Inaugural Toronto Theatre Critics' Awards - winners

The lead theatre critics for Toronto's daily newspapers have joined together to create the first-ever Toronto Theatre Critics' Awards.

Andrew Kushnir’s The Middle Place for both Theatre Passe Muraille and Canadian Stage was the winner for Best Production. In the Musical category, Dancap's South Pacific was singled out. The Best Canadian Play was Stephen Massicotte's The Clockmaker.

The Best Director recognition went to the late Gina Wilkinson for Wide Awake Hearts. Wilkinson tragically passed away from cervical cancer in December at the age of 50.

A Special Citation was named for the Factory  Theatre’s artistic director Ken Gass. The critics wrote "Ken Gass would have earned the gratitude of the Toronto Theatre Critics if he had just founded Factory Theatre and made it the thriving home for Canadian playwrights that it became. But later in both his and the organization’s life, when it was about to close its doors, Gass returned and devoted his considerable energies to putting it on track again. It continues to be the place where some of the best Canadian playwrights debut, develop and grow."

The Toronto Theatre Critics’ Awards were decided by John Coulbourn (Toronto Sun); Richard Ouzounian (Toronto Star); Robert Cushman (National Post); and Kelly Nestruck (Globe and Mail). The circle of voting critics may be expanded at a later date.

Eligible shows were those that opened and were reviewed in Toronto between the dates of June 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011.

Certificates will be presented to the winners at a date and venue to be determined.

---

Complete list of winners for the 1st annual Toronto Theatre Critics’ Awards

Best Canadian play
The Clockmaker by Stephen Massicotte (Tarragon Theatre)

Production of a play
The Middle Place (Theatre Passe Muraille/Canadian Stage)

Production of a musical
South Pacific (produced by Lincoln Centre Theatre, presented by Dancap)

Director of a play or musical
Gina Wilkinson (Tarragon Theatre’s Wide Awake Hearts)

Design
Studies in Motion: The Hauntings of Eadweard Muybridge (produced by The Electric Company Theatre; presented by Canadian Stage; set, light and video design by Robert Gardiner)

Actress in a play
Yanna McIntosh (Ruined, produced by Obsidian Theatre in association with Nightwood Theatre)

Actor in a play
David Ferry (Blasted, Buddies In Bad Times)

Supporting actress in a play
Cara Ricketts (Eternal Hydra, produced Crow’s Theatre in association with Factory Theatre)

Actress in a musical
Louise Pitre (A Year With Frog and Toad, Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People)

Actor in a musical
Tony Sheldon (Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Mirvish Productions)

Supporting actress in a musical
Kate Hennig (Billy Elliot the Musical, Mirvish Productions)

Supporting actor in a musical
Oliver Dennis (The Fantasticks, Soulpepper)

Special Citation
Ken Gass