Peterborough’s Beau Dixon is a man of many talents and they are once again being recognized.
After receiving a Toronto Theatre Critics Award last week for his performance in the critically acclaimed comedy-drama rock musical Passing Strange, Beau has now also been nominated for a Dora Award for the same role.
Passing Strange is a coming-of-age story told through sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. In the late 1970s, a black teen is driven from Los Angeles to Amsterdam and Berlin in search of himself and a place to call home. The musical, produced by Acting Up Stage Company and Obsidian Theatre Company, ran for 12 performances at The Opera House in Toronto during January and February this year.
At last week’s Toronto Theatre Critics Awards, Passing Strange picked up two awards: Beau Dixon as Best Actor in a Musical and Vanessa Sears Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.
Yesterday (May 30), the nominations were announced for the Dora Mavor Moore Awards, better known as the Doras, which honour Toronto’s theatre, opera, and dance community.
While the hit Canadian Broadway musical Come From Away received a lot of media attention for its eight Dora nominations, Passing Strange was also nominated for eight Doras — including Beau for Outstanding Male Performance:
- Outstanding Production, Musical Theatre Division
- Outstanding Ensemble, Musical Theatre Division
- Jahlen Barnes, Outstanding Male Performance, Musical Theatre Division
- Beau Dixon, Outstanding Male Performance, Musical Theatre Division
- Sabryn Rock, Outstanding Female Performance, Musical Theatre Division
- Philip Akin, Outstanding Direction, Musical Theatre/Opera Division
- Kimberley Rampersad, Outstanding Choreography, Musical Theatre/Opera Division
- Steve Lucas, Outstanding Lighting Design, Musical Theatre/Opera Division
The Dora Awards will be presented on Monday, June 26 at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto.
Beau isn’t spending much time in Peterborough these days. He’s currently performing in two productions at the Stratford Festival: HMS Pinafore in the role of Bob Becket and Guys and Dolls in the role of Big Jule.
Guys and Dolls opened yesterday (May 30), the same day Beau received his Dora nomination for Passing Strange, and runs until October 29th. HMS Pinafore opens tonight (May 31) and runs until October 21st.
