Nomination Announcements: 38th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards
The Dora Mavor Moore Awards—named after the pioneering Canadian actress, director, and teacher—celebrate the best of Toronto theatre. (You can read about last year’s nominees and winners here.) This year’s awards, which will be hosted by Raoul Bhaneja, will take place Monday, June 26 at the Elgin Theatre.
Here are this year’s nominees! The liveblog is below.
General Theatre
Outstanding Production:
- “Master Harold”… and the Boys (Obsidian Theatre Company in association with Shaw Festival)
- Body Politic (Buddies in Bad Times)
- Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts I, II, III) (Soulpepper)
- Incident at Vichy (Soulpepper)
- Mouthpiece (Quote Unquote Collective presented by Nightwood Theatre)
Outstanding New Play:
- David Yee, acquiesce (Factory Theatre)
- Nick Green, Body Politic (Buddies in Bad Times)
- Katherine Cullen and Britta Johnson, Stupidhead! A Musical Comedy (Theatre Passe Muraille)
- Kristen Thomson, The Wedding Party (Crow’s Theatre and Talk Is Free Theatre)
- Diane Flacks, Unholy (Nightwood Theatre)
Outstanding Direction:
- Philip Akin, “Master Harold”… and the Boys (Obsidian Theatre Company in association with Shaw Festival)
- Nina Lee Aquino, acquiesce (Factory Theatre)
- Weyni Mengesha, Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts I, II, III) (Soulpepper)
- Alan Dilworth, Incident at Vichy (Soulpepper)
- Ashlie Corcoran, director, and Christopher Stanton, associate director, KISS (ARC and Theatre Smash in association with Canadian Stage)
Outstanding Male Performance:
- André Sills, “Master Harold”… and the Boys (Obsidian Theatre Company in association with Shaw Festival)
- James Daly, “Master Harold”… and the Boys (Obsidian Theatre Company in association with Shaw Festival)
- Daren Herbert, Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts I, II, III) (Soulpepper)
- Sugith Varughese, Little Pretty and The Exceptional (Factory Theatre)
- Joseph Ziegler, The Last Wife (Soulpepper)
Outstanding Female Performance:
- Katherine Gauthier, A Doll’s House (Soulpepper)
- Diane Flacks, Body Politic (Buddies in Bad Times)
- Lisa Berry, Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts I, II, III) (Soulpepper)
- Shruti Kothari, Little Pretty and The Exceptional (Factory Theatre)
- Maev Beaty, The Last Wife (Soulpepper)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance:
- Ensemble of Black Boys (Buddies in Bad Times and Saga Collectif)
- Ensemble of Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts I, II, III) (Soulpepper)
- Ensemble of Incident at Vichy (Soulpepper)
- Ensemble of Mouthpiece (Quote Unquote Collective presented by Nightwood Theatre)
- Ensemble of The 39 Steps (Soulpepper)
Outstanding Scenic Design:
- Peter Hartwell, “Master Harold”… and the Boys (Obsidian Theatre Company in association with Shaw Festival)
- Lorenzo Savoini, A Doll’s House (Soulpepper)
- Lorenzo Savoini, Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts I, II, III) (Soulpepper)
- Anahita Dehbonehie, Stupidhead! A Musical Comedy (Theatre Passe Muraille)
- Yannik Larivée, The Last Wife (Soulpepper)
Outstanding Costume Design:
- Victoria Wallace, A Doll’s House (Soulpepper)
- Dana Osborne, Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts I, II, III) (Soulpepper)
- Jackie Chau, The 39 Steps (Soulpepper)
- Christina Poddubiuk, The Audience (David Mirvish and the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre)
- Ming Wong, The Wedding Party (Crow’s Theatre and Talk Is Free Theatre)
Outstanding Lighting Design:
- Trevor Schwellnus, Alien Creature (Theatre Passe Muraille)
- Kimberley Purtell, Concord Floral (Brubacher/Spooner/Tannahill presented by Canadian Stage)
- Kevin Lamotte, Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts I, II, III) (Soulpepper)
- André du Toit, The 39 Steps (Soulpepper)
- Lorenzo Savoini, The Testament of Mary (Soulpepper)
Outstanding Sound Design/Composition:
- Richard Feren, Cage (Soulpepper)
- Andre Stankovitch and James Smith, Chasse-Galerie (Kabin)
- James Bunton (sound design) and Amy Nostbakken (music), Mouthpiece (Quote Unquote Collective presented by Nightwood Theatre)
- Mike Rinaldi, Quiver (Nightwood Theatre)
- Verne Good, The 39 Steps (Soulpepper)
Independent Theatre
Outstanding Production:
- Pomona (ARC)
- Prince Hamlet (Why Not Theatre)
- The Emancipation of Ms. Lovely (Emancipation Arts in association with Crow’s Theatre)
- This is the Point (co-produced by Ahuri Theatre and The Theatre Centre)
- Tough Jews (The Spadina Avenue Gang)
Outstanding New Play:
- Evan Webber, Other Jesus (Public Recordings Performance Projects and EW&FCO)
- Ngozi Paul, The Emancipation of Ms. Lovely (Emancipation Arts in association with Crow’s Theatre)
- Eric Woolfe, The Harrowing of Brimstone McReedy (Eldritch Theatre)
- Tony Diamanti, Dan Watson, Chrstina Serra, Karin Randoja, and Liz MacDougall, This is the Point (co-produced by Ahuri Theatre and The Theatre Centre)
- Michael Ross Albert, Tough Jews (The Spadina Avenue Gang)
Outstanding Direction:
- Frank Cox-O’Connell, Other Jesus (Public Recordings Performance Projects and EW&FCO)
- Christopher Stanton, Pomona (ARC)
- Ravi Jain, Prince Hamlet (Why Not Theatre)
- Karin Randoja, This is the Point (co-produced by Ahuri Theatre and The Theatre Centre)
- Benjamin Blais, Tough Jews (The Spadina Avenue Gang)
Outstanding Male Performance:
- Philip Riccio, John (The Company Theatre)
- Tim Dowler-Coltman, Orphans (Coal Mine Theatre)
- Nabil Rajo, Superior Donuts (Coal Mine Theatre)
- Robert Persichini, Superior Donuts (Coal Mine Theatre)
- Eric Woolfe, The Harrowing of Brimstone McReedy (Eldritch Theatre)
Outstanding Female Performance:
- Nancy Beatty, John (The Company Theatre)
- Nora McLellan, John (The Company Theatre)
- Christine Horne, Prince Hamlet (Why Not Theatre)
- Elley-Ray Hennessy, The Death of Mrs. Gandhi and the Beginning of New Physics (Everything but the Bard)
- Ngozi Paul, The Emancipation of Ms. Lovely (Emancipation Arts in association with Crow’s Theatre)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance:
- Ensemble of Other Jesus (Public Recordings Performance Projects and EW&FCO)
- Ensemble of Pomona (ARC)
- Ensemble of Prince Hamlet (Why Not Theatre)
- Ensemble of This is the Point (Co-produced by Ahuri Theatre and The Theatre Centre)
- Ensemble of Tough Jews (The Spadina Avenue Gang)
Outstanding Scenic Design:
- Shannon Lea Doyle, John (The Company Theatre)
- Sherri Hay, Other Jesus (Public Recordings Performance Projects and EW&FCO)
- Nick Blais and Jackie Chau, Pomona (ARC)
- Judith Bowden, The Emancipation of Ms. Lovely (Emancipation Arts in association with Crow’s Theatre)
- Adam Belanger, Tough Jews (The Spadina Avenue Gang)
Outstanding Costume Design:
- Claudia Dey, Beaver (WeWillMeet Productions in Association with Storefront Theatre)
- Allie Marshall, Italian Mime Suicide//Three Red Days (Bad New Days)
- Sherri Hay, Other Jesus (Public Recordings Performance Projects and EW&FCO)
- Jan Venus, The Hogtown Experience (The Hogtown Collective)
- Lindsay Dagger Junkin, Tough Jews (The Spadina Avenue Gang)
Outstanding Lighting Design:
- André du Toit, Italian Mime Suicide//Three Red Days (Bad New Days)
- Nick Blais, Pomona (ARC)
- André du Toit, Prince Hamlet (Why Not Theatre)
- Kayleigh Krysztofiak, The Emancipation of Ms. Lovely (Emancipation Arts in association with Crow’s Theatre)
- Michelle Ramsay and Jennifer Tipton, The Magic Hour (Co-produced by The Theatre Centre and Jess Dobkin)
Musical Theatre
Outstanding Production:
- Come From Away (Mirvish Productions and Yonge Street Theatricals)
- Counting Sheep (The Lemon Bucket Orkestra)
- Matilda: The Musical (David Mirvish, Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Dodgers)
- Passing Strange (The Musical Stage Company and Obsidian Theatre)
- Seussical (Young People’s Theatre)
Outstanding Male Performance:
- Chad Kimball, Come From Away (Mirvish Productions and Yonge Street Theatricals)
- Dan Chameroy, Matilda: The Musical (David Mirvish, Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Dodgers)
- Jahlen Barnes, Passing Strange (The Musical Stage Company and Obsidian Theatre)
- Beau Dixon, Passing Strange (The Musical Stage Company and Obsidian Theatre)
Outstanding Female Performance:
- Astrid Van Wieren, Come From Away (Mirvish Productions and Yonge Street Theatricals)
- Jenn Colella, Come From Away (Mirvish Productions and Yonge Street Theatricals)
- Amaka Umeh, James and the Giant Peach (Young People’s Theatre)
- Sabryn Rock, Passing Strange (The Musical Stage Company and Obsidian Theatre)
- Arinea Hermans, Seussical (Young People’s Theatre)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance:
- Ensemble of Counting Sheep (The Lemon Bucket Orkestra)
- Ensemble of Matilda: The Musical (David Mirvish, Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Dodgers)
- Ensemble of Passing Strange (The Musical Stage Company and Obsidian Theatre)
Opera
Outstanding Production:
- Ariodante (Canadian Opera Company)
- Götterdämmerung (Canadian Opera Company)
- Norma (Canadian Opera Company)
- Rocking Horse Winner (Tapestry Opera co-commissioned by Scottish Opera)
- Tosca (Canadian Opera Company with Norwegian National Opera and Ballet)
Outstanding Male Performance:
- Ain Anger, Götterdämmerung (Canadian Opera Company)
- Andreas Schager, Götterdämmerung (Canadian Opera Company)
- Russell Braun, Louis Riel (Canadian Opera Company with Canada’s National Arts Centre)
- Asitha Tennekoon, Rocking Horse Winner (Tapestry Opera co-commissioned by Scottish Opera)
- Marcelo Puente, Tosca (Canadian Opera Company with Norwegian National Opera and Ballet)
Outstanding Female Performance:
- Jane Archibald, Ariodante (Canadian Opera Company)
- Christine Goerke, Götterdämmerung (Canadian Opera Company)
- Sondra Radvanovsky, Norma (Canadian Opera Company)
- Carla Huhtanen, Rocking Horse Winner (Tapestry Opera co-commissioned by Scottish Opera)
- Adrianne Pieczonka, Tosca (Canadian Opera Company with Norwegian National Opera and Ballet)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance:
- Ensemble of Brundibar (Canadian Children’s Opera Company)
- Ensemble of Dido and Aeneas (Opera Atelier)
- Ensemble of Louis Riel (Canadian Opera Company with Canada’s National Arts Centre)
- Ensemble of Rocking Horse Winner (Tapestry Opera co-commissioned by Scottish Opera)
Musical Theatre/Opera
Outstanding New Musical/Opera:
- A Little Too Cozy, translated and adapted by Joel Ivany (Against the Grain Theatre)
- Come From Away, book, music, and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Mirvish Productions and Yonge Street Theatricals)
- John & Waleed, written and composed by John Millard and Waleed Abdulhamid (Theatre Passe Muraille in association with Cahoots Theatre)
- Rocking Horse Winner, written by Anna Chatterton, composed by Gareth Williams (Tapestry Opera co-commissioned by Scottish Opera)
Outstanding Direction:
- Christopher Ashley, Come From Away (Mirvish Productions and Yonge Street Theatricals)
- Tim Albery, Götterdämmerung (Canadian Opera Company)
- Peter Hinton, Louis Riel (Canadian Opera Company with Canada’s National Arts Centre)
- Philip Akin, Passing Strange (The Musical Stage Company and Obsidian Theatre)
- Michael Hidetoshi Mori, Rocking Horse Winner (Tapestry Opera co-commissioned by Scottish Opera)
Outstanding Scenic Design:
- Ultz, Ariodante (Canadian Opera Company)
- Michael Levine, Götterdämmerung (Canadian Opera Company)
- Rob Howell, Matilda: The Musical (David Mirvish, Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Dodgers)
- David Korins, Norma (Canadian Opera Company)
- Camellia Koo, Rocking Horse Winner (Tapestry Opera co-commissioned by Scottish Opera)
Outstanding Costume Design:
- Ultz, Ariodante (Canadian Opera Company)
- Joanna Yu, James and the Giant Peach (Young People’s Theatre)
- Rob Howell, Matilda: The Musical (David Mirvish, Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Dodgers)
- Jessica Jahn, Norma (Canadian Opera Company)
- Kevin Knight, Tosca (Canadian Opera Company with Norwegian National Opera and Ballet)
Outstanding Lighting Design:
- Howell Binkley, Come From Away (Mirvish Productions and Yonge Street Theatricals)
- David Finn, Götterdämmerung (Canadian Opera Company)
- Duane Schuler, Norma (Canadian Opera Company)
- Steve Lucas, Passing Strange (The Musical Stage Company and Obsidian Theatre)
- Michelle Ramsay, Rocking Horse Winner (Tapestry Opera co-commissioned by Scottish Opera)
Outstanding Choreography:
- Lucy Burge, Ariodante (Canadian Opera Company)
- Mark Marczyk, Counting Sheep (The Lemon Bucket Orkestra)
- Peter Darling, Matilda: The Musical (David Mirvish, Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Dodgers)
- Kimberley Rampersad, Passing Strange (The Musical Stage Company and Obsidian Theatre)
- Kimberley Rampersad, Seussical (Young People’s Theatre)
Outstanding Musical Direction:
- Ian Eisendrath, Come From Away (Mirvish Productions and Yonge Street Theatricals)
- Johannes Debus, Götterdämmerung (Canadian Opera Company)
- Stephen Lord, Norma (Canadian Opera Company)
- Jordan de Souza, Rocking Horse Winner (Tapestry Opera co-commissioned by Scottish Opera)
- Keri-Lynn Wilson, Tosca (Canadian Opera Company with Norwegian National Opera and Ballet)
Touring Productions
Outstanding Touring Production:
- 887 (Canadian Stage)
- Cirkopolis (A Canadian Stage and Sony Centre for the Performing Arts Presentation)
- James I: The Key Will Keep the Lock (Luminato Festival)
- Métis Mutt (Native Earth Performing Arts)
- Wrestling Jerusalem (Sara Schwartz Geller Productions)
Theatre for Young Audiences
Outstanding Production:
- Hup (Theatre Direct presents Staratchers)
- Nest (Theatre Direct presents Theater De Spiegel)
- Peter Pan (Bad Hats Theatre)
- Still/Falling (Young People’s Theatre presents Green Thumb Theatre)
- What Dream It Was (Ahuri Theatre)
Outstanding New Play:
- Robert Watson, Birds of a Feather (Roseneath Theatre)
- Anita Majumdar, Boys With Cars (Nightswimming in association with Young People’s Theatre)
- Muhammad Alhideq, Rob Dean, Benjamin Kersey, Dephine Sandall-Guay, and Anita Witulska, Les Zinspirés: cinq sur cinq (Théâtre français de Toronto)
- Erin Norah Thompson, Meet Cute (Roseneath Theatre)
- Stephen Colella and Allen MacInnis, Munschtime! (Young People’s Theatre)
Outstanding Direction:
- Brian Quirt, Boys with Cars (Nightswimming in association with Young People’s Theatre)
- Chanda Legroulx Gibson, Les Zinspirés: cinq sur cinq (Théâtre français de Toronto)
- Jillian Harper and Aaron Willis, Meet Cute (Roseneath Theatre)
- Severn Thompson, Peter Pan (Bad Hats Theatre)
- Dan Watson, What Dream it Was (Ahuri Theatre)
Outstanding Individual Performance:
- Bria McLaughan, Birds of a Feather (Roseneath Theatre)
- Anita Majumdar, Boys With Cars (Nightswimming in association with Young People’s Theatre)
- Kit Boulter, Treasure Island (Solar Stage)
- M. John Kennedy, Treasure Island (Solar Stage)
- Shakura Dickson, Treasure Island (Solar Stage)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance:
- Ensemble of Les Zinspirés: cinq sur cinq (Théâtre français de Toronto)
- Ensemble of Meet Cute (Roseneath Theatre)
- Ensemble of Peter Pan (Bad Hats Theatre)
- Ensemble of Superdude and Doctor Rude (The Second City)
- Ensemble of What Dream It Was (Ahuri Theatre)
Dance
Outstanding Production:
- Dollhouse (Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie presented by Canadian Stage)
- In Search of the Holy Chop Suey (DanceWorks, Yvonne Ng, and tiger princess dance projects)
- Kittly-Bender (DanceWorks coWorks and Kemi Contemporary Dance Projects)
- Meeting (Canadian Stage)
- what it’s like (adelheid and the Theatre Centre)
Outstanding Original Choreography:
- Karen Kaeja, Crave (CRAVE/DEFIANT) (Kaeja d’Dance)
- Yvonne Ng, In Search of the Holy Chop Suey (DanceWorks, Yvonne Ng, and tiger princess dance projects)
- Jennifer Dallas, Kittly-Bender (DanceWorks coWorks and Kemi Contemporary Dance Projects)
- Heidi Strauss, what it’s like (adelheid and the Theatre Centre)
- Lina Cruz, Ylem (3 Eggs Ago) (DanceWorks and Fila 13)
Outstanding Male Performance:
- Michael Caldwell, Crave (CRAVE/DEFIANT) (Kaeja d’Dance)
- Bill Coleman, Dollhouse (Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie presented by Canadian Stage)
- Paul Charbonneau, Holy Cows! (DanceWorks and inDANCE)
- Andrew Hartley, l’inanité des bibelots / love would only slow me down (Blue Valentine) (Common People)
- Bakari I. Lindsay, Older & Reckless (Bakari I. Lindsay Component) (Harbourfront Centre’s NextSteps in association with MOonhORsE Dance Theatre)
Outstanding Female Performance:
- Stephanie Abubo, Crave (CRAVE/DEFIANT) (Kaeja d’Dance)
- Yvonne Ng, In Search of the Holy Chop Suey (DanceWorks, Yvonne Ng, and tiger princess dance projects)
- Jennifer Dallas, Kittly-Bender (DanceWorks coWorks and Kemi Contemporary Dance Projects)
- Margie Gillis, Older & Reckless (Margie Gillis Component)
- Linnea Swan, Swan Lake Syndrome (CORPUS)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance:
- Ensemble of Chiasmata (Toronto Dance Theatre)
- Ensemble of MANICPIXIEDREAMGIRLS (Rock Bottom Movement)
- Ensemble of Various Concert (DanceWorks, Throwdown Collective, Lina Cruz, and Fila 13)
- Ensemble of what it’s like (adelheid and the Theatre Centre)
- Ensemble of Ylem (3 Eggs Ago) (DanceWorks and Fila 13)
Outstanding Lighting Design:
- Arun Srinivasan, In Search of the Holy Chop Suey (DanceWorks, Yvonne Ng, and tiger princess dance projects)
- Marc Parent, Infinite Storms (Nova Dance)
- Gabriel Cropley, Me, You and Us (through your eyes) (Alias Dance Project)
- Simon Rossiter, Noisy (Toronto Dance Theatre)
- Simon Rossiter, what it’s like (adelheid and the Theatre Centre)
Outstanding Sound Design:
- Sarah Shugarman, Crave (CRAVE/DEFIANT) (Kaeja d’Dance)
- Gordon Monahan, Dollhouse (Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie presented by Canadian Stage)
- Benjamin Barrile, JACINTO
- The Ensemble, Latidos (An Iconic Journey: A Celebration of 35 Years)
- Philippe Noireaut, Ylem (3 Eggs Ago) (DanceWorks and Fila 13)
Ancillary Award Winners
Pauline McGibbon Award for Unique Talents and Potential for Excellence:
- Joanna Yu, designer
Leonard McHardy & John Harvey Award for Leadership in Administration:
- Mitchell Marcus, the Musical Stage Company
George Luscombe Mentorship Award:
- Marjorie Chan, playwright and artistic director of Cahoots Theatre
- 9:59 We’re here at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts! Keep refreshing this page for nomination announcements.
- 10:05 People are taking their seats. The announcements are about to begin.
- 10:15 Ontario Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell is about to announce the winner of this year’s Pauline McGibbon Award
- 10:16 The winner of this year’s Pauline McGibbon Award for Unique Talents and Potential for Excellence is designer Joanna Yu. The award, which is given to an early-career theatre professional, is cyclical: one year it goes to a designer, the next year a director, and the year after that a craftsperson. (Last year it went to Stratford costume designer Jennifer Wonnacott.) Congrats, Joanna!
- 10:20 Joanna Yu’s name is misspelled as “Joanne” on the photo on the screen. “I might change my name to Joanne,” she jokes in her acceptance speech.
- 10:24 Joanna says she wants her win to inspire other women of colour working as designers. “I hope as Canada works towards its next 150, there will be more of us to weave into the Canadian theatre canon,” she says.
- 10:28 Jacoba Knaapen, executive director, TAPA, says TAPA will be undertaking a review of the way the Doras function with a series of town halls in late August and early September. “We’re making changes based on your choices, your input,” she says. The changes will be announced in April 2018.
- 10:32 Jacoba remembers developing the NOW Magazine Audience Choice Award eleven years ago with Jon Kaplan. To honour Jon’s memory, it has been renamed the Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award.
- 10:35 She also says there will be a memorial celebration to celebrate Jon’s life at the St. Lawrence Centre on September 19.
- 10:40 The Leonard McHardy & John Harvey Award for Leadership in Administration goes to a theatre, dance, or opera administrator with at least ten years of commitment to the performing arts. This year’s winner is Mitchell Marcus of the Musical Stage Company. Congratulations!
- 10:43 Mitchell thanks his husband and children for “embracing the Musical Stage Company as the fifth character in our family.”
- 10:45 The George Luscombe Mentorship Award, which is presented once every two years, goes to an artist acclaimed for their mentorship. This year’s winner is Marjorie Chan.
- 10:48 Marjorie thanks her nominator, Andy McKim. She also thanks TAPA for “finding a way to acknowledge this type of work, that often is quite invisible.”
- 10:50 Marjorie Chan: “Words matter, actions matter, the space that you create can have huge ramifications.”
- 10:58 We’re starting with the nominations in the Theatre for Young Audiences division.
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