Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) announced that CBC Radio personality Jian Ghomeshi will host the event, which brings together not-for-profit and commercial theatre companies, plus members of the dance, opera and youth theatre communities. Nominations will be announced in early June.

Ghomeshi hosts CBC Radio One's arts show, "Q." The awards after party will be held at Metro Square.

The Doras honor the creators of over 200 theatre, dance and opera productions annually in the following categories: General Theatre, Independent Theatre, Dance, Opera and Theatre for Young Audiences.

The Doras are named for Dora Mavor Moore (1888-1979), a beloved teacher and director who helped establish Canadian professional theatre in the 1930s and 1940s.

The 8 PM 2009 Dora ceremony is directed by Vinetta Strombergs and written by Briane Nasimok. Rick Sacks is musical director; Camelia Koo is set designer. Tickets ($60) go on sale June 4 at Ticketmaster.ca at (416) 872-5555 or www.ticketmaster.ca. VIP Tickets are $160; call (416) 536-6468 ext. 27.

For more information visit www.tapa.ca.

*

The Dora Mavor Moore Awards are administered by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA). TAPA is an arts service organization that represents nearly 200 professional theatre, dance and opera companies in the City of Toronto and works to create an environment in which the performing arts may flourish. In addition to the Dora Mavor Moore Awards, programs and services offered by TAPA include: T.O. TIX - Toronto's One-Stop Ticket Shop at Yonge-Dundas Square, the Go Live Toronto marketing campaign and the Commercial Theatre Development Fund. For more information visit www.tapa.ca.