Rob Guest Endowment Awards 2015

APPLICATIONS CLOSE 26th JULY!

Applications are now open for the 2015 Rob Guest Endowment Awards. The 2015 prize package is valued at over $60,000, including the $20,000 major prize. Winners will be announced at the Rob Guest Endowment Concert later in the year.
Now in its 8th year, The Rob Guest Endowment Award is presented annually to an emerging musical theatre performer selected by a panel of industry experts.  It seeks out Australia’s brightest and most talented young rising stars by putting them through a gruelling audition process. Six finalists will showcase their talent at the Rob Guest Endowment Concert and the winner will take home the highly coveted Rob Guest Endowment Award of $20,000 and a headshot package provided by Blueprint Studios.
This year also sees the return of Melbourne’s East End Theatre District Artist Development Award, a $5,000 prize, and the Playbill Future Prospect Award, a cash prize of $1,500. The four remaining finalists will each take home $1,500.
Past winners and finalists of the Rob Guest Endowment Award are performing in lead roles in musical theatre around Australia, including Samantha Leigh Dodemaide (Anything Goes), Euan Doidge (Marius in Les Miserables), Kirby Burgess (Baby in Dirty Dancing), Angelique Cassimatis (Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show), Joshua Robson (Les Miserables) and Andrew Cook (Matilda The Musical).
The Rob Guest Endowment Technical Award in Honour of Sue Nattrass and The Rob Guest Endowment Musician Award will again be presented in 2015.  Each of these awards, fully funded by the Capitol Theatre and Sydney Lyric, include a $10,000 cash prize intended to help the recipients become leaders in their field.
The Rob Guest Endowment executive committee, Bernadette Hayes and Kellie Dickerson, are thrilled that the total prize pool has increased to over $60,000 this year.  Rob Guest Endowment Patron, John Frost, says that the Rob Guest Endowment Awards are an incredible legacy and continue to give back to the industry as it grows. “This is a unique set of awards honouring a much-loved musical theatre star. Rob Guest was an inspiration to all, and a great teacher and mentor to those he worked with,” said John Frost.  “The Rob Guest Endowment Awards continue to inspire and foster the growth of the musical theatre industry.”
In recognition of the late Rob Guest OBE and his achievements in the musical theatre industry, a memorial fund was established in his honour to help emerging young performers in musical theatre. The Rob Guest Endowment has established itself over the past seven years as a wonderful scholarship for young artists to develop as performers through experience, travel and tuition.
FOR ALL INFORMATION AND TO APPLY VISIT  www.robguestendowment.com.au

2015 ROB GUEST AWARDS INCLUDE:

1.  The Rob Guest Endowment Award: A $20,000 cash prize to be used for professional development.  It also includes a head shot package provided by Blueprint Studios.

2.  Melbourne’s East End Theatre District Artist Development Award: A $5,000 cash prize to be awarded to one finalist to assist in their training and development.

3.  The Playbill Future Prospect Award: A $1,500 cash prize which is awarded to one of the top 30 semi-finalists who didn’t make the finals but is of sufficient interest to the judges to encourage them to return next year.

ELIGIBILITY

• Applicants must be aged between 18 – 30.

• Professional experience or a current position in a professional show will not exclude performers from applying.

• The performance must include a vocal element but dramatic or dance elements are welcomed.

• Applicants must be an Australian citizen.

KEY COMPETITION DATES

Application close:                      Midnight, Sunday 26th July 2015

Application by DVD Close:       Midnight, Saturday 8th August 2015

Melbourne Live Auditions:      Monday 10th August 2015

Sydney Live Auditions:            Tuesday 11th August 2015

Semi Finals in Sydney:              Monday 31st August 2015

Live Gala Concert in Sydney:    TBA

Applicants are to apply online at www.robguestendowment.com.au by 26 July 2015 or contact francesca@gordonfrost.com.au