Life After leads Dora nominations

A musical about a 16-year-old girl sent reeling after the sudden death of her father and a dark comedy about the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline are among the leading contenders for this year’s Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

“Life After” nabbed a leading 12 nominations for Toronto’s biggest theatre, dance and opera awards, vaulting co-producer Canadian Stage to a leading 24 nominations spread over the opera, dance and touring categories.

The story of a teen trying to cope with loss and grief also gives co-producer the Musical Stage Company a leading 21 nominations in the musical theatre category and hands a best new musical/opera nod to Britta Johnson, the young phenom who wrote the production’s music, book and lyrics. Yonge Street Theatricals is another co-producer.

Soulpepper Theatre tops the general theatre division with 13 nominations after an embattled year. Its founder and artistic director Albert Schultz resigned in January after four actresses filed separate lawsuits against him and the company, alleging sexual misconduct. None of their allegations have been tested in court.

The Soulpepper nods include five for “Idomeneus,” including best ensemble performance, costume design, scenic design, lighting design and direction for Alan Dilworth.

The Theatre Centre leads the independent theatre division with 12 nominations, eight of them in co-production with Native Earth Performing Arts, Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts and Punctuate! Theatre for “Bears.”

The dark comedy about the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline earned noms for best production, new play, scenic design, lighting design, costume design, sound design/composition, direction for Matthew Mackenzie and male performance for Sheldon Elter.

The other four nominations are for “Daughter,” co-produced by The Theatre Centre and Quip Take with Pandemic Theatre. Those include best production, direction for Ann-Marie Kerr, male performance for Adam Lazarus and sound design/composition.

Native Earth Performing Arts takes second spot in the independent theatre division with 10 hits, including best new play and lighting design for “Ipperwash.”

Tapestry Opera’s productions lead the opera category with 18 nominations, 10 of which are for “The Overcoat — a musical tailoring,” a co-production with Canadian Stage and Vancouver Opera.

“The Overcoat” vies for best production, new musical/opera, best direction and best male performance for both Geoffrey Sirett and Peter McGillivray.