Winners Announced at 2018 Sydney Theatre Awards
Accolades for In The Heights, Cry-Baby & Book of Mormon
On January 21st at a star-studded ceremony, the winners of the 2018 Sydney Theatre Awards were announced, with 34 Awards presented overall, shared between 16 productions which played in Sydney during the calendar year of 2018. Over 450 members of the Sydney theatre community packed the York Theatre at the Seymour Centre to celebrate.
In the Musical Theatre categories, Best Musical went to Cry-Baby, produced by LPD in association with Hayes Theatre Co, which also got nods for Best Direction of a Musical (Alexander Berlage), Best Stage Design of an Independent Production (Isabel Hudson) and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Musical (Ashleigh Rubenach). Blue Saint Production’s In The Heights received awards for Best Choreography (Amy Campbell), Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Ryan Gonzalez) and Best Musical Direction (Lucy Birmingham). Acclaimed musical The Book of Mormon received awards for both the best supporting roles by a female (Zahra Newman)and a male (Rowan Witt).
For all the winners in all 34 categories of theatre click here >> http://www.sydneytheatreawards.com/history/2018
The Sydney Theatre Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to Riverside Theatres, Parramatta Director Robert Love, a champion of the arts in Western Sydney. Robert’s 45-year career began as trainee director for the Old Tote and ATYP before he founded theatre-in-education company Toe Truck Theatre in 1976. Since then he has been General Manager of the Seymour Centre, the State Theatre Company of South Australia and Sydney Theatre Company, before being appointed to his position at Riverside Theatres in 2000.
Presenters at the Awards Ceremony – which this year included actors and people who work in various roles behind the scenes – were Johanna Allen, Stephen Anderson, Olivia Ansell, Jim Burch, Luke Byrne, Guy Edmonds, Rarriwuy Hick, Sarah Lantry-Griffith, Carly Leonard, Jonathan Llewellyn, Shell McKenzie, Chris Mercer, Fiona Press, Susan Prior, Brett Russell and Garry Scale; and there were performances by Casey Donovan, and cast members of the musicals Muriel’s Wedding and The Book of Mormon.
The Sydney Theatre Awards are presented annually by a group of leading theatre critics to celebrate the strength, quality and diversity of theatre in Sydney. The Sydney Theatre Reviewers consist of Elissa Blake (Audrey Journal), Jason Blake (Audrey Journal), Deborah Jones (The Australian), Jo Litson (Limelight), John McCallum (The Australian), Joyce Morgan (Sydney Morning Herald), Ben Neutze (Time Out), John Shand (Sydney Morning Herald), Diana Simmonds (Stagenoise), Cassie Tongue (Time Out) and Suzy Wrong (Suzy Goes See).
The Sydney Theatre Awards gratefully thanks major sponsor, The Seaborn, Broughton and Walford Foundation, as well as other sponsors William Fletcher Foundation, Showcast, Currency Press, Ticketmaster, Hayes Theatre Co, Bellbird Cottages, Actors Benevolent Fund, ACMN, JPJ Audio and Helen Constance.
Musical Theatre Winners at 2018 SYDNEY THEATRE AWARDS:
BEST STAGE DESIGN OF AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
Isabel Hudson (Cry-Baby)
BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
Cry-Baby (LPD in association with Hayes Theatre Co)
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Alexander Berlage (Cry-Baby)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Ashleigh Rubenach (Cry-Baby)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Ryan Gonzalez (In the Heights)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Zahra Newman (The Book of Mormon)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Rowan Witt (The Book of Mormon)
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Lucy Bermingham (In the Heights)
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL
Amy Campbell (In the Heights)
