The Dora Mavor Moore Awards, Toronto's annual heralds of achievement in theatre and dance, were handed out June 24 in a long but spirited ceremony at the Elgin Theatre.
The theme of this year's show--strategic partnerships--is especially apt. The 17th annual Doras production was nearly scuttled by a $38,000 funding cut from the Conservative provincial government. The event, produced by the Toronto Theatre Alliance, was resurrected by an outpouring of donations from theatres, unions, corporations, and individuals.
For all its mood of celebration, the evening had an edge, exemplified by the gritted-teeth optimism of the theme. While musical numbers from "Sunset Boulevard" and "Beauty and the Beast" paid tribute to the commercial theatre sector, many of the presenters' jokes made gentle reference to the precarious financial situation of the city's not-for-profit theatres. More barbed lines by writers Jason Sherman, Deborah Kimmett, and Drew Hayden Taylor were reportedly cut from the script by the show's producers.
It was also an evening of ironies, the most satisfying of which came when Dan R. Chameroy won an outstanding performance Dora for his portrayal of Gaston in "Beauty and the Beast." Chameroy is one of two Canadian performers recently dropped from the Disney production and replaced by American actors.
The city's contingent of megamusicals, though much-nominated in the large theatre division (for theatres of more than 450 seats), took home few awards. "Sunset Boulevard" won a set design Dora, while "Beauty and the Beast" also netted the sound/music and lighting design awards.
The biggest winner in this division was Robert Lepage's six-hour epic, "The Seven Streams of the River Ota," which picked up awards for lighting design, direction (Lepage), and production of a play.
Theatre Columbus' lively musical adaptation of "The Barber of Seville" netted three Doras in the mid-size theatre division (150 to 450 seats)--for Paulina Gillis' performance, John Millard's music, and outstanding musical production. Brent Carver won a performance award for his role as a hypochondriac junkie in Lee MacDougall's bank-heist comedy, "High Life," which was named outstanding new play.
Other performance Doras went to Karen Robinson for "Riot" and Jay Turner for "Falsettos." Tarragon Theatre's "2 Pianos, 4 Hands" was named outstanding production of a play, while Richard Rose got the directing Dora for "Seven Lears."
In the small theatre division (under 150 seats), VideoCabaret's comic history, "The Cold War," was voted outstanding production, and netted awards for Michael Hollingsworth's direction and Astrid Janson's costume design. Drew Hayden Taylor's "Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth," the story of a Native woman reluctantly reunited with her birth family, garnered the new play award. Performance Doras went to Bryan James for his one-man show, "Stockholm(e)," and Allegro Fulton for her riveting portrayal of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in "Frida K."
We Are One Theatre's "My Father, My Hero" was named outstanding production in the theatre for young audiences division. The new choreography award went to James Kudelka for "The Nutcracker," and the dance performance award to Peggy Baker for "Why the Brook Wept."
A complete list of winners follows:
Large Theatre Division
New Play or Musical: "The Glorious 12th" by Raymond Storey.
Production of a Play: "The Seven Streams of the River Ota," Harbourfront Centre and Ex Machina.
Production of a Musical: "A Little Night Music," Canadian Stage Company in co-production with The Grand Theatre, London.
Direction: Robert Lepage, "The Seven Streams of the River Ota."
Male in a Play: Heath Lamberts, "One for the Pot."
Female in a Play: Nicola Cavendish, "Later Life."
Male in a Musical: Dan R. Chameroy, "Beauty and the Beast."
Female in a Musical: Mary Ellen Mahoney, "A Little Night Music."
Set Design: John Napier, "Sunset Boulevard."
Lighting Design (tie): Natasha Katz, "Beauty and the Beast" and Sonoyo Nishikawa, "The Seven Streams of the River Ota."
Costume Design: Susan Benson, "A Little Night Music."
Sound or Music: Jonathan Deans (sound design), Alan Menken (composition), Paul Sportelli (musical director), "Beauty and the Beast."
Mid-Size Theatre Division
New Play or Musical: "High Life" by Lee MacDougall.
Production of a Play: "2 Pianos, 4 Hands," Tarragon Theatre in association with Talking Fingers Prods.
Production of a Musical or Revue: "The Barber of Seville," Theatre Columbus.
Direction: Richard Rose, "Seven Lears."
Male in a Play: Brent Carver, "High Life."
Female in a Play: Karen Robinson, "Riot."
Male in a Musical or Revue: Jay Turvey, "Falsettos."
Female in a Musical or Revue: Paulina Gillis, "The Barber of Seville."
Set Design: Ronnie Burkett, "Tinka's New Dress."
Lighting Design: Graeme S. Thomson, "Seven Lears."
Costume Design: Ronnie Burkett, "Tinka's New Dress."
Sound or Music: John Millard, "The Barber of Seville."
Small Theatre Division
New Play: "Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth" by Drew Hayden Taylor.
Production: "The Cold War," VideoCabaret.
Direction: Michael Hollingsworth, "The Cold War."
Performance by a Male: Bryan James, "Stockholm(e)."
Performance by a Female: Allegra Fulton, "Frida K."
Set Design: Paul Bettis, Chris Clifford with Bill Layton, "The Freud Project: Civilization and Its Discontents."
Lighting Design: Bonnie Beecher, "Frida K."
Costume Design: Astrid Janson, "The Cold War."
Sound or Music: Marsha Coffey, "Ravens."
Theatre for Young Audiences Division
Production: "My Father, My Hero," We Are One Theatre.
New Choreography Division
New Choreography: James Kudelka, "The Nutcracker."
Performance: Peggy Baker, "Why the Bro