Frontmezzjunkies reports: Through the Eyes of God, The Division, Narnia, Octet, and more lead a memorable evening celebrating Toronto’s performing arts
By Ross
One of the greatest privileges of covering Toronto theatre is watching remarkable productions grow from opening night conversations into lasting moments of recognition. Every season introduces work that surprises, challenges, delights, and stays with audiences long after the curtain falls. The Dora Mavor Moore Awards offer an opportunity to celebrate those artists, companies, and creative teams whose work helped define another exceptional year across the city’s stages.
The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts announced the recipients of the 46th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards on Monday evening at Meridian Hall, with host Amaka Umeh guiding a celebration of Toronto’s vibrant theatre, dance, and opera communities. Following one of the largest seasons in recent memory, with 214 eligible productions presented by 99 registered companies, the evening reflected both the remarkable breadth of work being created across the city and the resilience of the artists who continue to shape it.
Several productions emerged as major winners across multiple divisions. Theatre Passe Muraille‘s Through the Eyes of God captured Outstanding Production in the General Theatre Division while also earning Romeo Candido recognition for Outstanding Sound Design/Composition. The Division claimed Outstanding Production, Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Direction, and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in the Independent Theatre Division, affirming Andrew Kushnir’s deeply affecting work.
Musical theatre enjoyed an equally memorable evening. Octet received Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble, and Outstanding Achievement in Design for Olivia Wheeler’s sound design, while Narnia was recognized with Outstanding New Musical and Outstanding Creative Direction for Fiona Sauder, Matt Pilipiak, Cynthia Jimenez-Hicks, Rohan Dhupar, and Jonathan Corkal-Astorga.
Across the remaining divisions, Orfeo ed Euridice, She Holds Up the Stars, and ZAYO each collected multiple honours, highlighting the extraordinary artistic range that continues to define Toronto’s opera, theatre for young audiences, and dance communities.
Among the individual performance winners were Sophia Walker for Slave Play, Nick Eddie for Bug, Kaylee Harwood for Bright Star, Morgan St. Onge for Morgan’s Journey, Iestyn Davies for Orfeo ed Euridice, and Rose-Mary Harbans for ZAYO.
Additional honours presented during the evening included the Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award, which went to The Drowsy Chaperone from Shifting Ground Collective. The Silver Ticket Award recognized longtime arts leader Jacoba Knaapen for her outstanding contribution to Toronto’s performing arts community.
Only a few weeks ago, the nominations offered a snapshot of one of Toronto’s richest theatrical seasons. Now, with the awards presented, they stand as another reminder of the remarkable artistry flourishing across the city. Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients and nominees. Below is the complete list of winners from the 46th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards (for more information and a full list of all nominations, click here).
This year there were 221 nominations across 44 gender-inclusive award categories within seven divisions, reflecting the remarkable artistry of the 2025-2026 season. This year’s nominations encompassed 214 shows from 99 TAPA-registered companies.
Below are the recipients for this year’s awards in the general, independent, musical theatre, theatre for young audiences, opera, and dance divisions. A complete list can also be found on the TAPA website.
GENERAL THEATRE DIVISION
Outstanding Production
Through the Eyes of God (Theatre Passe Muraille)
Outstanding New Play
The Neighbours, Nicolas Billon (Green Light Arts in association with Tarragon Theatre)
Outstanding Direction
Gregory Prest, Bremen Town (Tarragon Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by an Individual
Sophia Walker in Slave Play (Canadian Stage)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
From Enormity, Girl, and the Earthquake in Her Lungs, the ensemble of Marta Armstrong, Liz Der, Philippa Domville, Vivien Endicott-Douglas, Noa Furlong, Bria McLaughlin, Sofía Rodríguez, and Emerjade Simms (Nightwood Theatre, in association with Tarragon Theatre)
Outstanding Scenic/Projection Design
Andy Moro (Scenic & Projection) for Mischief (Tarragon Theatre, Native Earth Performing Arts, and Neptune Theatre)
Outstanding Costume Design
Melanie McNeill for Le malentendu (The Misunderstanding) (Théâtre français de Toronto)
Outstanding Lighting Design
Bonnie Beecher for The Welkin (Soulpepper Theatre Company, The Howland Company, and Crow’s Theatre)
Outstanding Sound Design/Composition
Romeo Candido for Through the Eyes of God (Theatre Passe Muraille)
INDEPENDENT THEATRE DIVISION
Outstanding Production
The Division, Project: Humanity and Pyretic Productions in association with Crow’s Theatre
Outstanding New Play
The Division, Andrew Kushnir (Project: Humanity and Pyretic Productions in association with Crow’s Theatre)
Outstanding Direction
Andrew Kushnir, The Division (Project: Humanity and Pyretic Productions in association with Crow’s Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by an Individual
Nick Eddie in Bug (The King Black Box in partnership with Elkabong Theatre Projects)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
From The Division, the ensemble of Mariya Khomutova, Ivy Charles, Alon Nashman, and Karl Ang (Project: Humanity and Pyretic Productions in association with Crow’s Theatre)
Outstanding Scenic/Projection Design
Anahita Dehbonehie (Scenic), The Green Line (In Arms Theatre Company and MENA Collective in association with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and Factory Theatre)
Outstanding Costume Design
Melanie McNeill, Night at the Grand Guignol (Eldritch Theatre)
Outstanding Lighting Design
André du Toit, Public Consumption (Lester Trips (Theatre) presented by Factory Theatre)
Outstanding Sound Design/Composition
Heidi Chan and Chris Pereira, The Green Line (In Arms Theatre Company and MENA Collective in association with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and Factory Theatre)
MUSICAL THEATRE DIVISION
Outstanding Production
Octet, Crow’s Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre Company, and The Musical Stage Company
Outstanding New Musical
Narnia, Fiona Sauder (Writer); Landon Doak (Composer); Matt Pilipiak (Dramaturg); Jonathan Corkal-Astorga (Music Supervisor/Arranger/Orchestrator); and Victor Pokinko (Creative Producer) (Soulpepper Theatre Company, Bad Hats Theatre, and Crow’s Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by an Individual
Kaylee Harwood in Bright Star (Garner Theatre Productions presented by Mirvish Productions)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
From Octet the ensemble of: Damien Atkins, Alicia Ault, Andrew Broderick, Ben Carlson, Hailey Gillis, Zorana Sadiq, Jacqueline Thair, and Giles Tomkins (Crow’s Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre Company, and The Musical Stage Company)
Outstanding Creative Direction
Fiona Sauder (Director), Matt Pilipiak, Cynthia Jimenez-Hicks (Associate Directors); Fiona Sauder, Rohan Dhupar (Co-Choreographers); Jonathan Corkal-Astorga (Musical Director), Narnia (Soulpepper Theatre Company, Bad Hats Theatre, and Crow’s Theatre)
Outstanding Achievement in Design
Olivia Wheeler (Sound), Octet (Crow’s Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre Company, and The Musical Stage Company)
Opera Division
Outstanding Production
Orfeo ed Euridice (Canadian Opera Company co-production with Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Fondazione Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Opéra Royal Château de Versailles Spectacles, and Lyric Opera of Chicago)
Outstanding New Opera
Canuck Cantatas,Danika Lorèn, Sarah Slean, Spencer Kryzanowski (Composers); Royce Vavrek, Vern Thiessen, Emma Pennell (Librettists) (Against the Grain Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by an Individual
Iestyn Davies in Orfeo ed Euridice (Canadian Opera Company co-production with Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Fondazione Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Opéra Royal Château de Versailles Spectacles, and Lyric Opera of Chicago)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
From Orfeo ed Euridice, the Canadian Opera Company Chorus (Canadian Opera Company co-production with Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Fondazione Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Opéra Royal Château de Versailles Spectacles, and Lyric Opera of Chicago)
Outstanding Creative Direction
Christophe Gayral (Revival Director), based on the original direction of Robert Carsen; Bernard Labadie (Musical Director), Orfeo ed Euridice (Canadian Opera Company co-production with Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Fondazione Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Opéra Royal Château de Versailles Spectacles, and Lyric Opera of Chicago)
Outstanding Achievement in Design
Robert Thomson (Lighting), Bluebeard’s Castle / Erwartung (Canadian Opera Company)
THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES DIVISION
Outstanding Production
Love You Forever… And More Munsch, Young People’s Theatre
Outstanding New Play
She Holds Up the Stars by Sandra Laronde (Red Sky Performance)
Outstanding Direction
Sandra Laronde, She Holds Up the Stars (Red Sky Performance)
Outstanding Performance by an Individual
Morgan St. Onge in Morgan’s Journey (Roseneath Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
From The Mush Hole, the ensemble of Kali Kennedy Bomberry, Falciony Patiño, Katie Couchie, Montana Summers, and Santee Smith (Young People’s Theatre presents Kaha: wi Dance Theatre)
Outstanding Achievement in Design
Nick Barnes (Puppetry), She Holds Up the Stars (Red Sky Performance)
Dance Division
Outstanding Production
Make Banana Cry, Toronto Dance Theatre in partnership with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Outstanding Original Choreography
Esie Mensah, ZAYO (dance Immersion & Esie Mensah Creations, in association with TO Live)
Outstanding Performance by an Individual
Rose-Mary Harbans in ZAYO (dance Immersion & Esie Mensah Creations, in association with TO Live)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
From Make Banana Cry, the ensemble of Stephen Thompson, Cynthia Koppe, Francesca Chudnoff, Hanako Hoshimi-Caines, Sehyoung Lee, and Winnie Ho (Toronto Dance Theatre in partnership with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre)
Outstanding Original Sound Composition
Ben Waters, Reverence (Adieu mixed programme) (The National Ballet of Canada)
Outstanding Achievement in Design
Jeff Logue (Lighting), Reverence (Adieu mixed programme) (The National Ballet of Canada)
