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Tom McCamus in Queer as Folk. Pic from Gothic Phantom's Lair
The Globe and Mail 6/9/07: Tom McCamus

Rock You, Suessical top nominations list
MICHAEL POSNER
June 9, 2007

Two musicals, We Will Rock You and Seussical, were the big winners yesterday, grabbing eight citations apiece as the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts announced the Dora Mavor Moore Awards nominations for the 2006-2007 season.

Over all, plays mounted by CanStage received 17 nods, more than any other company in the general theatre category. In the independent division, fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company's Singkil led the way with seven nominations, followed closely by Volcano/Crooked Figure Dances' The Four Horsemen Project with six. The Canadian Opera Company received eight nominations in the opera category, and another six in the general division for a total of 14.

Produced by the Mirvish organization, We Will Rock You yielded nominations for outstanding production, direction (Ben Elton), performances by both male and female in a principal role (Yvan Pedneault and Erica Peck), costume design (Tim Goodchild), sound design (Bobby Aitken), musical direction (Rick Fox) and choreography (Arlene Phillips). Seana McKenna earned another nomination for the Mirvishes, for her leading role in Orpheus Descending, co-produced with the Manitoba Theatre Centre.

CanStage's 17 nominations were for five shows - Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show (in co-production with The Manitoba Theatre Centre), five nominations); Of Mice and Men (four); The Overcoat (three); The Story of My Life (three); and Lucy (two).

The eight nominations for Seussical, mounted at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, include outstanding production of a musical, direction (Allen MacInnis), lead male and female roles (Corrine Koslo and George Masswohl), set design (Michael Gianfrancesco), costume design (Phillip Clarkson), musical direction (Elizabeth Baird) and choreography (Nicola Pantin). Another Kimsa production, i think i can, earned five nominations.

Tarragon Theatre received eight nominations, including four for Scorched (co-produced with the National Arts Centre) and two for John and Beatrice (actors Rick Roberts and Caroline Cave). Michael Healey's Generous was nominated for outstanding new play and Tom McCamus was nominated for outstanding performance by a male in a principal role for Thom Pain (Based on Nothing).

Soulpepper Theatre Company received six nominations -- five for playwright David French's Leaving Home and one for Kristen Thomson, in The Chairs, for outstanding performance by a female principal.

It was also announced yesterday that dance legend Karen Kain will be presented with the Barbara Hamilton Memorial Award, for excellence in the performing arts, and that incoming Theatre Passe Muraille artistic director Andy McKim will be given the George Luscombe Award, recognizing his three decades of work in Toronto theatre.

A total of 35 Doras will be given out June 25 at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto.

© The Globe and Mail

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