Randolph Academy Patron Sergio Trujillo Honored at 2015 Dora Awards

The Randolph Academy's honorary patron Sergio Trujillo returned to Toronto on June 22 as a VIP presenter at the 2015 Dora Mavor Moore Awards. At the ceremony, Mr. Trujillo was presented with a congratulatory scroll from Mayor John Tory's office by Councillor Gary Crawford (Ward 36-Scarborough Southwest), acknowledging Mr. Trujillo's accomplishments in the arts.

Mr. Trujillo recently won an Olivier Award for Best Choreography for the West End production of Memphis. Born in Cali, Colombia and raised in Toronto, Mr. Trujillo took his first-ever jazz dance class with Randolph Academy founder and president George Randolph. Today, Mr. Trujillo is an internationally recognized choreographer whose work has been seen across North America, Europe, and Asia. Credits include: Tony Award-winning Best Musicals Jersey Boys and Memphis, as well as The Addams Family, Next to Normal, Guys and Dolls, and All Shook Up.

Mr. Trujillo is currently choreographer of On Your Feet, the Gloria and Emilio Estefan bio-musical running at the Oriental Theater in Chicago. His work on the show is earning rave reviews from the Chicago Sun Times ("sensational"), Chicago Tribune ("Here is what surprises, and what should sustain this show once it opens on Broadway in the fall, ... the choreographer Sergio Trujillo and the director Jerry Mitchell have ... created a show with a strikingly high amount of emotional intimacy.") and Time out Chicago ("a dream ballet, with Sergio Trujillo's spectacular choreography").

During the Dora Awards, the Randolph Academy was also well-represented by faculty and graduates. In the Theatre For Young Audiences Division, alumna Rachelle G accepted the Dora Award for Outstanding Performance - Ensemble on behalf of the cast of Theatre Direct's Beneath the Banyan Tree, which also won awards for Outstanding Production and Outstanding Direction. Randolph Academy alumni numbered among the nominated ensembles of two other shows: Young People's Theatre's To Kill a Mockingbird (Theatre For Young Audiences Division) and Acting Upstage's The Wild Party (Music Theatre/Opera Division).

In the Music Theatre/Opera Division, past faculty member Stephanie Graham won for Outstanding Choreography for Acting Upstage's The Wild Party . Former Randolph Academy faculty Donna Garner was also among the Dora-winning ensemble of Mirvish's Once, which also won Outstanding Production.

Founded by George C. Randolph Jr., the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit educational institution providing world-class performing arts training to young artists. Distinguished faculty and entertainment industry professionals shape Triple Threat skills of dancing, acting, and singing in a college program (registered as a private career college under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005), youth show choir program, and children's recreational program. Faculty and alumni have appeared on Stratford, Shaw, Mirvish, Broadway (New York) and West End (London) stages, as well as Hollywood (Los Angeles). College alumni include Paul Nolan, Tara Young, Adam Korson, Lisa Berry, Carlos Bustamante, and Elodie Gillett.

Pictured: Internationally renowned choreographer Sergio Trujillo with a congratulatory scroll from Toronto Mayor John Tory's office, flanked by first jazz dance teacher George Randolph, founder/president, Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, at the 2015 Dora Awards, Toronto, ON.