The 30th Dora Mavor Moore Awards

The 30th annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards was held Monday, June 29, 2009 at the elegant Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto, Ontario by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts which "is a professional arts service organization dedicated to advancing the arts in the City of Toronto by promoting and advocating on behalf of local theatre, dance and opera companies and providing services to enhance the artistic, technical and administrative development of its membership. The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts also supports a large number of allied members consisting of industry suppliers, managers, publicists, ticket agencies, educational institutions, training studios, talent and casting agents, and other businesses that contribute to the performing arts in the GTA."[tapa.ca/doras] The Doras were hosted by celebrated CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi.

The Sound of Music won Outstanding Production of a Musical and Jersey Boys won Outstanding Direction of a Musical as well as the audience award. AGOKWE Rides High won Six Awards including Outstanding Production of a Play & New Play The VIP reception was held at the Rosewater Supper Club ( near our studio) and the winners of the awards were announced at the nearby luxurious & historic Toronto's Winter Garden Theatre. The post awards reception was held at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.

The 2009 Dora Mavor Moore Awards Recipients are (the envelope please):

General Theatre Production Division:

AGOKWE Rides High - Six Awards including Outstanding Production of a Play & New Play

THE SOUND OF MUSIC - Three Awards including Outstanding Production of a Musical

JERSEY BOYS Earns - Two Awards including Outstanding Direction of a Musical

SANCTUARY SONG - Outstanding New Musical / Opera

Independent Theatre Production Division:

ETERNAL HYDRA Leads - Four Awards including Outstanding Production, Direction & New Play or Musical

Dance Division:

INNOVATION: EMERGENCE - all Four Awards including Outstanding Production, Choreography, & Performance

In the Opera Division:

WAR AND PEACE - Outstanding Production

In Theatre for Young Audiences Division:

WALKING THE TIGHTROPE - Both Awards: Outstanding Production & Performance

GENERAL THEATRE PRODUCTION DIVISION:

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre - six Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Agokwe: Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding New Play for Waawaate Fobister, Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role – Play for Waawaate Fobister, Outstanding Direction of a Play for Ed Roy, Outstanding Costume Design for Erika Iserhoff, and Outstanding Lighting Design for Kimberly Purtell - cash gift $5,000 from the Bluma Appel Community Trust

The Sound of Music: (Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian, and David Mirvish) - Three Dora Mavor Moore Awards: Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role – Musical for Elicia MacKenzie, and Outstanding Set Design for Robert Jones

Jersey Boys: (Dancap Productions Inc., Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, Latitude Link and Rick Steiner’s) - Two Dora Awards: Outstanding Direction of a Musical for Des McAnuff and Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role – Musical for Jeff Madden.

The Canadian Stage Company: Two Dora Awards: Raven Dauda won for Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Featured Role in a Play or Musical for Miss Julie: Freedom Summer (The Canadian Stage Company, Playhouse Theatre Company); It’s a Wonderful Life: John Gzowski - Outstanding Sound Design/Composition

Play for Soulpepper Theatre Company’s A Raisin in the Sun: Alison Sealy-Smith - Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role –

Outstanding New Musical/Opera - Abigail Richardson (composer) and Marjorie Chan (librettist) for Sanctuary Song - produced by Tapestry and Theatre Direct in partnership with Luminato; Anne Manson - Outstanding Musical Direction for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Canadian Opera Company / Houston Grand Opera); Black Watch - Outstanding Touring Production (Luminato presents The National Theatre of Scotland).

Denise Clarke and Peggy Baker - Outstanding Choreography - Radio Play (a Young Centre for the Performing Arts presentation of Peggy Baker Dance Projects)

INDEPENDENT THEATRE PRODUCTION DIVISION:

Crow’s Theatre - Four Dora Awards - Eternal Hydra: Outstanding Production, Outstanding New Play or New Musical for Anton Piatigorsky, Outstanding Direction for Chris Abraham and Outstanding Lighting Design for John Thompson.

Maja Ardal - Outstanding Performance by a Female - You Fancy Yourself (produced by Contrary Company in association with Theatre Passe Muraille); David Ferry - Outstanding Performance by a Male - Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (Adeona Productions)

Appetite - ( producers Volcano in association with the Exchange Rate Collective and Theatre Passe Muraille ) - Two Dora Awards - Outstanding Set Design and Outstanding Costume Design for Gillian Gallow

Waylen Miki - Outstanding Sound Design/Composition - An Inconvenient Musical (An Inconvenient Theatre Co.)

DANCE DIVISION:

The National Ballet of Canada - all Four Dora Awards - its Innovation: Emergence: Outstanding Production, Outstanding Choreography for Crystal Pite, Outstanding Performance for The Ensemble and Outstanding Sound Design/Composition for Owen Belton.

OPERA DIVISION:

War and Peace - Outstanding Production for the Canadian Opera Company / English National Opera; Paolo Gavanelli - Outstanding Performance for Simon Boccanegra (Canadian Opera Company presents Royal Opera).

THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES DIVISION:

Theatre Direct - Both Awards - Walking the Tightrope: Outstanding Production and Outstanding Performance for Wayne Robson

OTHER AWARDS:

The Pauline McGibbon Award: Theatre director Brendan Healy - this $7,000 cash prize is awarded on behalf of the Ontario Arts Council and the Ministry of Culture in a three-year cycle to a designer, director and theatre craftsperson.

The Silver Ticket Award: Marlene Smith. This award is awarded to an individual excells in their career and also nurtures the development of Canadian theatre. Marlene Smith has been producing and co-producing live theatre for 40 years including the long-running Cats with an all-Canadian cast and production team.

TAPA’s Audience Choice Award for Outstanding Production: (sponsors: NOW Magazine and Yonge-Dundas Square): Jersey Boys.

In viewing the quantity & quality of the productions in Toronto and represented at these awards, its clear not only that these are significant awards but that there is a breath and depth to live theatre and dance in Toronto and you are encouraged to turn off your cell phone and computers and get out there and attend them!! Check back here for upcoming productions or check the individual theatre links in the sources & links section to obtain upcoming shows!. Check back here for next year's DORA Awards!

© 2009 Photos by G.C. Eyre & Article by C. Smith All Rights Reserved