustav Mahler, Soloists from the Hamburg State Opera with the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra Queensland Performing Arts Centre & Events Queensland
Stuart Skelton – Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades: An Opera in Concert, Sydney Symphony
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Best Music Direction:
Christian Badea – Die Tote Stadt, Opera Australia
Iain Grandage – The Secret River , Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival
James Morrison – Boundary Street , Black Swan State Theatre Company & Brisbane Festival
Tristen Parr – Duck, Death and the Tulip, Barking Gecko Theatre Company presented by Perth International Arts Festival
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Best Chamber & / or Instrumental Ensemble Concert:
Jordi Savall & Andrew Lawrence King – Melbourne Recital Centre
Takacs Quartet – Musica Viva Australia
Phillip Glass Complete Piano Etudes – Perth International Arts Festival
Steve Reich – A Celebration – Sydney Opera House Presents
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Best Symphony Orchestra Concert:
Beethoven 9, Australian Chamber Orchestra
Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner (concert performance), The Hamburg State Opera with The Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Performing Arts Centre & Events Queensland
Symphony No.2 in C Minor, Resurrection by Gustave Mahler, Soloists from The Hamburg State Opera with the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Performing Arts Centre & Events Queensland
Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades: An Opera in Concert, Sydney Symphony
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Best International Contemporary Concert:
Tedeschi Trucks Band & Trombone Shorty, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Trombone Shorty & Bluesfest Touring
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto Tour, Coldplay & Chugg Entertainment
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Wrecking Ball 2013, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band & Frontier Touring Company in association with Jacobsen International
Barry Gibb – Mythology Tour,Barry Gibb & Live Nation Australasia
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Best Contemporary Music Festival:
The 24th Annual Bluesfest Byron Bay, Bluesfest Touring
The Falls Music & Arts Festival, The Falls Music & Arts Festival
Laneway Festival 2013, Lunatic Entertainment & Chugg Entertainment
Vivid LIVE 2012, Sydney Opera House Presents
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Best Australian Contemporary Concert:
Gotye, Gotye & Chugg Entertainment in Association with Lunatic Entertainment & Eleven Music
Into the Bloodstream: Archie Roach, Archie Roach, Jill Shelton, Sydney Festival, Perth International Arts Festival & Adelaide Festival
Neil Finn & Paul Kelly, Neil Finn, Paul Kelly & Live Nation Australasia by arrangement with Artist Voice
Keith Urban – The Story So Far, Keith Urban, Chugg Entertainment & Nine Live
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Best Regional Touring Production:
Of earth & sky, Bangarra Dance Theatre
CIRCA, Toured by Performing Lines for Road Work
The Land of Yes & The Land of No, Sydney Dance Company
The Disappearances Project, Version 1.0
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Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production:
Antony Hamilton – Black Project 1 & 2, Arts House & Antony Hamilton Projects
Antony Hamilton – Keep Everything, Chunky Move
Stephanie Lake – Dual, Arts House & Stephanie Lake
Frances Rings – TERRAIN, Bangarra Dance Theatre
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Best Choreography in a Musical:
Tony Bartuccio – Chess, The Production Company
Christopher Gattelli – South Pacific, Opera Australia in association with John Frost
Jerry Mitchell – Legally Blonde The Musical, Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation
Sergio Trujillo – The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical
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Best Direction of a Musical:
Jerry Mitchell – Legally Blonde The Musical, Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation
Simon Phillips – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, John Frost
Bartlett Sher – South Pacific, Opera Australia in association with John Frost
Jerry Zaks – The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical
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Best Direction of an Opera:
Gale Edwards – Salome, Opera Australia
Ludger Engels – Semele Walk, Kunstfestspiele Herrenhausen, Presented by Sydney Festival
Rodula Gaitanou – L’isola Disabitata, Hobart Baroque & Royal Opera House
Alex Ollé – Un Ballo in Maschera, Opera Australia
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Best Direction of a Play:
Neil Armfield – The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival
Lee Lewis – The School For Wives, Bell Shakespeare
Rosemary Myers – School Dance, Windmill Theatre
Anne-Louise Sarks – Medea , Belvoir in association with Australian Theatre For Young People
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Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical:
Russell Dykstra – The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical
Chris Ryan – King Kong, Global Creatures
Hugh Sheridan – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, John Frost
Mike Snell – Legally Blonde The Musical, Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation
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Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical:
Helen Dallimore – Legally Blonde The Musical, Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation
Erika Heynatz – Legally Blonde The Musical, Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation
Katrina Retallick – The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical
Jennifer Vuletic – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Tim Lawson
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Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play:
Patrick Brammall – Death of a Salesman, Belvoir
Colin Moody – The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival
Rory Potter – Medea, Belvoir in association with Australian Theatre For Young People
Hayden Spencer – End of the Rainbow, Queensland Performing Arts Centre & Queensland Theatre Company
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Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play:
Valerie Bader – Australia Day, Sydney Theatre Company & Melbourne Theatre Company
Lynette Curran – Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Belvoir
Amber McMahon – School Dance, Windmill Theatre
Miranda Tapsell – The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival
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Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera:
José Carbó – Die Tote Stadt, Opera Australia
Samuel Dundas – La Bohème, Opera Australia
Wolf Matthais Fredrich – L’Orfeo, Brisbane Festival & Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
Douglas McNicol – Fidelio, The State Opera of South Australia
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Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role in an Opera:
Nicole Car – Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour – Carmen, Opera Australia
Jacqueline Dark – Salome, Opera Australia
Jessica Dean – Fidelio, The State Opera of South Australia
Taryn Fiebig – La Bohème, Opera Australia
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Best New Australian Work:
Anh Do – The Happiest Refugee, A List Entertainment
Book by Craig Lucas, Original music composed by Marius de Vries, Featuring Songs and Original Compositions by 3D from Massive Attack, Guy Garvey, Sarah McLachlan, Justice and The Avalanches, with additional lyrics by Michael Mitnick and Richard Thomas – King Kong, Global Creatures
Gordon Kerry & Louis Nowra – Midnight Son, Victorian Opera
Kate Mulvaney & Anne-Louise Sarks – Medea. Belvoir in association with Australian Theatre For Young People
Kate Grenville, adapted for the stage by Andrew Bovell – The Secret River , Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival
Matthew Whittet – School Dance, Windmill Theatre
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Best Comedy Performer:
Wil Anderson – Wil Anderson – GoodWil, Token Events
Hannah Gadsby – Hannah Gadsby – Happiness is a Bedside Table, Token Events
Kitty Flanagan – Hello Kitty Flanagan, A List Entertainment
Julia Morris – Julia Morris – No Judgement, Fox in the Snow
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Best Cabaret Performer:
Robyn Archer AO, Robyn Archer in Concert: QUE RESTE-T-IL? at the Famous Spiegel Garden and Toulouse-Lautrec, Cabaret and Curator Dinner at The National Gallery of Australia, Robyn Archer, Michael Morley (Piano), George Butrumlis (Accordian)
Tommy Bradson,The Men My Mother Loved, Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Christopher Green (as TINA C), TINA C: Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word, A Malthouse Theatre, Christopher Green, Julia Holt & Melbourne International Comedy Festival Presentation
Mark Nadler, I’m a Stranger Here Myself, Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival
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Best Presentation for Children:
Cautionary Tales for Children based on the verse by Hilaire Belloc, Arena Theatre Company
The Yard, CAPTIVATE and Shaun Parker & Company
How High the Sky, Polyglot Theatre
School Dance, Windmill Theatre
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Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production:
Concrete & Bones Sessions, Branch Nebula, Performing Lines & Sydney Festival
It’s Dark Outside by Tim Watts, Arielle Gray & Chris Isaacs, Perth Theatre Company
Murder, Earth Visual & Physical Inc, Produced by Intimate Spectacle, Presented by Adelaide Festival, Sydney Festival & Ten Days on the Island
S, Circa
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Best Male Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production:
James O’Hara – Faun – In the Spirit of Diaghilev, STRUT Dance & Eastman (Belgium)
Daniel Gaudiello – Don Quixote, The Australian Ballet
Alisdair Macindoe – Dual , Arts House & Stephanie Lake
Alisdair Macindoe – Keep Everything, Chunky Move
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Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production:
Deborah Brown – TERRAIN , Bangarra Dance Theatre
Victoria Hunt – Copper Promises, Performance Space
Lauren Langlois – Keep Everything, Chunky Move
Amber Scott – Swan Lake (Baynes), The Australian Ballet
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Best Male Performer in an Opera:
Giorgio Caoduro – Lucia Di Lammermoor, Opera Australia
Dmytro Popov – Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour – Carmen, Opera Australia
Byron Watson – Midnight Son, Victorian Opera
John Wegner – Salome , Opera Australia
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Best Female Performer in an Opera:
Cheryl Barker – Salome , Opera Australia
Tamar Iveri – Un Ballo in Maschera, Opera Australia
Sarah MacLiver – L’Orfeo , Brisbane Festival & Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
Emma Matthews – Lucia Di Lammermoor, Opera Australia
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Best Male Actor in a Musical:
David Harris – Legally Blonde The Musical , Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation
Geoffrey Rush – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, John Frost
Wayne Scott Kermond – The Producers , The Production Company
John Waters – The Addams Family , Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical
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Best Female Actor in a Musical:
Chloe Dallimore – The Addams Family , Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical
Lucy Durack – Legally Blonde The Musical , Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation
Esther Hannaford – King Kong, Global Creatures
Silvie Paladino – Chess , The Production Company
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Best Male Actor in a Play:
John Bell – Henry 4 , Bell Shakespeare
Nathaniel Dean – The Secret River , Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival
Colin Friels – Death of a Salesman, Belvoir
Colin Moody – Forget Me Not, Belvoir
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Best Female Actor in a Play:
Alison Bell – Constellations , Melbourne Theatre Company
Alison Bell – Hedda Gabler , State Theatre Company of South Australia
Christen O’Leary – End of the Rainbow , Queensland Performing Arts Centre & Queensland Theatre Company
Helen Thomson – Mrs Warren’s Profession, Sydney Theatre Company
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Best Ballet or Dance Work:
Black Project 1 & 2, Arts House & Antony Hamilton Projects
Cacti, Sydney Dance Company
Keep Everything, Chunky Move
TERRAIN, Bangarra Dance Theatre
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Best Opera:
Die Tote Stadt, Opera Australia
L’isola Disabitata, Hobart Baroque & Royal Opera House
Salome, Opera Australia
Un Ballo in Maschera, Opera Australia
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Best Play:
Death of a Salesman, Belvoir
Hedda Gabler, State Theatre Company of South Australia
Medea, Belvoir in association with Australian Theatre For Young People
The Secret River, Sydney Theatre Company in association with The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, Sydney Festival, The Centenary of Canberra, Perth International Arts Festival
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Best Musical:
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, John Frost
Legally Blonde The Musical Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group & John Frost for Gordon Frost Organisation
South Pacific, Opera Australia in association with John Frost
The Addams Family, Rodney Rigby together with Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical
Photos: Simon Parris
Categories: Dance, Music Theatre, Opera
Reblogged this on All Things Creative, Once A Day For 2 Years!!! and commented:
Congrats Everyone Who Won!