In Toronto, Topdog/Underdog, War Horse, Tomasso's Party Are Dora Award Winners

By Kenneth Jones
June 26, 2012

The winners of the 33rd Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards, recognizing excellence in Toronto's performing arts community, include War Horse, Topdog/Underdog, Tomasso's Party, Ride the Cyclone and Caroline, or Change, among others. The recipients were revealed on June 25.

The awards administered by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) address theatre (independent, general and musical theatre, from producers with varying budgets), dance, opera and children's shows for the period between June 1, 2011, and May 22, 2012.

The awards ceremony was hosted by Thom Allison at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto.

Below are selected recipients of the 2012 Doras. For a complete list of winners, visit tapa.ca.

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GENERAL THEATRE PRODUCTION DIVISION

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
Topdog/Underdog Obsidian Theatre Company in association with the Shaw Festival

OUTSTANDING TOURING PRODUCTION
Ride the Cyclone, Theatre Passe Muraille and Acting Up Stage Company

OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY
Pamela Mala Sinha, Crash, Theatre Passe Muraille

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY/MUSICAL
Philip Akin, Topdog/Underdog, Obsidian Theatre Company in association with the Shaw Festival

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE
Nigel Shawn Williams, Topdog/Underdog, Obsidian Theatre Company in association with the Shaw Festival

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE
Pamela Mala Sinha, Crash, Theatre Passe Muraille

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A FEATURED ROLE/ENSEMBLE
The Ensemble, The Penelopiad, Nightwood Theatre

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
Wilson Chin, A Florentine Tragedy/Gianni Schicchi, Canadian Opera Company

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
Costume Designer Rae Smith; Puppet Design, Fabrication and Direction Adrian Kohler with Basil Jones for Handspring Puppet Co., War Horse

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY
Director of Movement and Horse Choreography Toby Sedgwick, War Horse

MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION DIVISION

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
Caroline, or Change, Acting Up Stage Company in association with Obsidian Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING NEW MUSICAL/OPERA
Ana Sokolovic, SVADBA – Wedding, Queen of Puddings Music Theatre

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE
Sterling Jarvis, Caroline, or Change, Acting Up Stage Company in association with Obsidian Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE
Arlene Duncan, Caroline, or Change, Acting Up Stage Company in association with Obsidian Theatre Company

INDEPENDENT THEATRE PRODUCTION DIVISION

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
The Ugly One, Theatre Smash

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
Camellia Koo, The Ugly One, Theatre Smash

OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY OR NEW MUSICAL
Jules Lewis, Tomasso's Party, Rooftop Creations

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE
Richard Donat, His Greatness, independent Artists Repertory Theatre (iArt.)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE
Astrid Van Wieren, This Wide Night, Mermaid Parade

THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES DIVISION

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
Baobab, Young People's Theatre presents Théâtre Motus and Sô Company (Mali)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Xin Wang, Sanctuary Song, Theatre Direct Canada

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AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
War Horse

BARBARA HAMILTON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS
Richard Rose

GEORGE LUSCOMBE AWARD FOR MENTORSHIP IN THEATRE
Ruth Howard

LEONARD MCHARDY AND JOHN HARVEY AWARD FOR ARTS ADMINISTRATORS
Lesley Lester

PAULINE MCGIBBON AWARD FOR UNIQUE TALENTS AND POTENTIAL FOR EXCELLENCE
Ravi Jain

SILVER TICKET AWARD FOR AN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE STAGE
Christopher House

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The Dora Mavor Moore Awards is a program of 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 Toronto. In addition to the Doras, other programs and services provided by TAPA include: T.O. TIX - Toronto's Official One Stop Ticket Shop at Yonge-Dundas Square and online at www.totix.ca; Toronto's official Theatre Guide; hipTIX, offering $5 tickets to students; citySPECIAL; the Commercial Theatre Development Fund; and the Travel Retreat Initiatives Program.