THEATRE NEWS: Buddies dominates the Doras
28 JUN/11

JOHN COULBOURN - QMI Agency

TORONTO - You could say that Buddies in Bad Times blasted the competition right out of the water at Monday night’s Dora Awards. When the dust cleared after the annual ceremonies honouring the best in Toronto theatre — held this year at the St. Lawrence Centre — Buddies had earned a total of five Dora Awards for its controversial production of Sarah Kane’s BLASTED, an exploration of post- apocalyptic depravity that played Buddies last fall.

In addition to being named best production in the general theatre division, BLASTED also earned best direction for Brendan Healey, best set design for Julie Fox, best lighting for Kimberly Purtell and best sound for Richard Feren.

In the acting categories, however, BLASTED came up short, with Yanna McIntosh being named best actress/play, for her performance in Obsidian Theatre’s RUINED and Joe Ziegler best actor/play for his turn in Soulpepper’s DEATH OF A SALESMAN. Jane Spidell took the Dora for best supporting player/play for her turn in Soulpepper’s DOC.

Anusree Roy’s BROTHEL #9, premièred by Factory Theatre, was named best new play while Ex Machina’s THE ANDERSEN PROJECT, presented by Canadian Stage, was named best touring production.

Meanwhile, even though the Dora for best new musical went to Rufus Wainwight’s opera PRIMA DONNA in its Luminato première, Mirvish Productions dominated on the musical front, scoring a total of four awards: best actor/musical for Tony Sheldon and best costumes for Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner for PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL and best actress/musical for Kate Hennig and best choreography for Peter Darling for BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL. The Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People took the Dora for best production/musical for its staging of A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD.

Also, despite Wainwright’s win for best new musical, the Canadian Opera Company managed to sweep the opera division, taking best production honours for ORFEO ED EURIDICE and best performance for Alan Oke’s memorable turn in DEATH IN VENICE. The COC also earned a Dora in the general theatre division with Harry Bicket taking best musical direction honours for his work on ORFEO ED EURIDICE.

In the smaller independent theatre category, Sky Gilbert’s THE SITUATIONISTS was named best new work, a production which also earned Gavin Crawford best actor honours, while The Company Theatre’s production of THROUGH THE LEAVES, which was named best production, also earned honours for best set design for John Thompson.

Also in the independent division, Nina Lee Aquino was named best director for her work on 'paper SERIES', while Sandy Duarte earned the best actress nod for BLOOD and Christopher Stanton best supporting player for THE NEW ELECTRIC BALLROOM. Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People’s presentation of Concrete Theatre’s ROUTES was named best production in the theatre for young audiences division, while Roberto Campanella and Robert Glumbek took best new choreography for 'Sin BetweenS' in the dance division. Also in dance, 'OUT OF CONTEXT — for Pina' was named best production for its stint at Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage.

In addition to the regular Dora Awards, Michael Hollingsworth, longtime co-artiistic director of VideoCabaret was awarded the silver ticket award and Ben Chaisson the 2011 Pauline McGibbon Award while THE RAILWAY CHILDREN received the audience choice award.

General Theatre Division:
Best New Play-Anusree Roy Brothel #9
Best Production-Blasted Buddies In Bad Times Theatre
Best Direction of a Play/Musical-Brendan Healy Blasted
Best Actor/Play-Joseph Ziegler Death of a Salesman
Best Actress/Play-Yanna McIntosh Ruined
Best Supporting Player/Play-Jane Spidell Doc
Best Set Design-Julie Fox Blasted
Best Costume Design-Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Best Lighting Design-Kimberly Purtell Blasted
Best Sound Design/Composition-Richard Feren Blasted
Best Musical Direction-Harry Bicket Orfeo ed Euridice
Best Choreography-Peter Darling Billy Elliot The Musical
Best Touring Production-The Andersen Project Canadian Stage presents Ex Machina
 
Independent Theatre Division:
Best New Play or New Musical-Sky Gilbert The Situationists
Best Production-Through the Leaves The Company Theatre
Best Direction-Nina Lee Aquino paper SERIES
Best Actor-Gavin Crawford The Situationists
Best Actress-Sandy Duarte Blood
Best Supporting Player-Christopher Stanton The New Electric Ballroom
Best Set Design-John Thompson Through the Leaves
Best Costume Design-Melanie McNeill Madhouse Variations
Best Lighting Design-Trevor Schwellnus Nohayquiensepa (No one knows)
Best Sound Design/Composition-Richard Lee paper SERIES
 
Dance Division:
Best Original Choreography-Roberto Campanella & Robert Glumbek Šin betweenŠ
Best Production-Out of Context - for Pina Harbourfront Centre's World Stage presents Alain Platel/Les Ballets C. de la B.
Best Performance-Juan Ogalla Espejo de Oro/Mirror of Gold
Best Original Sound Design/Composition-Joby Talbot Chroma
 
Theatre for Young Audiences Division:
Best Production-Routes Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People presents Concrete Theatre
Best Performance-John Cleland Edward The "Crazy Man"
 
Musical Theatre Division:
Best New Musical/Opera-Rufus Wainwright Prima Donna
Best Production-A Year With Frog and Toad Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People
Best Actor-Tony Sheldon Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Best Actress-Kate Hennig Billy Elliot The Musical
 
Opera Division:
Best Performance-Alan Oke Death in Venice
Best Production-Orfeo ed Euridice Canadian Opera Company presents Lyric Opera of Chicago