Blanchett's Blanche snubbed by Helpmanns

Despite critical and popular acclaim and a stint on Broadway, Cate Blanchett's
production of A Streetcar Named Desire has been snubbed at this year's Helpmann
Awards.
The Sydney Theatre Co-production of the Tennessee Williams play, also starring
Aussie Joel Edgerton, made $2.6 million over its seven-week run before heading to
the US for a two-month tour.
It also earned Blanchett a Sydney Theatre best actress award for her depiction of
Blanche DuBois.
But the play has only received one nomination at this year's Helpmann Awards - best
sound design.
An opera about an ageing ad agency tycoon and a musical about '60s pop group The
Four Seasons look set to make a clean sweep of the awards, which honour Australia's
live performers.
After playing to almost a million people during its year long Melbourne run, Jersey
Boys has been rewarded with 10 nominations.
The hit show, which opens in Sydney on September 18, is up for several key gongs,
including best musical, best direction of a musical, best actor in a musical as well
as best supporting actor and actress.
Jersey Boys' Bobby Fox is nominated for best male actor in a musical but will come
up against Geoffrey Rush who is up for his performance in jazz show The Drowsy
Chaperone.
Based on Peter Carey's novel of the same name, the opera Bliss is up for 11 gongs
including best opera, best original score, best actor, best actress and best
supporting actor and actress in an opera and best new Australian work.
The opera Peter Grimes is in contention for eight awards, while the hit musical The
Wizard of Oz is also up for six.
Children's play The Book of Everything is up for five awards, including both best
presentation for children and best play.
George Michael, AC/DC, Beyonce and Pink will battle it out to take home the best
international contemporary concert award, while humorists Kitty Flanagan, Fiona
O'Loughlin, Hannah Gadsby and Wil Anderson are in contention for the best comedy
performer.
The 10th annual Helpmann Awards, to be hosted by Australian cabaret star David
Campbell, will be held at the Sydney Opera House on Monday, September 6.
The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on new pay TV channel STVDIO for the
first time.
It will go to air at 8.30pm on Monday, September 6, in a two-hour special on the
subscription arts channel, which premiered in April this year.