Celebrating the 2025 Johannas - Metcalf Foundation

Portrait installation of the 2025 Johannas winners and protégés. Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Celebrating the 2025 Johannas

2025

On May 5, 2025, we announced the recipients of the 2025 Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prizes/Les Prix Johanna-Metcalf des Arts de la scène (Johannas) at a ceremony at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto. One of the largest unrestricted prizes for artists in Ontario, the Johannas celebrate mid-career artists across the disciplines of dance, theatre, and music/opera.

From the 15 finalists, five winners were selected and each received $25,000. Each winner named a protégé, who received $10,000, in recognition of their formidable promise as early-career artists. The remaining 10 finalists each received a prize of $2,000, bringing the total prize value to $195,000.

2025 Johannas Winners & Protégés

d’bi.young anitafrika & Sashoya Simpson
Alain Doom & Dillon Orr
Sarah Gartshore & Adam Francis Proulx
Kevin Lau & Michelle Lorimer
Weyni Mengesha & Luke Reece

The 2025 Johannas ceremony was held at the Gardiner Museum.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

The commissioned award was once again designed and created by ceramic artists Thomas Aiken and Kate Hyde. Johanna Metcalf was a long-time friend of Thomas’s mother and collected and supported the couple’s work.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

The portrait installation of the winners and protégés being set up.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Shalan Crivellari, one half of Shalan and Paul, who photographed the winner and protégé portraits and Emily Soo, who led the art direction and design of the 2025 Johannas.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Marianne Sawchuk, 2025 Johannas finalist Marni Walsh, and Steve Baker.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Inspirit Foundation Director of Programming Chris Lee.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Ontario Trillium Foundation Partnerships Lead Liz Forsberg.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Extended Metcalf family member Mike Leuty.

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Dancer, choreographer, arts marketing consultant, and 2021 Johannas finalist Kevin A. Ormsby.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Former Toronto Arts Council Deputy Director Susan Wright.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Inspirit Foundation CEO Sadia Zaman and Dance Arts Institute Managing Director Michelle Yeung.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Kaeja d’Dance Co-Artistic Director Allen Kaeja.

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Artist, musician, and 2025 Johannas finalist Donna Grantis.

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Soundstreams Canada Artistic Director Lawrence Cherney.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Attendees looking at the portrait installation.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Canadian Heritage Senior Program Advisor David Barnard.

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Cheldon Paterson (SlowPitchSound).

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Ontario Arts Council Theatre Program Officer Daniel Carter and 2025 Johannas publicist Ashey Belmer.

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2025 Johannas finalist Naishi Wang, Allen Keaja, and 2021 Johannas protégé Aria Evans.

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Metcalf President & CEO Jamison Steeve delivering the opening remarks.

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2025 Johannas chair and ceremony host Owen Pallett.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

2025 Johannas jury member and Johanna’s granddaughter Maud Houston.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Luke Reece, a poet, playwright, and director — protégé of Weyni Mengesha.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Metcalf board member and Johanna’s daughter, Kirsten Hanson, applauding with other guests.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

2025 Johannas winner Weyni Mengesha, a director.

Jury comments:
Weyni Mengesha is exceptional. She is prolific and has had a strong impact transforming theatre in Toronto, focusing on underrepresented communities. She approaches each new work with curiosity and sincerity. Absolutely amazing.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Luke Reece and Weyni Mengesha.

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Dillon Orr, a director — protégé of Alain Doom.

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2025 Johannas winner Alain Doom, a playwright and actor.

Jury comments:
Alain Doom weaves complex ideas into his profoundly moving work and those ideas have evolved to reflect his experience. His bold and ambitious writing is full of poetry. He grabbed my heart. He is a distinguished teacher and mentor, and his dedication to the French theatre community will have an impact for generations.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Dillon Orr and Alain Doom.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Adam Francis Proulx, a theatre creator and puppeteer — protégé of Sarah Gartshore.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

2025 Johannas winner Sarah Gartshore, a playwright and director.

Jury comments:
Sarah Gartshore’s work is intimately connected to her deep commitment to the stories of severely marginalized people. Her mission is central to her thoughtful and deliberate practice. Sarah is willing to take risks, creating a direct conversation with the audience. Her point of view is fresh and her attention to the small details is impactful. Overlooked and diminished communities are elevated by her work.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Adam Francis Proulx and Sarah Gartshore.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Michelle Lorimer, a composer — protégé of Kevin Lau.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

2025 Johannas winner Kevin Lau, a composer.

Jury comments:
Kevin Lau’s compositions have layered associations that create enticing and enchanting soundscapes that feel both familiar and ancient. His work is very accessible, welcoming the listener; then, he very cleverly and gently challenges us to go deeper. He has a built a strong community with commissions from the largest companies from around the world. Kevin creates a transcendent reality with stylistic fluidity flowing from many diverse influences.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Michelle Lorimer and Kevin Lau.

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Sashoya Simpson, a writer, storyteller, and theatre practitioner — protégé of d’bi.young anitafrika.

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2025 Johannas winner d’bi.young anitafrika, a dub poet, playwright, dramaturge, and scholar.

Jury comments:
d’bi young antiafrika lives between the definitions of theatre. For d’bi art making is a life-long ceremony of healing, swept up in the vibrancy of this work. d’bi is a bold advocate who likes to shake things up. Their mentees have become powerful voices in the community.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Sashoya Simpson and d’bi.young anitafrika.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

A packed room celebrating all the 2025 Johannas recipients.

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Owen Pallett delivering the closing remarks.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

The 2025 Johannas winners and protégés. L-R standing: d’bi.young anitafrika, Weyni Mengesha, Sarah Gartshore, Alain Doom, Kevin Lau, and Adam Francis Proulx. L-R kneeling: Luke Reece, Sashoya Simpson, Dillon Orr, Michelle Lorimer.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

The 2025 Johannas winners and protégés on the stage together for a fun group shot. L-R standing: d’bi.young anitafrika, Weyni Mengesha, Sarah Gartshore, Alain Doom, Kevin Lau, and Adam Francis Proulx. L-R kneeling: Luke Reece, Sashoya Simpson, Dillon Orr, Michelle Lorimer.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

2019 Johannas winner Maryem Tollar, Rubena Sinha, Ernie Tollar.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Sarah Gartshore, Ontario Arts Council Awards Officer Carolyn Gloude, Kerry Gartshore, and Lois Apaquash.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

2025 Johannas nominee Sasha Ivanochko, Metcalf Performing Arts Program Director Michael Trent, and 2025 Johannas nominee Jenn Goodwin.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Shalan and Paul, who photographed the winner and protégé portraits.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Shannon Litzenberger.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan

Maryem Tollar, Dylan Bell, 2023 Johannas winner Suba Sankaran, Canada Council for the Arts Manager, Arts Across Canada & Arts Abroad Programs Noora Sagarwala.

Photo: Kalila Snow Jan