Performance Alumni Win at 2023 Dora Awards
The annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards celebrate excellence on Toronto stages and are the oldest and largest professional theatre, dance and opera awards program in Canada. Founded in 1979, with the first ceremony occurring in 1981, the Dora’s recently marked a 40 year anniversary. The Dora Awards evolve constantly, adjusting and adapting to changes in the broader performing arts industry and the needs of the TAPA membership. There are currently 46 award categories across 7 distinct “divisions."
Performance at The Creative School is proud to have such a vibrant community of alumni who are well distinguished in their achievements across the Toronto performing arts scene. On Tuesday June 27th, Performance staff and faculty attended the awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of all nominees. At the end of the night, Performance alum across Acting, Dance, and Production recieved 10 awards, as well as numerous additional accolades through the hard work of casts, crews and creative teams on various winning productions.
Performance Alumni 2023 Dora Award Winners
GENERAL THEATRE
Outstanding New Play
Kanika Ambrose (acting) — our place, Cahoots Theatre and Theatre Passe Muraille
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role
Dan Mousseau (acting) — PRODIGAL, The Howland Company in association with Crow’s Theatre
INDEPENDENT THEATRE
Outstanding Performance by an Individual
Haley McGee (acting) — The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale, Soulpepper Theatre in association with Outside the March and Red Light District
Outstanding Scenic / Projection Design
Echo Zhou (production) - Scenic Design: Between a Wok and a Hot Pot
MUSICAL THEATRE
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
Frank Cox-O’Connell, Beau Dixon, Hailey Gillis, Marni Jackson, Raha Javanfar (production), and Andrew Penner (acting) — The Shape of Home, County Stage Company (billed as Festival Players; presented by Crow’s Theatre)
Outstanding Musical Direction
Frank Cox-O’Connell, Beau Dixon, Hailey Gillis, Raha Javanfar (production), Andrew Penner (acting) - The Shape of Home, County Stage Company (billed as Festival Players; presented by Crow’s Theatre)
THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Outstanding New Play
Morgan Brie Johnson and Alexandra Simpson (acting) — Finding Home: A Salmon Journey up the Humber River, Animacy Theatre Collective and Theatre Direct (presented by Theatre Direct)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
Gugun Deep Singh, Suzanne Roberts Smith, Andrea Massoud (acting), Jamar Adams-Thompson, Deivan Steele (acting), and Arielle Zamora — Romeo and Juliet. And Action, Shakespeare in Action
DANCE
Outstanding Original Choreography
Alyssa Martin (dance) - Sex Dalmation
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
Drew Berry (dance), Brayden Jamil Cairns (dance), Sam Grist (dance), Pony Nicole Herauf (acting), Natasha Poon Woo, Morgyn Aronyk-Schell , Steph Harkness, Eliajah Stefura (production) - Sex Dalmation