Lord of the Rings rules them all at Doras

The Lord of the Rings reigned over Toronto theatre productions Monday night, with the epic musical taking home seven trophies from the 27thannualDora Mavor Moore Awards.

Though critics gave the lavish, special effects-laden musical mixed reviews, The Lord of the Rings dominated the general theatre division at the Doras, with wins that included outstanding new musical and outstanding production of a musical.

The J.R.R. Tolkien-inspired show also won acclaim for its director Matthew Warchus (direction - musical); actor Michael Therriault (lead actor - musical) who portrays Gollum; choreographer Peter Darling, costume designer Rob Howell and lighting designer Paul Pyant.

Other winners in the general theatre division included:

• d'bi.young, who won the best lead actress in a play category for her work blood.claat - one womban story, which was also named this year's outstanding new play.
• Shawn Doyle, who won best lead actor ina play for his role in A Number.
• Soulpepper Theatre Company's Our Town, which won outstanding production of a play.
• Nigel Shawn Williams, for directing the play The Monument.
• Corinne Koslo, recognized for her lead performance in the musical Bunnicula.
• The Canadian Opera Company, with Richard Bradshaw winning for his outstanding musical direction of Gotterdammerung and Michael Levine winning for his set design for Wozzeck.

The COC, which recently unveiled its new home, the Four Seasons Centre, also won both trophies in the opera division: with Gotterdammerung named outstanding opera production and June Anderson honoured with the outstanding opera performance Dora for her turn in Norma.

In the independent theatre division, the trophies were split between two shows. Birdland Theatre's The Last Days of Judas Iscariot won five Doras, including outstanding production, direction, lead male and female performances and lighting design.

Cahoots Theatre Project's Bombay Black, about a complex and conflicting relationship between a mother and daughter,took the remaining four trophies in the division: outstanding new play or musical, set design, costume design and sound design/composition.

In the dance division, Peter Chin won the outstanding new choreography award for his contemporary production STUPA, while Susanna Hood scored a Dora for her performance in the dance, sound and spoken word piece She's Gone Away.

Roseneath Theatre's show Wrecked, about a teen who must deal with an alcoholic mother, won both trophies in the youth audiences division: outstanding production and outstanding performance for Helen Taylor.

The Toronto ceremony, which took place at the historic Winter Garden Theatre, also included the presentation of several special honours.

Director Jennifer Tarver received the 2006 Pauline McGibbon Award, which honours an emerging theatre artist.Poet, performer and director ahdri zhina mandiela received the Silver Ticket Award, which is presented to an artist who has excelled at his or her own career while also nurturing the Canadian theatre scene.

Organizers also presented the inaugural Audience Choice Award to thesatirical boy-bandproduction BoyGroove.