Geelong theatre companies dominate award nominations

THE Music Theatre Guild of Victoria has announced this year’s nominations for its awards program, with local Geelong theatre companies topping the list.

More than 100 musical theatre productions are included in the awards, selected by a judging panel for excellence in the industry.

Geelong’s Footlight Productions received the highest number of nominations of any production in the state for its performance of Billy Elliot the Musical.

Footlight Productions founder and producer Peter Wills said the group was very proud of the production and everyone involved in it.

“It was an honour to stage the regional Victorian premiere of Billy Elliot and this production was very special due to the wonderful cast and team who came together to bring it to life,” he said. “A huge amount of work went into the show, on stage and off, so we’re very proud it’s been nominated as Production of the Year and across several other categories.”

Sebastian Sero, who played one of the two Billy roles, will perform Electricity at the awards ceremony.

Geelong Lyric Theatre Society has also received a nomination for its School of Rock band ensemble.

The production was staged at the Geelong Arts Centre earlier this year, and the group will play Stick it to the Man live on the awards night.

Centre Stage’s Come from Away, Theatre of the Damned by Tony and Elise Dahl’s La Cage Aux Folles, and Saint Ignatius College Geelong’s Les Miserables also picked up nominations.

Award winners will be announced on December 13. For more information and the full list of nominations, head to musictheatreguildvic.org