Stephen Jackman-Torkoff, left, and Salvatore Antonio in Botticelli in the Fire, by Jordan Tannahill.Cylla von Tiedemann
It was a big night for new writing at the Dora Mavor Moore Awards on Monday night – as a trio of young playwrights from the so-called millennial generation stole the show at Toronto's theatre, dance and opera awards.
Triumphs for Jordan Tannahill's Botticelli in the Fire & Sunday in Sodom, Kat Sandler's Mustard and Cliff Cardinal's Huff signalled a generational shift of the stars of the city's onstage storytelling.
Botticelli in the Fire & Sunday in Sodom – Tannahill's double bill of salty plays about the Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli and Lot's wife – was named the best production of the season in the general theatre division.
That was one of four awards for Canadian Stage – which also picked up best production in the dance division (for its presentation of Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young's Panamania hit Betroffenheit) and best touring production (for Michèle Anne De Mey and Jaco Van Dormael's Cold Blood).
But it was Sandler's fantastical comedy Mustard – about an imaginary friend who sticks around into a girl's adolescence – that was named best new play over Tannahill's scripts.
Anand Rajaram, who played the creature in question named after a condiment, was named best actor for his very funny and pathos-filled performance in the Tarragon Theatre production.
Tarragon picked up the other acting award in the general division, too – as Rebecca Northan was named best actress for her many performances in her improvised hit, Blind Date.
Factory Theatre had gone into the evening second after Tarragon with 11 nominations for its acclaimed "Naked Season" of Canadian classics – but emerged with just two wins. Ravi Jain was named best director for his revisioning of David French's Salt-Water Moon, while Jennifer Lennon grabbed the best lighting design gong for her work on Bombay Black.
Meanwhile, in the independent theatre division, Cliff Cardinal's solo show Huff was named best new indie play. The Cree playwright was also named best actor for his multifaceted performance in this unflinching show about three brothers from a troubled family living on a reserve in the 1980s.
The Winter's Tale – the debut production from Stratford stalwart Graham Abbey's Groundling Theatre Company – was named outstanding production in the independent division, however.
Over in the musical theatre division, Kinky Boots unsurprisingly walked all over the competition with the Mirvish hit named best production and star Alan Mingo Jr. named best actor for his performance as Lola – which he has now taken to the Broadway production of the feel-good musical.
Lisa Horner managed a win as best actress, however, for her double-pronged performance in Acting Up Stage Company's production of Grey Gardens.
As for opera, the Canadian Opera Company dominated – with fives wins for François Girard's production of Siegfried and three for Arin Arbus's production of La Traviata.
For the full list of winners from all divisions including theatre for young audiences, click here.
J. Kelly Nestruck