The Dora Awards

The 29th Annual Dora Awards were presented last night. After a seemingly rocky year, both in ticket sales and internal conflict, The Canadian Stage Company still came out on top with a total of seven wins (all in important categories). Soulpepper Theatre Company took in four wins. Other companies which took in honours included, Buddies In Bad Times Theatre and The Canadian Opera Company. The Dora Awards are handed out for excellence in Toronto theatre, dance and opera. They're named after Dora Mavor Moore, the late actor, director and teacher who founded the New Play Society, a training ground for writers, performers and technicians. In total, 219 shows were eligible for this year's awards, 47 of which were new plays or musicals.

Here is a list of the major awards handed out last evening, a full list can be viewed at http://tapa.ca/doras/past_winners.

Outstanding New Play: Judith Thompson, The Palace of the End
Outstanding New Musical: devised by Jim LeFrancois and David Oiye, Arthouse Cabaret
Outstanding Production of a Play: The December Man, The Canadian Stage Company in co-production with The Citadel Theatre
Outstanding Production of a Musical: Fire, The Canadian Stage Company in co-production with The Citadel Theatre
Outstanding Direction of a Play: Alisa Palmer, Top Girls
Outstanding Direction of a Musical: James MacDonald, Fire
Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role – Play: Joseph Ziegler, The Time of Your Life
Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role – Play: Lally Cadeau, Rose
Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role – Musical: Ted Dykstra, Fire
Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role – Musical: Nicole Underhay, Fire
Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role in a Play or Musical: Stuart Hughes, The Time of Your Life