York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) had a strong presence at the 2025 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, with alumni taking home several top honours and earning nominations across nearly every major category in theatre, dance, opera and musical divisions.
Now in its 45th year, the Dora Awards are Canada’s most prestigious celebration of excellence on Toronto stages. Administered by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), the awards were presented on June 30 at Meridian Hall.
Among this year’s highlights were major wins for Mahabharata, ensemble recognition for FLEX and multiple awards for Alligator Pie, all involving AMPD alumni in key creative and performance roles.
The Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award, sponsored by Now Toronto and voted on by the public, went to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by Shifting Ground Collective, co-founded by Theatre alums Shannon Murtagh (BFA ’20) and Joshua Kilimnik (BFA '23). The production also won Dora Awards for Outstanding Production and Outstanding Creative Direction in the Musical Theatre division.
Below are the AMPD alumni who received awards this year:
General Theatre Division
Outstanding New Play
Miriam Fernandes (BFA ’11), Co-Artistic Director of Why Not Theatre, for Mahabharata: Karma (Part 1), The Life We Inherit
Outstanding Performance by an Individual
Miriam Fernandes (BFA ’11), Mahabharata: Part One
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
Asha James (BFA ‘18), FLEX
Trinity Lloyd (BFA ‘22), FLEX
Independent Theatre Division
Oustanding Scenic/Projection Design
Adam Paolozza (MA ‘24), Last Landscape
Theatre for Young Audiences Division
Outstanding Direction
Severn Thompson (MFA ‘20), Alligator Pie
Outstanding Achievement in Design
Logan Raju Cracknell (BFA ‘15), Alligator Pie (Lighting Design)
Musical Theatre Division
Outstanding Production
Shannon Murtagh (BFA ’20) and Joshua Kilimnik (BFA '23), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Below are the AMPD alumni who received nominations this year:
General Theatre Division
Outstanding New Play
Akosua Amo-Adem (BFA ‘09), Table for Two
Anusree Roy (BA ‘06), Trident Moon
Miriam Fernandes (BFA ’11), Mahabharata: Part Two
Outstanding Direction
Djanet Sears (BFA ‘99), Table for Two
Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu (BA ‘10), FLEX
Outstanding Performance by an Individual
Akosua Amo-Adem (BFA ‘09), Table for Two
Ins Choi (BFA ’98), Kim’s Convenience
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
Rong Fu (BFA ‘12), Interior Design
Anita Majumdar (MA ‘17), Interior Design
Navtej Sandhu (BFA ‘18), Mahabharata: Part One
John Gzowski (MA ’23), Mahabharata: Part One
Navtej Sandhu (BFA ‘18), Mahabharata: Part Two
Independent Theatre Division
Outstanding New Play
Adam Paolozza (MA ‘24) with The Company, Last Landscape
Makram Ayache (MFA ‘19), The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers
Outstanding Direction
Adam Paolozza (MA ‘24), Last Landscape
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
Adam Paolozza (MA ‘24), Last Landscape
Musical Theatre Division
Outstanding Production
Natalie Bartello (BFA ’04), Partner and Producer at Yonge Street Theatricals, nominated for Life After
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
DeAnn deGruijter (MFA ‘15), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Dance Division
Outstanding Original Choreography
Yvonne Ng (BFA ’87, MA ’18), All that is between
Opera Division
Outstanding Creative Direction
Aria Evans (BFA ‘12) (Choreographer), Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White
Congratulations to all our alumni who showcase the strength of performing arts at AMPD, and its lasting impact on Canada’s cultural landscape.
The 2025 Dora Mavor Moore Awards were presented on Monday, June 30 at Toronto’s Meridian Hall.
Visit TAPA’s website to learn more.