TAPA Announces The 2014 Dora Award Nominees

At a press conference held June 2 in the lobby of the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) announced 238 nominations for 222 eligible productions for the 35th Anniversary Dora Mavor Moore Awards, which honour excellence in the performing arts in Toronto.

For the 2013-2014 season, 143 producing companies (up 41 from last season's 102) registered eligible productions. A total of 48 Dora Awards, plus the Silver Ticket Award and the Audience Choice Award, will be given out in a glittering ceremony hosted by Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus, founding Co-Artistic Directors of the three-time Canadian Comedy Award-winning The National Theatre of the World, on Monday, June 23 at Harbourfront Centre's WestJet Stage, the first time ever the event will be held there.

In the General Theatre Division, Tarragon Theatre leads with 16 nominations, with an additional 3 nods in the Musical Theatre Division bringing Tarragon's total to 19. Tarragon's The Double earns 5 while Lungs garners 4 (both including Outstanding Production and Outstanding Direction) as does its A God in Need of Help (including Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Direction). Soulpepper Theatre follows closely with 14 nominations in the General Theatre Division plus 2 in Musical Theatre for a total of 16. Its Of Human Bondage nabs 9 taps including Outstanding Production, Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Direction.

In the Independent Theatre Division, 3 companies and their productions tie for the lead with 5 nominations each: Outside the March's Vitals (including Outstanding Production, Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Direction), UnSpun Theatre's The Tin Drum: an original adaptation of the novel by Günter Grass (including Outstanding Direction) and VideoCabaret's Trudeau and the FLQ (including Outstanding Production and Outstanding Direction). Ahuri Theatre's Ralph + Lina and Suburban Beast's All Our Happy Days Are Stupid follow closely with 4 hits each, with both up for Outstanding Production.

In the Musical Theatre Division, Les Miserables (producers Cameron Mackintosh, NETworks and David Mirvish) and London Road (a Canadian Stage production) each nab 11 nods, including Outstanding Production, Outstanding Direction and all acting categories for both. (Canadian Stage also earns another 1 for Outstanding Touring Production, 5 in the General Theatre Division, and 1 in the Dance Division to bring its total to 18 nods).

In the Opera Division, Canadian Opera Company (COC) productions lead overall with a total of 13 nominations as well as another 3 in categories shared with the Musical Theatre Division, making for a total of 16 nods. The COC's Roberto Devereux (the Dallas Opera production) earns 6 nods in total, including Outstanding Production. Opera Atelier follows with 5 nods in the Opera Division and another 6 in categories shared with Musical Theatre for a total of 11 nods, of which Persée garners 8 (including Outstanding Production).

In the Dance Division, DanceWorks earns top spot with 12 nods in total, 10 of which went to the with a trace program (5 for WOULD, 3 for Gotta Go Church and 2 for Brahms Waltzes). Harbourfront Centre's World Stage and princess productions follow with 5 taps each. The Theatre for Young Audiences Division sees Young People's Theatre (YPT) take the lead with 13 nods with 7 for Sultans of the Street. (YPT also earns 3 taps in the Musical Theatre Division for a total of 16). Theatre Direct Canada's Old Man and the River follows with 5 knocks.Of note, Camellia Koo is up for 4 awards - 3 of which where she competes against herself for Outstanding Scenic

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD:
TAPA's Audience Choice Award is co-sponsored once again this year by NOW Magazine and Yonge-Dundas
Square. The public is invited to choose a winner and vote for their favourite show from the list of nominees for
Outstanding Production or they can choose their own! Theatre, dance and opera fans can cast their votes online at
www.nowtoronto.com/doras from Thursday, June 5, 2014 until 12:00 midnight Wednesday, June 18, 2014. The
winner will be announced at the Dora Awards show ceremony and will receive a special plaque from NOW
Magazine.

Click here to download the list of all the nominees for the 2014 Dora Awards.