THEATRE NEWS: Fest Director to receive doctorate; Dora Award nominations announced
7 JUN/11

JOHN COULBOURN - QMI Agency

TORONTO - The theatre world has long been accustomed to script doctors in their midst, but at the Stratford Festival, they're going to have to start getting used to the idea of director doctors.


Seems the festival's artistic director, Des McAnuff, who recently extended his contract for a further two years, is about to be bestowed with an honourary doctorate of letters from Ryerson University. Dr. Des will receive a  sheepskin recognizing his contribution to Canadian theatre and the arts community  on June 13, at 9:30 a.m. at the Ryerson Theatre.

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Judging from nominations announced Tuesday, the 32nd annual presentation of the Dora Awards will feature more than a few horse races, as Toronto’s performing-arts community honours the best in local theatre, dance and opera.

In a world where he who has the most toys wins, one of the biggest contests when the Doras are handed out June 27 at the St. Lawrence Centre will no doubt be between Soulpepper (which leads all production companies in the General Theatre category with 10 nominations, for seven shows) and the Canadian Opera Company (which leads the pack in the Opera category with eight nominations for five shows).

As for individual productions, the stiffest competition is likely to be between Buddies in Bad Times’ controversial production of BLASTED — up for seven Doras, including best actor (David Ferry), best actress (Michelle Monteith) and best direction (Brendan Healy) — and Factory Theatre’s production of BROTHEL #9, which also scored seven noms, including best new play, best actress (Anusree Roy) and best director (Nigel Shawn Williams).

Mirvish Productions dominates the nominations in the Musical Theatre division, with five nominations. Three are for PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT and two for BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, including a nod for local girl Kate Hennig.

Dancap Productions scored two noms, one for SOUTH PACIFIC as best touring production and a best actress (musical) nod for Ma-Anne Dionisio for her performance in MISS SAIGON.

Mirvish also scored in the General Theatre division, earning three nominations for THE RAILWAY CHILDREN, including best production.

In the smaller independent theatre category, Cahoots Theatre Company seems to be the unquestioned favourite, walking away with seven nominations for 'paper SERIES', produced in association with the Young Centre, plus another two for A TASTE OF EMPIRE. Other strong contenders include Eldritch Theatre's MADHOUSE VARIATIONS with six nominations including best production and best new play, and The Company Theatre's production of THROUGH THE LEAVES, which scored five nods including best actor (Nicholas Campbell), best actress (Maria Vacratsis) and best direction (Philip Riccio).

And while the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People tied with three other companies, each with two nominations apiece, in the theatre for young audiences division, a slew of nominations for A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD - including best musical as well as best actor and actress in a musical (Allen MacInnis and Louise Pitre respectively) - probably has them feeling pretty chuffed.

Ditto for the folks at the National Ballet of Canada, whose breathtaking and explosive production of CHROMA earned four nominations in the dance division, including nods for best production, best choreography (Wayne McGregor) and best performance (ensemble).

In addition to the nominees for 35 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, the Barbara Hamilton Memorial Award for performing excellence and advocacy for the arts was awarded to David Ferry; the Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award for excellence in theatre administration was awarded to Ghislain Caron of Théâtre français de Toronto; and the George Luscombe Award for mentorship in theatre was awarded to Yvette Nolan.

A full list of nominees can be found at: www.tapa.ca/doras/