Dora Award Winners Announced in Toronto

The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) handed out the 2013 Dora Mavor Moore Awards June 24 at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts' Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto. The Awards celebrate excellence in Toronto theatre, dance, and opera.

Cinderella (Musical Theatre Division) took home the most awards with a final count of seven, while Obaaberima (General Theatre) and The War of 1812 (Independent Theatre) each landed three awards.

The award for Outstanding Lighting Design went to Michelle Ramsay for Obaaberima (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Other nominees were Bonnie Beecher, 4.48 Psychosis (Necessary Angel Theatre Company); and Kimberly Purtell for Arigato, Tokyo (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre), Someone Else (Crow's Theatre in association with Canadian Stage), and The Little Years (Tarragon Theatre).

The Award for Outstanding Sound Design/Composition went to Kobena Aquaa-Harrison for Obaaberima. The nominees were John Gzowski,4.48 Psychosis, Richard Feren, Arigato, Tokyo, and Thomas Ryder Payne, The Little Years and This is War, both at Tarragon Theatre.

Camellia Koo was nominated for the Outstanding Scenic Design Award for her work on both Obaaberima and This is War, but Julie Fox took home the award for her work on Arigato, Tokyo. Other nominees were Lorenzo Savoini for The Crucible (Soulpepper Theatre Company) and Yannik Larivee for 4.48 Pyschosis.

The award for Outstanding Costume Design went to Dana Osborne for her work on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. She won against Julie Fox who was nominated for her work on both Arigato, Tokyo and The Little Years. Other nominees were Charlotte Dean for The Amorous Adventures of Anatol (Tarragon Theatre), and Melanie McNeill, Les Fourberies de Scapin (Scapin's Deceits) (Théâtre français de Toront).

Young People's Theatre won the most Dora Awards: a total of eight with seven for Cinderella and one for La Fugue (YPT presents SMCQ Jeunesse/Qui Va Là) in the Theatre for Young Audiences Division.

In the Musical Theatre Division, Cinderella won the awards for Outstanding Production and Outstanding Performance- Ensemble, Outstanding Direction, Scenic Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, and Choreography. The Outstanding Touring Production Award went to Harbourfront Centre's World Stage presentation of She She Pop & Their Fathers: Testament. In the General Theatre Division, Obaaberima won three awards (including Outstanding Production), while Crow's Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre Company, and Tarragon each took home two for Someone Else (Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Performance-Male), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Outstanding Performance-Ensemble) and The Little Years (Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Performance-Female) respectively.

The Canadian Opera Company dominated the Opera Division with two awards each for Dialogues des Carmélites (Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance-Ensemble) and Il Trovatore (Outstanding Performance- Male and Female). The Lesson of Da Ji from Toronto Masque Theatre won the Outstanding New Musical/Opera award.

In the Theatre for Young Audiences Division, Roseneath Theatre won one award for Outstanding Direction for Wrecked and one for Outstanding Performance-Individual for In This World. Young People's Theatre also earned its eighth nod with Outstanding Production for La Fugue . Soulpepper earned a third win with Outstanding Performance-Ensemble for Alligator Pie while Outstanding New Play went to Suburban Beast's rihannaboi95.

For a full list of nominees and winners, visit TAPA's link below.