Foxtel Arts is proud to honour excellence in Australian live performance in its live broadcast of the Helpmann Awards direct from Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on the stage of Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Les Misérables on Monday July 27 at 7.30pm.
The 2015 Helpmann Awards, now in its 15th year, will be hosted by previous Helpmann Awards winner Todd McKenney and for the first time will be simulcast on foxtelarts.com.au
Some of Australia’s top live entertainment names will join McKenney on stage to present and perform at the star-studded 2015 Helpmann Awards Ceremony.
Gracing the stage to present on the night will be Cate Blanchett, Foxtel’s Pamela Rabe (Wentworth- SoHo), Danielle Cormack (Wentworth-SoHo) and previous Helpmann Award winner Marta Dusseldorp (A Place To Call Home-SoHo), and nominee, and singer, stage performer, and television presenter David Campbell.
Multi-talented Denise Scott and Amanda Bishop will join movie host Margaret Pomeranz and TV critic Graeme Blundell (hosts of Screen- Foxtel Arts). Australian television and music icon, Marcia Hines (Foxtel Smooth channel), and Australia’s number one ventriloquist, Darren Carr to present on the night.
Among the 2015 Helpmann Awards nominees confirmed to present are principal dancer Madeleine Eastoe, Dean Bryant, Andrew Hallsworth, Trevor Ashley and Stuart Maunder, adding anticipation to who will win on the night.
Opera royalty Lindy Hume and Emma Matthews, cabaret trail blazers iOTA and Mitchell Butel, and musical theatre stars Lara Mulcahy, Christie Whelan Browne, James Millar, and Blazey Best will also present.
Peter Garrett will present the 2015 JC Williamson Award® to previously announced recipient, Paul Kelly on the night.
Clare Bowditch and the Paul Kelly Band will also pay homage to Paul Kelly, performing his single from the 1995 acclaimed album of the same name, “Deeper Water”.
McKenney will also don the heels and perform the powerful anthem “I Am What I Am” from the Tony Award winning original Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles on the night.
The Awards will feature spectacular live performances and an array of Australia’s biggest stars. Opening The 2015 Helpmann Awards is the full cast of Mackintosh’s Les Misérables.
The entertainment packed evening will also feature performances from the cast of the Tony Award winning musical, Once for a one-off performance exclusively for the 2015 Helpmann Awards. The Australia Piano Quartet, one of the few ensembles worldwide committed to the piano quartet genre and previous Helpmann Awards nominee and Australia’s foremost illusionist, Cosentino – The Grand Illusionist.
A total of 42 awards will be presented at the 2015 Helpmann Awards, in addition to lifetime achievement awards, JC Williamson Award® and Sue Nattrass Award™.
The complete list of 2015 nominations, further information and other news about The Helpmann Awards is available at www.helpmannawards.com.au