My Fair Lady may have scored the most nominations but it was the satirical musical The Book of Mormon that took the top prize at this year's Helpmann Awards.
Created by the writers behind cult TV animated comedy South Park, The Book of Mormon has won best musical and best direction of a musical at the 17th annual awards, announced at Sydney's Capitol Theatre on Monday night.
The musical follows Elder Price and Elder Cunningham on their mission from Salt Lake City to Uganda, where they attempt to preach their religion to villagers.
Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone had no idea their Broadway show would become such a global hit after its debut in New York in 2011.
But with nine Tony Awards already under its belt, The Book of Mormon has continued to attract cult followers of the show called everything from blasphemous, crude, naughty, filthy yet sweet and hilariously funny.
It even knocked out the Julie Andrews-directed My Fair Lady, that received nine Helpmann nominations against The Book of Mormon's eight.
Dame Julie made her Broadway debut as Eliza Doolittle when My Fair Lady first hit the scene 60 years ago.
Australia's Robyn Nevin, who plays Mrs Higgins in My Fair Lady, has scored the Helpmann gong for best female actor in a supporting role.
Nevin's partner Nicholas Hammond played one of the Von Trapp children in the 1965 musical Sound of Music alongside Dame Julie and Nevin first met her at a reunion for the Sound of Music cast.
The Helpmann for Best Comedy Performer has gone to Hannah Gadsby, who's recently announced her show Nanette will be her last before she returns to Tasmania for an early retirement from stand-up.
2017 HELPMANN AWARDS NOTABLE WINNERS
Best Musical - The Book of Mormon
Best Play - Drover's Wife
Best Ballet - Ballet Preljocaj's Snow White
Best Dance - Attractor
Best Australian Contemporary Concert - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Best International Contemporary Concert - Patti Smith
Best Comedy Performer - Hannah Gadsby
