Thanks to the hundreds of dedicated readers who voted in the third annual Theatre People Pro Choice Awards. Fans spread their love between a wide range of shows this year, with some leading positions changing daily in the tallies.
If there was an overall favourite, it was A Chorus Line, taking out wins in four categories. The hit touring production is currently playing its final week in Brisbane.
A Chorus Line featured two winners in the Supporting category, Best Supporting Actress: Deborah Krizak as the seasoned but vulnerable Sheila, and Best Supporting Actor: Euan Doidge, who broke hearts as troubled younger dancer Paul. Doidge was a popular choice, receiving the highest number of votes of any of the performers nominated.
Beloved Melbourne star Silvie Paladino thrilled audiences as the lovelorn Florence in Chess, edging out Legally Blonde’s Lucy Durack to win Best Actress.
Paladino’s Chess co-star Simon Gleeson was pipped at the post by multi-award winning actor Geoffrey Rush, taking out Best Actor for his star turn as scheming, ambitious slave Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Acclaimed Australian Director Gale Edwards swept the field to be selected as Best Director for her terrific work on Chess.
From a uniformly strong set of productions, Chess was voted Best Limited Run/Concert Musical.
Original Broadway A Chorus Line cast member Bayoork Lee was voted Best Choreographer for her highly disciplined recreation of Michael Bennett and Bob Avian’s choreography.
A Chorus Line beat out a strong field to be chosen as Best Revival.
Kellie Dickerson took out Best Musical Director for her pristine work on the deceptively massive score of Legally Blonde, ahead of David Piper of Chess.
Legally Blonde was voted Best Musical, winning by the largest margin of any category.
Here is the full list of nominations (with the winners in bold):
Best Supporting Actress:
Kate Ceberano, Bloody Mary, South Pacific
Helen Dallimore, Paulette, Legally Blonde
Nancye Hayes, Edith Bouvier Beale, Grey Gardens
Deborah Krizak, Sheila, A Chorus Line
Chelsea Plumley, Marge MacDougall, Promises, Promises
Christie Whelan-Browne, Philia, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
Best Supporting Actor:
Blake Bowden, Pat Matthew, Moonshadow
Mitchell Butel, Hysterium, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Euan Doidge, Paul, A Chorus Line
Bert LaBonté, Sergeant Foley, An Officer and A Gentleman
Eddie Perfect, Luther Billis, South Pacific
Alex Rathgeber, Sid Worley, An Officer and A Gentleman
Best Actress:
Anita Louise Combe, Cassie, A Chorus Line
Lucy Durack, Elle Woods, Legally Blonde
Amanda Harrison, Paula Pofriki, An Officer and A Gentleman
Lisa McCune, Nellie Forbush, South Pacific
Silvie Paladino, Florence Vassy, Chess
Pamela Rabe, Edith Bouvier Beale/Little Edie Beale, Grey Gardens
Best Actor:
Simon Gleeson, Anatoly, Chess
David Harris, Emmett, Legally Blonde
Matt Hetherington, Chuck Baxter, Promises, Promises
Brent Hill, Leo Bloom, The Producers
Geoffrey Rush, Pseudolus, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Anthony Warlow, Daddy Warbucks, Annie
Best Musical Director
Stephen Amos, Moonshadow
Kellie Dickerson, Legally Blonde
Mathew Frank, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Andrew Greene, South Pacific
David Piper, Chess
Vanessa Scammell, The Producers
Best Choreographer:
Kelly Aykers, Annie
Andrew Hallsworth, The Producers
Christopher Gattelli, South Pacific
Bayoork Lee, A Chorus Line
Jerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde
Best Director:
Dean Bryant, Andrew Hallsworth, The Producers
Gale Edwards, Chess
Rodger Hodgman, Grey Gardens
Jerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde
Simon Phillips, An Officer and A Gentleman
Bartlett Sher, South Pacific
Best Limited Run/Concert Musical:
Chess – The Production Company
Grey Gardens – The Production Company
The Producers – The Production Company
Best Revival:
Annie – John Frost
A Chorus Line – TML Enterprises
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum – John Frost
South Pacific – Opera Australia, John Frost
Best New Musical:
Legally Blonde – Howard Panter/Ambassador Theatre Group, John Frost
An Officer and A Gentleman – Sharleen Copper Cohen, John Frost
2012 Theatre People Pro Choice nominations announced – click here
2011 Theatre People Pro Choice winners announced – click here
2010 Theatre People Pro Choice winners announced – click here
