Doras, explored
cinderella reigns supreme at theatre awards
“Moore is More” was the theme of the night at the 34th annual dora Mavor Moore Awards as 13 new awards were handed out in a ceremony hosted by theatre veterans Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus.
Forty-eight awards were handed out at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Centre on Monday night, honouring the city’s best in theatre, opera, dance, musical theatre and theatre for young audiences.
young People’s Theatre’s Cinderella was the night’s big winner, taking home seven awards in the musical theatre category, including outstanding production and outstanding performance — ensemble.
In the general theatre division, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre led the way with four awards, earning three for Obaaberima, including outstanding production.
VideoCabaret, under the direction of Michael Hollingsworth, took home three awards for their The War of 1812: The History of the Village of the Small Huts, 1812-1815, including outstanding direction and outstanding performance — ensemble.
Canadian Opera Company swept the opera division, winning three awards for Dialogues des Carmélites, and two for Il Trovotore.
Michelle Monteith ( The Lesson) and Gavin Crawford ( A Few Brittle Leaves) won the awards for Outstanding Performance in the independent theatre division.
In his acceptance speech, Crawford, formerly a cast member of CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes, espoused the value of theatre as an art form.
“I left 22 Minutes because I wanted to do something interesting,” he explained. “don’t do something because it’s good, do something because it’s interesting. don’t do something because it’s lucrative, do it because it’s interesting.”
Hosts Snieckus and Baram, both veterans of the theatre world, opened the show with a song a dance number, featuring guest appearances from Louise Pitre, Sharron Matthews, Rick Miller and Jian Ghomeshi.
The Silver Ticket Award, given each year to the individual who has “excelled in their own career while also nurturing the development of Canadian theatre,” went to actor/director/teacher Malcolm Black. Franco Boni (Theatre Centre) was honoured with the George Luscombe Award for Mentorship.