News: (Toronto) Dora Award Nominations (Full LIst)

Big winner in noms: Arigato, Tokyo

Daniel MacIvor, Tyson James photo: Tanja-Tiziana

Dora Strong on Buddies, Roseneath, COC, Tarragon
by Beat Rice

Today the nominees for the 34th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards were announced by TAPA, The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts. This year there are 13 new categories bringing the total number of awards to 48.

There are six Divisions: General Theatre, Independent Theatre, Dance, Musical Theatre, Opera, (some award categories for these two are combined) and Theatre for Young Audiences. There is also an Award for Outstanding Touring Production, which crosses the Divisions.

Highlights include 15 nominations for Buddies in Bad Times Theatre for their productions of Obaaberima and Arigato, Tokyo, the Tarragon Theatre with 13 nominations, Roseneath Theatre with 8 nominations in the Theatre for Young Audiences Division, and for individual designers, several with more than one nomination for Outstanding Design in more than one division. It is clear that Toronto has some seriously talented designers.

Among the names of the people who have been around and been nominated previously are young emerging artists. It is wonderful that the jury recognize their talent and contribution to the arts.

In a Word... Ed Roy on directing the Doras Gala

The Man Dora Chose
by Gaëtan L. Charlebois

Ed Roy's various activities as a theatre practitioner include directing, writing, dramaturgy, acting, teaching, lecturing and producing. During his 25-year career, he has participated in the creation of over 80 theatre productions. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and nominations including the Pauline McGibbon Award for Directing, Dora Award for Outstanding Direction (Including five Dora nominations for Outstanding Direction), two Dora Awards for Outstanding Production (including four Dora nominations for Outstanding Production), and the Chalmers Play Writing Award (including two nominations).  As an actor, Mr. Roy was nominated for a Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in VideoCabaret's The Life and Times of Mackenzie King. His is also the proud recipient of Toronto's Harold Award (independent alternative to the Dora Awards). His productions have toured extensively throughout Canada and internationally; New York City, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Great Britain, Wales, Paris (France), Haarlem, Amsterdam, and Tokyo (Japan national tour). Presently, he is developing several new shows including his one-man performance lecture The History of the World, Bully in the Ballroom (a dance/theatre piece) and Blood and Chicken Wings a Rock-a-Billy Musical. 

CHARPO: When did you first get the call to do the Gala and how fast did you have to be all over it?

ROY: If memory serves me I believe I was contacted by Jacoba Knaapen [the Producer of the Doras and TAPA's Executive Director] in Sept./Oct.2012 and offered the opportunity to direct the Gala. By December 2012 we were discussing how the Gala had worked in the past, what Jacoba's expectations were and what my responsibilities entailed as basically creative and show director.