The 43rd Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards ceremony and award presentation hosted by Craig Lauzon occurred at the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, Koerner Hall, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. The celebration happened at 7:30 PM EST where the recipients of the 46 award categories across 7 Dora Divisions were lauded by their peers. Attendees were entertained by musical guest the Jason Wilson Quartet. The Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award and the Silver Ticket Award recipients were also recognized. The Dora Awards After-Party celebration commenced immediately after the awards ceremony in the Leslie and Anna Dan Galleria of the Koerner Hall lobby.
The Dora Mavor Moore Awards, produced and presented by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), had 228 total nominations and 149 eligible productions registered. This year represents the first full year of fall-to-spring performances since the 2018-2019 season.
Opera Nominees:
OPERA DIVISION
- Macbeth, Canadian Opera Company and Lyric Opera of Chicago, lead the Division with 8 nominations including Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance by an Individual to Matthew Cairns and Quinn Kelsey, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble to The Ensemble of Canadian Opera Company Chorus, Outstanding Musical Direction to Speranza Scappucci, Outstanding Direction to Sir David McVicar, and Outstanding Achievement in Design to each of David Finn (lighting) and John Macfarlane (scenic).
- Bluebeard’s Castle, Against the Grain Theatre, earns 7 nominations including Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance by an Individual to Gerald Finley, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble to The Ensemble of Josee Young, Jamaica Fraser, Alexis Wilson, Bryony Faye Fowler, and Cody Black, Outstanding Musical Direction to Stephen Higgins, Outstanding Direction to Daisy Evans and Outstanding Achievement in Design for Jacob Wiltshire (lighting) and Adrian Linford (scenic).
- The Flying Dutchman, Canadian Opera Company, receives 6 nominations in the Division including Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance by an Individual to Johan Reuter, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble to The Ensemble of Canadian Opera Company Chorus, Outstanding Musical Direction to Johannes Debus and Outstanding Direction to Marilyn Gronsdal, revival director, based on Christopher Alden, original director, Outstanding Achievement in Design to Allen Moyer (scenic).
- Salome, Canadian Opera Company, earns 4 nods including Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance by an Individual to Ambur Braid, Outstanding Musical Direction to Johannes Debus, and Outstanding Direction to Atom Egoyan.
- The Marriage of Figaro, Canadian Opera Company, receives 4 nominations for Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance by an Individual to Andrea Carroll, Outstanding Musical Direction to Harry Bicket, Outstanding Direction to Marcelo Buscaino, revival director, based on Claus Guth, original director.
- Carmen, Canadian Opera Company, taps 2 nods for Outstanding Performance by an Individual to Joyce El-Khoury and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble to The Ensemble of Canadian Opera Company Chorus.
- Of the Sea, Obsidian Theatre Company and Tapestry Opera, in partnership with TOLive, rounds out the Division with 2 taps including Outstanding Performance by an Individual to Suzanne Taffot and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble to The Ensemble of Ineza Mugisha, Cheryl-Ann Lilieth Grant, Karen Weigold, Gavin Hope, Brian McQueen, Joema Frith, Paul Williamson, Justin Welsh and Ruthie Nkut.
Opera Awards:
There is a tie in the Opera Division with Bluebeard’s Castle and Macbeth earning 3 Dora Awards each. Bluebeard’s Castle takes home Outstanding Production while Macbeth wins the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble category
OPERA DIVISION
- Bluebeard’s Castle, Against the Grain Theatre and Macbeth, Canadian Opera Company and Lyric Opera of Chicago, both received 3 Doras.
- Outstanding Production: Bluebeard’s Castle, Against the Grain Theatre
- Outstanding Performance by an Individual: Gerald Finley, Bluebeard’s Castle, Against the Grain Theatre
- Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble: The Ensemble of Canadian Opera Company Chorus, Macbeth, Canadian Opera Company and Lyric Opera of Chicago
- Outstanding Musical Direction: Speranza Scappucci, Macbeth, Canadian Opera Company and Lyric Opera of Chicago
- Outstanding Direction: Daisy Evans, Bluebeard’s Castle, Against the Grain Theatre
- Outstanding Achievement in Design: David Finn (lighting), Macbeth, Canadian Opera Company and Lyric Opera of Chicago
Congratulations to all of our nominated and awarded members!