A play about the first Black actor to star on a London stage has earned a leading six nominations in the general theatre division at the Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

The Crow’s Theatre show nabbed nods in categories including best director for Cherissa Richards.”Red Velvet” tells the story of Ira Aldridge, a Black man who starred in “Othello” in 1833.

Also nominated for best production are another Crow’s Theatre production “Uncle Vanya, Soulpepper Theatre’s “Da Kink In My Hair” and “Our Place” which is a co-production from A Cahoots Theatre and Theatre Passe Muraille.

Top musical contenders include “Alice In Wonderland” from Bad Hats Theatre presented by Soulpepper and “The Shape of Home” from Crow’s Theatre.

The Dora’s recognize excellence in local theatre, dance and opera. The awards will be presented June 27th at Toronto’s Koerner Hall.