Come From Away wins best musical production, audience choice honours at Doras

Canadian smash Come From Awaywon four prizes at the Dora Mavor Moore Awards on Monday, including best production in the musical theatre category.

The homegrown musical about Newfoundland hospitality in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks played to audiences in Toronto last fall ahead of its current award-winning run on Broadway.

The Mirvish production also took home the best new musical/opera award, and an outstanding female performance prize for Jenn Colella for her portrayal of real-life retired airline Capt. Beverley Bass.

Come From Awayalso received the Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award for outstanding production, an honour recently renamed for the late theatre writer for Toronto's Now Magazine.

In the general theatre category, Soulpepper Theatre Company won five Doras, including a best production prize for Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts I, II, III)and outstanding ensemble performance for Incident at Vichy.

Tapestra Opera picked up five Doras for Rocking Horse Winner,including best opera production, directing honours for Michael Hidetoshi Mori, outstanding lighting design for Michelle Ramsay, acting honours for Asitha Tennekoon, and outstanding ensemble performance.

The Canadian Opera Company received four awards, including an outstanding female performance prize for Sondra Radvanovsky in Norma.

The Theatre Centre emerged as the night's big winner with six Doras, including outstanding production honours in the dance division for what it's like,and in the independent theatre division for This is the Point.

Now into its 38th year, the Doras honour top Toronto talent in the performing arts, with categories also including theatre for young audiences.