Actors Vanessa Sears, left, and Matt Pilipiak perform a scene from "Alice in Wonderland," by Bad Hats Theatre, presented by Soulpepper Theatre, in an undated handout photo. "Alice in Wonderland" was the big winner at the Dora Mavor Moore Awards, taking home six statuettes in the musical theatre division, while "Red Velvet" won two Doras in the general theatre division. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Dahlia Katz, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
The Dora Mavor Moore Awards followed the white rabbit, handing six statuettes to “Alice in Wonderland” at the Toronto theatre awards on Tuesday night.
The production from Bad Hats Theatre, presented by Soulpepper Theatre, won big in the musical theatre division.
It was awarded outstanding production and outstanding new musical, while Tess Benger won outstanding performance in a leading role for her portrayal of Alice.
The contemporary reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale also took home outstanding direction, outstanding achievement in design and outstanding original choreography.
Forty-six awards were handed out across seven categories at the ceremony in Toronto.
“Red Velvet,” a dramatization of the real-life story of Ira Aldridge, a Black man who starred in “Othello” in 1833, led the general theatre division.
The Crow’s Theatre production won two Doras: outstanding production and outstanding direction.
In the independent theatre division, “First Métis Man of Odesa” won the day. The Punctuate! Theatre Production, in association with The Theatre Centre, took home awards for outstanding production, outstanding new play and outstanding direction.
The winner of the Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award is the 20th anniversary revival of “Da Kink in My Hair.” The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, which produces and presents the awards, says the play won the online vote by a wide margin.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2023.
