These Helpmann Award nominees are coming to a theatre near you

Awards seasons can really suck: so many Unmissable Shows you missed out on seeing. Sometimes you've just gotta know how to pick a winner – before the fact.

Last night's announcement of the Helpmann Award nominations gives you a head start: among the nominees is one interstate shows that has yet to arrive in Sydney, and one 5-star musical that's getting an encore season.

Here's your hit list; read, steady – go:

Little Shop of Horrors – opens July 20

Nominations for:

• Best Choreography in a Musical: Andrew Hallsworth
• Best Direction of a Musical: Dean Bryant
• Best Female Actor in a Musical: Esther Hannaford
• Best Male Actor in a Musical: Brent Hill
• Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Tyler Coppin

Singin' in the Rain – previews from July 7

Nominations for:

• Best Choreography in a Musical: Andrew Wright and Jaye Elster
• Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Erica Haynatz
• Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Jack Chambers

Zoe Coombs Marr: Trigger Warning – Jul 16 & 22

Nominated for: Best Comedy

Tom Ballard: The World Keeps Happening – Jul 9

Nominated for: Best Comedy

The full list of 2016 Helpmann Award nominations also includes Time Out Sydney favourites Matilda The Musical, The Bleeding Tree (Griffin), Ivanov (Belvoir), and Love and Information (Sydney Theatre Company).

If you'd like to keep looking forward rather than back, here's what's on stage in Sydney now.