When the Dora Awards began in 1980, ten awards were given in one division. Twenty-seven years later, there are 33 awards in five divisions, including General Theatre, Independent Theatre, Dance, Opera, and Theatre For Young Audiences.
This year's nominations were announced in style by Alisa Palmer and acclaimed author and playwright Anne-Marie Macdonald (pictured above) to an audience filled with artists, media and patrons of the theatre community in Toronto, including arts benefactor Bluma Appel and City Councillor Kyle Rae.
The Mirvish Production of The Lord Of The Rings garnered 15 nominations, including Best New Musical, Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Direction of a musical (Matthew Warchus) and numerous technical nominations. Other nominated "new" musicals include the Ross Petty Production of Snow White And The Group Of Seven and the Fringe Festival hit Boygroove. Those three productions were also nominated for Outstanding Production of a Musical, along with Song & Dance and Bunnicula, which played at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre For Young People.
Leading the pack in the Independent Theatre Division is Birdland Theatre's acclaimed production of The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot with 9 nominations, including Outstanding Production and Outstanding Direction. Other nominated productions in the Outstanding New Play Category include Return:The Sarajevo Project, Medici Slot Machine, Enoch Arden by Alfred, Lord Jabber and his Catatonic Songtress, Bombay Black and Cringeworthy.
A new award has been added to the ceremony this year: the Audience Choice Award. In celebration of the theme of "the audience" this year, now Toronto theatre audiences have an opportunity to vote for their favorite production of the year in the categories of General Theatre, Independent Theatre, Dance, Opera and Theatre For Young Audiences. Audience members may cast their votes online beginning on Wednesday, June 7th at the site of Toronto's NOW Magazine, and the winner will be announced at the ceremony on June 26h. The deadline to vote is Sunday, June 18.
The Dora Awards, hosted by David Gale, will be presented at the Winter Garden Theatre on Monday, June 26th at 8pm, and tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster (416-872-5555 or Ticketmaster).
