Who Will Win the Dora Tonight?

The Dora Mavor Moore Awards are being given out tonight, and I am curious to find out who will win in the various categories: General Theatre, Independent Theatre, Dance, Opera, Theatre for Young People. I was very pleased, when the nominees were announced, to see that some of the nominees (see those below in blue) had been guests on my show. Hope you had a chance to hear those interviews. 

Have you seen any of these shows? Your favourite play not listed? Please feel free to share your feedback by leaving a comment.


2010 DORA NOMINEES ARE: 

GENERAL THEATRE PRODUCTION DIVISION
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
Parfumerie -Soulpepper Theatre Company
If We Were Birds - Tarragon Theatre in association with Groundwater Productions
Hamlet - Produced by Necessary Angel / Presented by Harbourfront Centre's World Stage
Courageous - Tarragon Theatre in co-production with Citadel Theatre
7 Stories - The Canadian Stage Company in co-production with Theatre Calgary

OUTSTANDING TOURING PRODUCTION
The Walworth Farce - Harbourfront Centre's World Stage presents Druid Theatre
Company
The Drowning Girls - Tarragon Theatre presents Bent Out of Shape Productions
Once and for all we're gonna tell you who we are so shut up - Harbourfront Centre's World Stage presents Ontroerend Goed, Kopergietery & Richard Jordan Productions Ltd
Nevermore - Luminato presents Catalyst Theatre
Lipsynch - Luminato presents Ex Machina

OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY
Michael Healey - Courageous
Judith Thompson - Such Creatures
Erin Shields - If We Were Birds
Carmen Aguirre - Refugee Hotel
Anusree - Roy Letters to my Grandma

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY / MUSICAL
Richard Rose - Courageous
Morris Panych - Parfumerie
Graham McLaren - Hamlet
Alan Dilworth - If We Were Birds
Adam Brazier - Assassins

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE
Pierre Simpson - Les Médecins de Molière
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee - The Monster Under the Bed
Oliver Dennis - Parfumerie
Eric Peterson - Billy Bishop Goes to War
Diego Matamoros - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE
Tara Rosling - If We Were Birds
Tara Nicodemo - Hamlet
Michaela Washburn - Such Creatures
Laura de Carteret - Hamlet
Anusree Roy - Letters to my Grandma

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A FEATURED ROLE / ENSEMBLE
The Ensemble - Oh What a Lovely War
The Ensemble - Second City for Mayor
Maurice Dean Wint - Courageous
Eric Peterson - Of the Fields, Lately
Eric Peterson - Hamlet

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SET DESIGN
Leslie Travers - The Children's Crusade
Ken MacDonald - Parfumerie
Carl Fillion The Nightingale and Other Short Fables
Camellia Koo - Billy Bishop Goes to War
Allen Moyer - The Flying Dutchman

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL COSTUME DESIGN
Martha Mann - The Marriage of Figaro
Mara Gottler - The Nightingale and Other Short Fables
Judith Bowden - The Guardsman
Allen Moyer - The Flying Dutchman
A-Kuan & Yi Chun - Monkey King

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL LIGHTING DESIGN
Trevor Schwellnus - Hush
Lorenzo Savoini - Antigone
Kimberly Purtell - This is What Happens Next
Anne Militello - The Flying Dutchman
Andrea Lundy - Hamlet

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SOUND DESIGN/COMPOSITION
Gavin Bradley and DJ O-nonymous - Secrets of a Black Boy
Romeo Candido - The Monster Under the Bed
Ted Dykstra / John Gray - Billy Bishop Goes to War
Thomas Ryder - Payne If We Were Birds

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY
Wendy Seyb - The Toxic Avenger Musical
Tim French - Altar Boyz
Kelley Devine - Rock of Ages
Jonathon Feng Han; Alyssa Xiaoli Wang; Chen Jiao; Wen Qiqi - Monkey King
Candace Jennings - Oh What a Lovely War

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION
Marek Norman - Oh What a Lovely War
Johannes Debus - The Flying Dutchman
Gregory Oh - Giiwedin
David Fallis - The Marriage of Figaro
Anthony Walker - Maria Stuarda

MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION DIVISION
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
The Toxic Avenger Musical - Dancap Productions Inc.
The Light in the Piazza - Acting Up Stage Company
Mimi - Tarragon Theatre
Assassins - BirdLand Theatre and Talk is Free Theatre
Altar Boyz - Angelwalk Theatre

OUTSTANDING NEW MUSICAL / OPERA
R Murray Schaefer - The Children's Crusade
Leslie Arden - The Princess & the Handmaiden
Chris Earle - Robin Hood, The Environmental Family Musical
Catherine Magowan & Spy Dénommé-Welch - Giiwedin
Allen Cole, Melody A Johnson, Rick Roberts - Mimi

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE
Paul McQuillan - Assassins
Jeigh Madjus - Altar Boyz
Jeff Lillico - The Light in the Piazza
Evan Smith - The Toxic Avenger Musical
Daren A Herbert - The Toxic Avenger Musical

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE
Trish Lindström - Assassins
Trish Lindström - Mimi
Patty Jamieson - The Light in the Piazza
Louise Pitre - The Toxic Avenger Musical
Jacquelyn French - The Light in the Piazza

OPERA DIVISION
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
The Nightingale and Other Short Fables - Canadian Opera Company/Festival d'Aix-en-Provence/Opéra national de Lyon in collaboration with Ex Machina
The Marriage of Figaro - Opera Atelier
The Flying Dutchman - Canadian Opera Company
The Children's Crusade - Luminato in association with Soundstreams Canada
Maria Stuarda - Canadian Opera Company

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Serena Farnocchia - Maria Stuarda
Julie Makerov - The Flying Dutchman
Evgeny Nikitin - The Flying Dutchman
Carla Huhtanen - The Marriage of Figaro
Alexandrina Pendatchanska - Maria Stuarda

INDEPENDENT THEATRE PRODUCTION DIVISION
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
The Turn of the Screw - DVxT Theatre
The Mill - Theatrefront in association with the Young Centre for the Performing Arts
Spent - Theatre Smith-Gilmour, Why Not Theatre and Theatre Run
Goodness - Volcano
Blind Date - Produced by Rebecca Northan, in association with Harbourfront Centre

OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY OR NEW MUSICAL
Norman Yeung - Pu-Erh
Michele Smith, Dean Gilmour,Ravi Jain and Adam Paolozza - Spent
Hannah Moscovitch - The Mill (Part Two): The Huron Bride
Donna-Michelle St. Bernard - Gas Girls
Beatriz Pizano - La Comuniòn

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION
Vikki Anderson - The Turn of the Screw
Ross Manson - Goodness
Nina Lee Aquino - The Making of St. Jerome
Keira Loughran - Pu-Erh
Christian Barry - The Mill (Part Two): The Huron Bride

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE
John Ng - Pu-Erh
Jamie Robinson - Gas Girls
Gord Rand - Goodness
Clinton Walker The Turn of the Screw
Byron Abalos - The Making of St. Jerome

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE
Tanja Jacobs - Happy Days
Rebecca Northan - Blind Date
Nawa Nicole Simon - Gas Girls
Ginette Mohr - The Belle of Winnipeg
Christine Horne - The Turn of the Screw

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A FEATURED ROLE /ENSEMBLE
The Ensemble - Spent
The Ensemble - The Dining Room
The Ensemble - 9 Parts of Desire
Michael Kash - Where's My Money
Mary Francis Moore - The Catering Queen

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SET DESIGN
Trevor Schwellnus - La Comuniòn
Lindsay Anne Black - Birnam Wood
Jackie Chau - Gas Girls
Jackie Chau - The Making of St. Jerome
Gillian Gallow - The Mill

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL COSTUME DESIGN
Nadine Grant - The Turn of the Screw
Michelle Bailey - The Red Queen Effect
Lorie Brown - The Belle of Winnipeg
Dana Osborne - The Mill
Andjelija Djuric - La Comuniòn

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL LIGHTING DESIGN
Trevor Schwellnus - La Comuniòn
Arun Srinivasan - Pu-Erh
Andy Moro - Reconciliation
Andrea Lundy - The Mill
Andrea Lundy - Aurash

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SOUND DESIGN / COMPOSITION
Thomas Ryder Payne - La Comuniòn
Richard Feren - The Mill
Richard Feren - Aurash
David Atkinson - The Belle of Winnipeg
Brenna MacCrimmon / John Gzowski - Goodness

THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES DIVISION
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
Twelfth Night - The Classical Theatre Project
There's a Mouse in my House - Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People presents
Carousel Players
Rocket and the Queen of Dreams - Roseneath Theatre
In This World - Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People presents Youtheatre
Five - Theatre Direct in Partnership with Theatre Hullaballoo

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
The Ensemble - Five
The Ensemble - Twelfth Night
The Ensemble - Rocket and the Queen of Dreams
Natasha Greenblatt - Get Yourself Home Skyler James
Janick Hebert - A Midsummer Night's Dream

DANCE DIVISION
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
To Be Straight with You - Harbourfront Centre's World Stage
this time - Factory Theatre presents an adelheid production
Shoot the Moon/Wings of Wax/The Second Person - Luminato presents Nederlands Dans Theater
Giselle - Harbourfront Centre's World Stage
El 12 - DanceWorks

OUTSTANDING NEW CHOREOGRAPHY
Sharon Moore - Facts of Influence: Bliss
Robert Glumbek, Kevin O'day and Luches Huddleston Jr. - Full Bloom
Natasha Bakht - Dafeena
James Kudelka - Dances in a Small Room: Half an Hour of Our Time
Heidi Strauss - this time

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Tyler Gledhill PARIS 1994/GALLERY
Danielle Baskerville - PARIS 1994/GALLERY
Dan Wild - Shudder
Brendan Wyatt - this time
Andrea Nann - Tumbling Dice Uncollected Dances by Andrea Nann and Friends

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SOUND DESIGN/COMPOSITION
Richard Sacks in collaboration with Red Sky musicians: Tuvshinjargal Damdinjav, Bat-Orshikh Bazarvaani,Batmend Baasankhuu, Eddy Robinson, Theo McGregor - Tono
Nilan Perera - Shudder
Nicolás Hernández, José Valle - LORCA, In Search of Duende
Gilles Goyette - PARIS 1994/GALLERY
Alexander MacSween - Dafeena

Nomination list courtesy of: www.tapa.ca/doras/

Don't Just Stand There! Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival

There are 150 plays/performances in this year's Fringe Festival, and I think I got an email from all of them. With a one-hour radio show, I can only accommodate a few people, so I went through my emails and comprised a guest list from those who had contacted me way back in May. My guest list criteria also included chosing a variety of perfomances that had that indie, take-a-chance-on-me creative energy that I love about the Fringe.

Each of my guests had 5 minutes to "sell" their shows, and I must say that I think I chose well. Everybody brought their I-want-you-to-see-my-show excitement to the table, and I had a wonderful time engaging with actress Meghan Tuck ("Jill" in Fairy Tale Ending), Claire Frances Muir (co-writer, puppeteer, Kissing Swinburne), Sarah Thorpe (director, Love is a Poverty You Can Sell), Linette Doherty (director/choreographer, METRO), Ashley Botting (actress, Pick of the Fringe), Elise Newman (writer/director, Raven for a Lark), and Marko Pandza (actor/singer, The Silent City). They also had a great time meeting each other. Tanisha Tait, joined me by telephone during her break between directing The Whores and dashing off to direct Maurice Carter's Innocence (what a woman!).

As the motto for the Fringe says, "Don't Just Stand There...See Some Theatre!"

Fairy Tale Ending
Music and Lyrics by Kieren MacMillan & Jeremy Hutton
Book by Jeremy Hutton
(www.fairytaleending.ca)
presented by Roll Your Own Theatre from Toronto


Join Jill as a “line up” of characters is questioned about the sudden changes occurring in their fairy tales. A topsy-turvy yet touching tale of a young girl coming to grips with loss and the reality of growing up. With catchy songs like “I, like, totally don’t even give a care” and “You don’t know Jack”.

Director: Jeremy Hutton
Choreographer: Ashleigh Powell
Music Director: Kieren MacMillan
Genre: Musical
Audience: Family Entertainment
Warning: Adults will enjoy!
Venue: Palmerston Library Theatre

60 min.
Fri, July 2 4:45 PM
Sat, July 3 4:15 PM
Sun, July 4 2:00 PM
Mon, July 5 11:00 AM
Wed, July 7 2:30 PM
Thu, July 8 5:30 PM
Fri, July 9 11:00 AM
Sat, July10 3:45 PM


For the line up of all 7 family friendly plays click: Fringe Kids


Kissing Swinburne
by Mark Huisman and Claire Frances Muir
(www.kissingswinburne.com)
presented by Lady Trevelyan’s Circle from Toronto

Mark Huisman as Ethel and the mask was created and built by Karen Rodd. Photographer: Claire Frances Muir.

Puppets, live action, masks and multimedia transport you into the imagined, sadomasochistic world of Victorian poet Algernon Swinburne and his love-struck companion Theodore Watts. To win Swinburne’s love, Theo must compete with a lusty first cousin, the school mistress - who paddles with enthusiasm, a preacher who wants a nibble, and an array of lascivious puppets!

Director: David Talbot
Cast: Mark Huisman, Mary Krohnert, Claire Frances Muir
Genre: Multi-Media
Audience: Mature Audience
Warning: Content
Venue 22 Bread & Circus- BYOV

65 min.
Wed, June 30 6:45 PM
Fri, July 2 8:30 PM
Sat, July 3 6:45 PM
Sun, July 4 5:00 PM
Mon, July 5 8:30 PM
Tue, July 6 5:00 PM
Wed, July 7 5:00 PM
Thu, July 8 8:30 PM
Fri, July 9 6:45 PM
Sat, July 10 5:00 PM
Sun, July 11 8:30 PM

Love is a Poverty You Can Sell
Original Material written by Justin Haigh.
Featuring the Music of Kurt Weill and others.
(www.soupcantheatre.com)
presented by Soup Can Theatre from Toronto

Enter the world of a 1920s Berlin cabaret and enjoy a night of song, story, and sin. This special theatrical tribute to the music and musical legacy of legendary composer Kurt Weill features a cast of only the finest bohemian riff-raff backed by a ten piece orchestra.
“Delightful ... Hilarious” - Ontario Arts Review,
“Fantastic ... Crowd-pleasing” - Mondo Magazine,
“Wonderful” - Tapeworthy

Director: Sarah Thorpe
Genre: Musical Cabaret
Audience: Mature Audience
Warning: Hedonism, Tomfoolery, Indulgently Floral Language
Venue 22 Bread & Circus- BYOV

90 min.
Wed, June 30 10:15 PM
Thu, July 1 10:15 PM
Fri, July 2 10:15 PM
Sat, July 3 10:15 PM
Sun, July 4 2:30 PM
Mon, July 5 10:15 PM
Wed, July 7 10:15 PM
Thu, July 8 10:15 PM
Fri, July 9 10:15 PM
Sat, July 10 10:15 PM
Sun, July 11 2:30 PM

Maurice Carter's Innocence
by Donald Molnar & Alicia Payne
(www.arbezdrama.com)
presented by Arbez Drama Projects from Toronto

A gospel choir helps tell the story of the enduring friendship between Doug Tjapkes and Maurice Carter, a man who spent 29 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Maurice is Black. Doug is White. While fighting for Maurice’s freedom, the two men became brothers. Based on a true story.

Genre: Play-Drama
Audience: General Audience
Warning: Gunshots
Venue 19 Trinity St. Paul United Church - Sanctuary - BYOV

90 min.
Fri, July 2 7:45 PM
Sat, July 3 7:45 PM
Sun, July 4 2:45 PM
Mon, July 5 7:45 PM
Tue, July 6 7:45 PM
Wed, July 7 7:45 PM
Thu, July 8 7:45 PM
Fri, July 9 7:45 PM
Sat, July 10 7:45 PM
Sun, July 11 2:45 PM


METRO
Created by Linette Doherty
(www.metrothedanceshow.ca)
presented by Maya and Jackson from Toronto


A hilarious look at public transportation in the big city. From breakdancing cops to bored office drones, the subway is where the city comes together; our joys, loves, fears, and frustrations become shared collective experiences. With a cast of zany characters blending hard hitting street styles and haunting contemporary works, Linette Doherty creates dance that’s accessible, technically innovative, and unique.

Director: Linette Doherty
Choreographer: Linette Doherty
Cast: Linette Doherty, Ashley Brodeur, and Gary Lucich
Genre: Dance
Audience: General Audience
Venue 4 Bathurst Street Theatre

60 min.
Fri, July 2 7:00 PM
Sun, July 4 3:30 PM
Mon, July 5 10:30 PM
Wed, July 7 1:45 PM
Thu, July 8 9:15 PM
Sat, July 10 2:15 PM
Sun, July 11 5:15 PM

Pick of the Fringe!
Created and Performed by Karen Parker, Leslie Seiler, Ashley Botting
presented by Punch In the Box Productions from Toronto

Photo: Wade Vroom

All the single ladies, all the married ladies, all the guys who love ladies, all the bearded ladies…this is The Fringe show for you. Three Second City alumnae bring you a comedy revue about men, women and whatever “Chaz” Bono is. The title may be cocky, but this show contains no cocks. It does, however, have a ton of balls.

Director: Paul Constable
Cast: Karen Parker, Leslie Seiler, Ashley Botting
Genre: Sketch
Audience: General Audience
Warning: Language, mature content
Venue 13 Factory Studio Theatre

60 min.
Fri, July 2 5:30 PM
Sat, July 3 12:15 PM
Sun, July 4 9:15 PM
Tue, July 6 6:45 PM
Wed, July 7 8:00 PM
Fri, July 9 11:15 PM
Sat, July 10 1:45 PM

Raven for a Lark
by Elise Newman
(www.wix.com/quoiquoi/quoi)
presented by quoi quoi quoi from Toronto

Photo: Elise Newman

Two actors get sucked into the twisted world of Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare’s bloodiest tragedy. Originally staged at SummerWorks, this darkly funny play was a hit at the Ottawa Fringe. “Devilishly creepy… a must-see” (Ottawa Citizen)

Cast: Adam Bradley, Shelley Liebembuk
Genre: Play-Drama
Audience: General Audience
Warning: Content
Venue 3 Royal St. George's Auditorium

45 min.
Fri, July 2 9:15 PM
Sat, July 3 4:00 PM
Sun, July 4 5:45 PM
Tue, July 6 1:00 PM
Wed, July 7 11:15 PM
Fri, July 9 9:45 PM
Sun, July 11 2:45 PM

The Silent City
by Stagehands
(www.stagehandsmusic.com)
presented by Stagehands from Toronto

Photo: Ashlea Wessel at Revolver Photography

“Bombastic Broadway Rock” raves NOW Magazine! Toronto’s own musical-theatre rock band, Stagehands, brings Fringers a high-energy, all-original rock opera performed and acted the group. Follow the tale of an artist struggling to get heard in a city where nothing is as it seems... Warning: tunes so catchy, you won’t be able to get ‘em out of your head!

Director: Evan Tsitsias
Choreographer: Stephen Low
Cast: Justine Moritz, Marko Pandza, Nemanja Protic, Geoff Stevens, David Yenovkian and Mackenzie Zufelt
Genre: Musical
Audience: General Audience
Venue 22 Bread & Circus- BYOV

60 min.
Wed, June 30 8:30 PM
Thu, July 1 6:45 PM
Fri, July 2 5:00 PM
Sat, July 3 8:30 PM
Sun, July 4 6:45 PM
Mon, July 5 6:45 PM
Wed, July 7 6:45 PM
Thu, July 8 5:00 PM
Fri, July 9 8:30 PM
Sat, July 10 6:45 PM
Sun, July 11 5:00 PM


The Whores
by Charles Crosby
(www.thewhores.ca)
presented by FishStick Productions from Toronto

Derived from interviews conducted with Halifax-area prostitutes, the play looks at the business through the eyes of five women; Carnie, Cherry, Lori, Sam and Mary; from different backgrounds with alternate outlooks and stories to share.

Director: Tanisha Taitt
Cast: Clare Blackwood, Hayley Fisher, Sarah Illiatovitch- Goldman, Jennifer Kenneally, Joanne Williams
Genre: Play-Drama
Audience: Mature Audience
Warning: Content, Language, Nudity, Gunshots
Venue 7 George Ignatieff Theatre

75 min.
Wed, June 30 10:30 PM
Sat, July 3 5:15 PM
Mon, July 5 8:00 PM
Tue, July 6 3:00 PM
Thu, July 8 Noon
Fri, July 9 8:45 PM
Sat, July 10 4:00 PM

ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE STARTING JUNE 15
• Online at http://www.fringetoronto.com/
• By Phone at 416-966-1062 or 1-866-515-7799
• In person (June 30 – July 11 only) at The Randolph Centre for the Arts, 736 Bathurst Street

Advance tickets are $11 ($10+$1 convenience fee), and $5 for FringeKids (no convenience fee for kids tickets).

FRINGE PASSES ON SALE NOW
If you plan on seeing at least five shows, invest in a Fringe Pass to save money.

5 Play Pass — $40
Good for 5 “at-the-door” tickets. Maximum one ticket per play/pass. Non-transferable.

Frequent Fringer Pass — $70
Good for 10 “at-the-door” tickets. Maximum one ticket per play/pass. Non-transferable.

Buddy Pass — $90
Good for 14 “at-the-door” tickets. Maximum two tickets per play/pass. This pass can be used by two patrons.

There are no refunds for any unused portion of a pass.
ID may be requested when using a Fringe Pass.


Source Material: http://www.fringetoronto.com/

5-MINUTE FRINGE! on TmTm

Tune it to TmTm on Saturday, June 19th from 1-2pm to hear participants of the Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival tell you why you should go see their plays/performances!

Each guest will have 5 minutes to "sell" their show, so if you haven't planned your Fringe schedule yet or you have never been to the Fringe, this is the show for you.

The Fringe
Toronto's Theatre Festival
June 30th - July 10th (All Tickets $10)