Nominations for the 17th Annual Helpmann Awards have been announced at simultaneous events in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, with Dame Julie Andrews’ 60th anniversary production of My Fair Lady for Opera Australia and John Frost leading the way with nine nominations including Best Musical.

^{Anna O’Byrne and Charles Edwards in My Fair Lady. Photograph © Brian Geach}

Also receiving a substantial number of nominations were the musicals The Book of Mormon (eight), Aladdin (seven) and Kinky Boots (seven). Barrie Kosky’s production of Handel’s Saul heads the opera category with seven nominations including Best Opera, while Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife has six theatre nominations including Best Play.

The Helpmann Awards recognise distinguished achievement and excellence in Australia’s live performance industry with awards in 42 categories across classical and contemporary music, opera, theatre, musical theatre, ballet, dance and physical theatre, presentations for children, regional touring, cabaret and comedy. The 2017 Helpmann season ran from March 1 2016 to April 28 2017 and productions must have been staged during that period to be eligible.

The Helpmann Awards are managed by Live Performance Australia (LPA). LPA Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson said, “This year has...