Announcing the 2023 Dora Mavor Moore Award Nominees
The 2022–2023 #theaTO season showcased the first full year of fall-to-spring performances, and the 43rd Dora Mavor Moore Awards are ready to celebrate.
Announced earlier today, the 2023 Dora Award nominations recognize the achievements of more than 140 eligible productions, with a total of 228 nominations across seven divisions. In addition to the nominees for the professional theatre, independent theatre, dance, opera, musical theatre, theatre for young audiences, and touring divisions, the press conference also revealed this year’s recipient of the Province of Ontario’s Pauline McGibbon Award, Samantha McCue.
Named for the celebrated director and teacher, the Dora Mavor Moore Awards salute the outstanding achievements in Toronto’s performing arts industry. The awards are administered by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), and will be announced during an in-person ceremony at the TELUS Centre for Performing and Learning’s Koerner Hall on June 27. The award presentation will be hosted by Craig Lauzon, with musical guests the Jason Wilson Quartet, who will also recognize the recipients of the Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award and the Silver Ticket Award. The ceremony will also include the inaugural presentations of the Christine Karcza Disability Leadership Award, as well as the Ray Ferris Innovation and Sustainability Grant.
Read the full breakdown for the GENERAL THEATRE, INDEPENDENT THEATRE, THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES, and MUSICAL THEATRE divisions below.
GENERAL THEATRE
Outstanding Production
Red Velvet, Crow’s Theatre
Uncle Vanya, Crow’s Theatre
’da Kink in my Hair, TO Live and Soulpepper Theatre
our place, Cahoots Theatre and Theatre Passe Muraille
Maanoma, My Brother, Blue Bird Theatre Collective and Canadian Stage
Outstanding New Play
Kanika Ambrose — our place, Cahoots Theatre and Theatre Passe Muraille
Tawiah M’Carthy and Brad Cook — Maanoma, My Brother, Blue Bird Theatre Collective, and Canadian Stage
Erin Shields — Queen Goneril, Soulpepper Theatre
Anosh Irani — Behind the Moon, Tarragon Theatre
Paolo Santalucia — PRODIGAL, The Howland Company in association with Crow’s Theatre
Outstanding Direction
Cherissa Richards — Red Velvet, Crow’s Theatre
Alisa Palmer — Fall on Your Knees Part Two: The Diary, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Neptune Theatre, and the Grand Theatre
Marie Farsi — Fifteen Dogs, Crow’s Theatre
Philip Akin — Maanoma, My Brother, Blue Bird Theatre Collective and Canadian Stage
Weyni Mengesha — Queen Goneril, Soulpepper Theatre
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role
Allan Louis — Red Velvet, Crow’s Theatre
Bahia Watson — Uncle Vanya, Crow’s Theatre
Sophia Walker — our place, Cahoots Theatre and Theatre Passe Muraille
Virgilia Griffith — our place, Cahoots Theatre and Theatre Passe Muraille
Deborah Hay — Fall on Your Knees Part Two: The Diary, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Neptune Theatre, and the Grand Theatre
Ali Kazmi — Behind the Moon, Tarragon Theatre
Ahmed Moneka — Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Crow’s Theatre and Modern Times Stage Company
Dan Mousseau — PRODIGAL, The Howland Company in association with Crow’s Theatre
Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role
Amelia Sargisson — Red Velvet, Crow’s Theatre
d’bi.young anitafrika — ’da Kink in My Hair, TO Live and Soulpepper
Laura Condlln — Fifteen Dogs, Crow’s Theatre
Stephen Jackman-Torkoff — Fifteen Dogs, Crow’s Theatre
Vanessa Sears — Queen Goneril, Soulpepper Theatre
Sophia Walker — Fairview, Canadian Stage and Obsidian Theatre
Yvonna Addai — Vierge, Factory Theatre
Monique Mojica — My Sister’s Rage, Tarragon Theatre in association with Studio 180 and TO Live
Outstanding Scenic/Projection Design
Julie Fox and Joshua Quinlan (scenic) — Uncle Vanya, Crow’s Theatre
Christine Ting-Huan 挺歡 Urquhart (scenic) — Cockroach, Tarragon Theatre
Jawon Kang (scenic); Frank Donato and Dezmond Arnkvarn (projection) — Redbone Coonhound, An Arts Club Silver Commission as part of a rolling world premiere with Tarragon Theatre and Imago Theatre
Anahita Dehbonehie (scenic) — The Hooves Belonged to the Deer, Tarragon Theatre in association with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design
Rachel Forbes — ’da Kink in My Hair, TO Live and Soulpepper
Rachel Forbes — Fairview, Canadian Stage and Obsidian Theatre
Ronnie Burkett — Little Dickens, Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes (presented by Canadian Stage)
Michelle Bohn — New, Necessary Angel Theatre in association with Canadian Stage and the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
Outstanding Lighting Design
Arun Srinivasan — Red Velvet, Crow’s Theatre
Kimberly Purtell — Uncle Vanya, Crow’s Theatre
Lorenzo Savoini — Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Crow’s Theatre and Modern Times Stage Company
Nick Blais — Things I Know to be True, David Mirvish and The Company Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design/Composition
Thomas Ryder Payne — Red Velvet, Crow’s Theatre
Thomas Ryder Payne — Uncle Vanya, Crow’s Theatre
Thomas Ryder Payne (sound); Corey Butler (music); Corey Butler, Weyni Mengesha and e’Marcus Harper (composition) — ’da Kink in My Hair, TO Live and Soulpepper
Brian Kenny (sound) and Sean Mayese (composition) — Fall on Your Knees Part Two: The Diary, National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage, Neptune Theatre, and the Grand Theatre
Kate DeLorne — Choir Boy, Canadian Stage and Arts Club Theatre Company
INDEPENDENT THEATRE
Outstanding Production
Between a Wok and a Hot Pot, Cahoots Theatre
The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale, Soulpepper Theatre in association with Outside the March and Red Light District
First Métis Man of Odesa, Punctuate! Theatre in association with The Theatre Centre
Love You Wrong Time, Bad Muse Collective (presented by Nightwood Theatre)
Niizh, Native Earth Performing Arts
Outstanding New Play
Haley McGee — The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale, Soulpepper Theatre in association with Outside the March and Red Light District
Matthew MacKenzie and Mariya Khomutova — First Métis Man of Odesa, Punctuate! Theatre in association with The Theatre Centre
Deanna H. Choi and Maddie Bautista with Erin Brubacher — Love You Wrong Time, Bad Muse Collective (presented by Nightwood Theatre)
Hengameh E. Rice — Anahita’s Republic, Bustle and Beast
Curtis Campbell and Daniel Krolik — Gay for Pay with Blake and Clay, Gay for Pay Productions in association with Crow’s Theatre
Outstanding Direction
Esther Jun — Between a Wok and a Hot Pot, Cahoots Theatre
Mitchell Cushman — The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale, Soulpepper Theatre in association with Outside the March and Red Light District
Lianna Makuch — First Métis Man of Odesa, Punctuate! Theatre in association with The Theatre Centre
Desirée Leverenz — Niizh, Native Earth Performing Arts
Marjorie Chan — The Chinese Lady, Studio 180 and fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company in association with Crow’s Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Individual
Amanda Lin — Between a Wok and a Hot Pot, Cahoots Theatre
Haley McGee — The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale, Soulpepper Theatre in association with Outside the March and Red Light District
Mariya Khomutova — First Métis Man of Odesa, Punctuate! Theatre in association with The Theatre Centre
Rosie Simon — The Chinese Lady, Studio 180 and fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company in association with Crow’s Theatre
Adriano Reis — MARTYR, ARC
Daren A. Herbert — Yerma, Coal Mine Theatre
Margo MacDonald — Dressed as People – a Triptych of Uncanny Abduction, Parry Riposte Productions
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
Deanna H. Choi and Maddie Bautista — Love You Wrong Time, Bad Muse Collective (presented by Nightwood Theatre)
PJ Prudat, Kole Durnford, Aren Okemaysim, Theresa Cutknife, and Jason McDonald — Niizh, Native Earth Performing Arts
Nigel “Manc” Wynne, Theo Ryan, Riley Kelk, Zena Lord, Celina Carroll, Megan Wilk, Eli Holliday, Kay Jones, Isabella Cavalheiro-Chin, Arin Klein, Wy Joung Kou, Annanda DeSilva, Gehan Udayanga, and Van Ward — Trace, ReDefine Arts and Theatre Passe Muraille
Kaitlin Race, Jessi Elgood, Daniel Reale, Cooper Bilton, Karen Scora, Atlin Hofer, and Jimi Shlag — Bone Cage, One Four One Collective in association with The Assembly Theatre
Outstanding Scenic/Projection Design
Echo Zhou (scenic) and Emily Jung (projection) — Between a Wok and a Hot Pot, Cahoots Theatre
Anna Reid (scenic) — The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale, Soulpepper Theatre in association with Outside the March and Red Light District
Nancy Anne Perrin (scenic) and Hailey Verbonac (projection) — Niizh, Native Earth Performing Arts
Sim Suzer (scenic) — Anahita’s Republic, Bustle and Beast
Echo Zhou and Jessica Hiemstra (scenic); Claren Grosz (projections) — I love the smell of gasoline, Nightwood Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design
Jung-Hye Kim — The Chinese Lady, Studio 180 and fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company in association with Crow’s Theatre
Helen Yung — Love You Wrong Time, Bad Muse Collective (presented by Nightwood Theatre)
Melanie McNeill — Requiem for a Gumshoe, Eldritch Theatre
Joshua Quinlan — Yerma, Coal Mine Theatre
Gillian Gallow — Beautiful Renegades, Peggy Baker Dance Projects
Outstanding Lighting Design
Echo Zhou — Between a Wok and a Hot Pot, Cahoots Theatre
Lucy Adams — The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale, Soulpepper Theatre in association with Outside the March and Red Light District
Michelle Ramsay — MARTYR, ARC
Gareth Crew — Requiem for a Gumshoe, Eldritch Theatre
André du Toit — Broken Shapes, Broken Shapes Collective and The Theatre Centre
Outstanding Sound Design/Composition
Olivia Wheeler — Between a Wok and a Hot Pot, Cahoots Theatre
Daraba and Aaron Macri — First Métis Man of Odesa, Punctuate! Theatre in association with The Theatre Centre
Deanna H. Choi and Maddia Bautista — Love You Wrong Time, Bad Muse Collective (presented by Nightwood Theatre)
Tristan R. Whiston and Moynan King — Trace, ReDefine Arts and Theatre Passe Muraille
Njo Kong Kie — The Year of the Cello, Music Picnic and Theatre Passe Muraille
MUSICAL THEATRE
Outstanding Production
Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
The Shape of Home, County Stage Company (billed as Festival Players; presented by Crow’s Theatre)
Rock of Ages, More Entertainment Group
Outstanding New Musical
Fiona Sauder (book); Landon Doak and Victor Pokinko (music); Matt Pilipiak (dramaturgy) — Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
Frank Cox-O’Connell, Beau Dixon, Hailey Gillis, Marni Jackson, Raha Javanfar and Andrew Penner — The Shape of Home, County Stage Company (billed as Festival Players; presented by Crow’s Theatre)
Ben Elliott, Fatuma Adar, Suzy Wilde, Rose Napoli, Adam Sakiyama, and Kat Sandler — RETOLD, The Musical Stage Company, Toronto Public Library, and Yonge Street Theatricals
Outstanding Musical Direction
Rachel O’Brien — Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
Frank Cox-O’Connell, Beau Dixon, Hailey Gillis, Marni Jackson, Raha Javanfar, and Andrew Penner — The Shape of Home, County Stage Company (billed as Festival Players; presented by Crow’s Theatre)
Mark Camilleri — Rock of Ages, More Entertainment
Benjamin Kersey — RETOLD, The Musical Stage Company, Toronto Public Library, and Yonge Street Theatricals
Outstanding Direction
Sue Miner, Fiona Sauder, and Matt Pilipiak — Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
Frank Cox-O’Connell — The Shape of Home, County Stage Company (billed as Festival Players; presented by Crow’s Theatre)
JP Gedeon — Rock of Ages, More Entertainment
Kaylee Harwood — RETOLD, The Musical Stage Company, Toronto Public Library, and Yonge Street Theatricals
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role
Tess Benger — Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
Vanessa Sears — Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
AJ Bridel — Rock of Ages, More Entertainment
Jonathan Cullen — Rock of Ages, More Entertainment
Louise Camilleri — Rock of Ages, More Entertainment
Trevor Coll — Rock of Ages, More Entertainment
Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role
Breton Lalama — Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
Fiona Sauder — Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
Landon Doak — Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
Matt Pilipiak — Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
Beau Dixon — The Shape of Home, County Stage Company (billed as Festival Players; presented by Crow’s Theatre)
Hailey Gillis — The Shape of Home, County Stage Company (billed as Festival Players; presented by Crow’s Theatre)
Starr Domingue — RETOLD, The Musical Stage Company, Toronto Public Library, and Yonge Street Theatricals
Tracy Michailidis — RETOLD, The Musical Stage Company, Toronto Public Library, and Yonge Street Theatricals
Outstanding Achievement in Design
Ming Wong (costume) — Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
Logan Raju Cracknell (lighting) — Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
Noah Feaver (lighting) — The Shape of Home, County Stage Company (billed as Festival Players; presented by Crow’s Theatre)
Steve Lucas (scenic) — The Shape of Home, County Stage Company (billed as Festival Players; presented by Crow’s Theatre)
Steáfán Hannigan (sound) — The Shape of Home, County Stage Company (billed as Festival Players; presented by Crow’s Theatre)
Outstanding Original Choreography
Cameron Carver — Alice in Wonderland, Bad Hats Theatre (presented by Soulpepper)
Sean Cheesman — Rock of Ages, More Entertainment
THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Outstanding Production
Bentboy, Young People’s Theatre
The Darkest Dark, Young People’s Theatre
Finding Home: A Salmon Journey up the Humber River, Animacy Theatre Collective and Theatre Direct (presented by Theatre Direct)
Les Zinsipré.e.s : Dix-joncté.e.s, Théâtre français de Toronto
Romeo and Juliet. And Action, Shakespeare in Action
Outstanding New Play
Herbie Barnes — Bentboy, Young People’s Theatre
Jim Millan and Ian MacIntyre — The Darkest Dark, Young People’s Theatre
Morgan Brie Johnson and Alexandra Simpson — Finding Home: A Salmon Journey up the Humber River, Animacy Theatre Collective and Theatre Direct (presented by Theatre Direct)
Anthony Atalian, Alexia Dumouchel, Alexa Laliberté, Clara Stoenescu, Safa Usman, Briana Phillips, and Clara Koella Smirnios — Les Zinsipré.e.s : Dix-joncté.e.s, Théâtre français de Toronto
Juan Jaramillo — Fernando and His Llama, 258Signs Productions (presented by Roseneath Theatre)
Outstanding Direction
Eric Coates — Bentboy, Young People’s Theatre
Jim Millan — The Darkest Dark, Young People’s Theatre
Adam Paolozza (based on the original direction of Rebecca Northan) — Finding Home: A Salmon Journey up the Humber River, Animacy Theatre Collective and Theatre Direct (presented by Theatre Direct)
Constant Bernard — Les Zinsipré.e.s : Dix-joncté.e.s, Théâtre français de Toronto
Svetlana Ozerskaya — The Incredible Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Twisted Dog Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Individual
Dillan Meighan-Chilblow — Bentboy, Young People’s Theatre
Dylan Thomas-Bouchier — Bentboy, Young People’s Theatre
Gregory Katsenelson — The Incredible Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Twisted Dog Theatre
Amanda Cordner — Snow White, Young People’s Theatre
Ken Hall — Snow White, Young People’s Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
PJ Prudat, Ashley Cook, Daniel Yeh, and Brianne Tucker — Bentboy, Young People’s Theatre
Xavier Lopez, Hannah Forest Briand, Aurora Browne, Craig Lauzon, Evelyn Wiebe, and Shaquille Pottinger — The Darkest Dark, Young People’s Theatre
Morgan Brie Johnson and Alexandra Simpson — Finding Home: A Salmon Journey up the Humber River, Animacy Theatre Collective and Theatre Direct (presented by Theatre Direct)
Madeleine Claude, Marie-Helene Fontaine, Hannah Forest-Briand, Alex Harrouch, Olivier Lamarche, and Gloria Mampuya — Les Zinsipré.e.s : Dix-joncté.e.s, Théâtre français de Toronto
Gugun Deep Singh, Suzanne Roberts Smith, Andrea Massoud, Jamar Adams-Thompson, Deivan Steele, and Arielle Zamora — Romeo and Juliet. And Action, Shakespeare in Action
Outstanding Achievement in Design
Danielle Guevara (production) — The Darkest Dark, Young People’s Theatre
Anna Treusch (scenic) — The Darkest Dark, Young People’s Theatre
Anders Azzopardi, Stefan Hegerat, and Sabine Ndalamba (sound) — Finding Home: A Salmon Journey up the Humber River, Animacy Theatre Collective, and Theatre Direct (presented by Theatre Direct)
Glenn Davidson (lighting) — Les Zinsipré.e.s : Dix-joncté.e.s, Théâtre français de Toronto
Alexander Bashaev (projection) — The Incredible Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Twisted Dog Theatre
TOURING DIVISION
Outstanding Touring Production
Are we not drawn onward to a new erA, Ontroerend Goed (presented by Canadian Stage)
Double Murder (Clowns/The Fix), Hofesh Shechter Company (presented by Harbourfront Centre)
Kid Koala: The Storyville Mosquito, Kid Koala (presented by TO Live)
Un, Deux, Trois., Orange Noyée in partnership with le Théâtre français du Centre national des Arts, le Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario, le Théâtre français de Toronto, Duceppe, le Théâtre du Trident, le Théâtre l’Escaouette, le Théâtre populaire d’Acadie, le Théâtre la Seizième, et le Théâtre Cercle Molière (presented in collaboration with Canadian Stage)
The Outstanding Touring Production award will be presented at the VIP reception on June 9, 2023.
DORA MAVOR MOORE ANCILLARY AWARD
The Province of Ontario’s Pauline McGibbon Award
Samantha McCue
Samantha is an Anishinaabekwe and Ned’u’ten theatre professional based in Ottawa. She graduated with a BFA in Theatrical Production from York University in 2017. With a variety of skills in costume design and construction, theatre management and administration, Samantha is passionate about developing the Indigenous theatre community in Canada and beyond.
For a full list of nominees, including in the dance and opera divisions, view the complete press release here.
Jessica Watson
Jessica is a former associate editor at Intermission, as well as a writer, classically-trained actor, and plant enthusiast. Since graduating from LAMDA in the UK with her MA in acting, you can often find her writing screenplays and short plays in the park, writing extensive lists of plant care tips, or working on stage and screen (though she uses a stage name). Jessica freelances with various companies across Canada, but her passion lies in working with theatre artists and enthusiasts.
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