Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, June 2, 2014 - At a press conference held June 2 in the lobby of the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) announced 238 nominations for 222 eligible productions for the 35th Anniversary Dora Mavor Moore Awards, which honour excellence in the performing arts in Toronto.
For the 2013-2014 season, 143 producing companies (up 41 from last season's 102) registered eligible productions. A total of 48 Dora Awards, plus the Silver Ticket Award and the Audience Choice Award, will be given out in a glittering ceremony hosted by Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus, founding Co-Artistic Directors of the three-time Canadian Comedy Award-winning The National Theatre of the World, on Monday, June 23 at Harbourfront Centre's WestJet Stage, the first time ever the event will be held there.
In the General Theatre Division, Tarragon Theatre leads with 16 nominations, with an additional 3 nods in the Musical Theatre Division bringing Tarragon's total to 19. Tarragon's The Double earns 5 while Lungs garners 4 (both including Outstanding Production and Outstanding Direction) as does its A God in Need of Help (including Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Direction). Soulpepper Theatre follows closely with 14 nominations in the General Theatre Division plus 2 in Musical Theatre for a total of 16. Its Of Human Bondage nabs 9 taps including Outstanding Production, Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Direction.
In the Independent Theatre Division, 3 companies and their productions tie for the lead with 5 nominations each: Outside the March's Vitals (including Outstanding Production, Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Direction), UnSpun Theatre's The Tin Drum: an original adaptation of the novel by Günter Grass (including Outstanding Direction) and VideoCabaret's Trudeau and the FLQ (including Outstanding Production and Outstanding Direction). Ahuri Theatre's Ralph + Lina and Suburban Beast's All Our Happy Days Are Stupid follow closely with 4 hits each, with both up for Outstanding Production.
In the Musical Theatre Division, Les Miserables (producers Cameron Mackintosh, NETworks and David Mirvish) and London Road (a Canadian Stage production) each nab 11 nods, including Outstanding Production, Outstanding Direction and all acting categories for both. (Canadian Stage also earns another 1 for Outstanding Touring Production, 5 in the General Theatre Division, and 1 in the Dance Division to bring its total to 18 nods).
In the Opera Division, Canadian Opera Company (COC) productions lead overall with a total of 13 nominations as well as another 3 in categories shared with the Musical Theatre Division, making for a total of 16 nods. The COC's Roberto Devereux (the Dallas Opera production) earns 6 nods in total, including Outstanding Production. Opera Atelier follows with 5 nods in the Opera Division and another 6 in categories shared with Musical Theatre for a total of 11 nods, of which Persée garners 8 (including Outstanding Production).
In the Dance Division, DanceWorks earns top spot with 12 nods in total, 10 of which went to the with a trace program (5 for WOULD, 3 for Gotta Go Church and 2 for Brahms Waltzes). Harbourfront Centre's World Stage and princess productions follow with 5 taps each.
The Theatre for Young Audiences Division sees Young People's Theatre (YPT) take the lead with 13 nods with 7 for Sultans of the Street. (YPT also earns 3 taps in the Musical Theatre Division for a total of 16). Theatre Direct Canada's Old Man and the River follows with 5 knocks.
Of note, Camellia Koo is up for 4 awards - 3 of which where she competes against herself for Outstanding Scenic Design in the General Theatre Division. See the accompanying complete list of nominees. The full list is also available online www.tapa.ca/doras/nominees at 1pm on June 2.
As well, in a special gift from the Bluma Appel Community Trust, a $5,000 prize will be awarded to the winning playwright of Outstanding New Play in the General Theatre Division for the eighth year in a row, in addition to the continuation of Bluma's Indies comprised of a cash prize of $1,000 per winning category in the Independent Theatre Division.
In addition, the recipients of the Pauline McGibbon Award, Barbara Hamilton Memorial Award and Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award were announced.
Set, costume and projection designer Karyn McCallum is the recipient of the 2014 Pauline McGibbon Award. It includes a $7,000 prize and a medal designed by Dora de Pédery-Hunt and is presented to a member of Ontario's professional theatre community in the early stages of his or her career who has displayed a unique talent and a potential for excellence. The award is given each year by the Province of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and is administered by the Ontario Arts Council. McCallum's recent design credits include Flesh and Other Fragments of Love (Tarragon Theatre, Toronto), The Secret Mask (Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Canadian Stage, Toronto) and Creation (National Arts Centre, Ottawa).
The winner of this year's Barbara Hamilton Memorial Award is David S. Craig, renowned playwright, director, performer and artistic director. The Barbara Hamilton Memorial Award is given to a Canadian artist who demonstrates excellence in the performing arts and is dedicated to advocating and being an ambassador for the arts in Canada. It is sponsored by the City of Toronto, and the recipient is awarded with a scroll and a cheque for $1,000 from the City. In addition to nearly forty years of outstanding contributions to the performing arts, Craig has advocated for the rights, wages and royalties of performing artists and playwrights in Canada as well as founding Theatre Direct Canada and Roseneath Theatre.
The recipient of the 2014 Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award (LMJH Award) is Meredith Potter. The award recognizes the important work of theatre, dance and opera administrators. Recipients of the LMJH Award have at least 10 years of demonstrated commitment to the performing arts, in addition to having made an impact on the industry in Toronto. Potter has made essential contributions to the Toronto arts sector for a decade and a half and under the umbrella of her company, Meredith Potter Arts Management, she currently manages three acclaimed companies - Volcano Theatre, Peggy Baker Dance Projects and Nova Dance.
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD:
TAPA's Audience Choice Award is co-sponsored once again this year by NOW Magazine and Yonge-Dundas Square. The public is invited to choose a winner and vote for their favourite show from the list of nominees for Outstanding Production or they can choose their own! Theatre, dance and opera fans can cast their votes online at www.nowtoronto.com/doras from Thursday, June 5, 2014 until 12:00 midnight Wednesday, June 18, 2014. The winner will be announced at the Dora Awards show ceremony and will receive a special plaque from NOW Magazine.
35th ANNIVERSARY DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARDS
Toronto's Theatre, Dance and Opera Awards
Monday June 23, 2014
Hosted by Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus
Written by Chris Earle; Directed by Edward Roy; Musical Direction by Waylen Miki;
Lighting and Production Design by Andrea Lundy; Produced by Jacoba Knaapen.
5:30pm-7pm: Pre-Show VIP Reception at Harbourfront Centre's Lakeside Terrace, 235 Queens Quay W.
7:30pm: Dora Mavor Moore Awards Show at Harbourfront Centre's WestJet Stage, 235 Queens Quay West
10:30pm: After-Party at the World Café (beside the lake at Harbourfront Centre)
TICKETS: $65 General Admission.
Call the Box Office at 416-973-4000 (Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 1pm - 6pm)
For information visit www.tapa.ca
2014-06-02
Toronto: Nominations announced for 35th annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards