The Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award was a Canadian literary award given to Canadian plays produced by any professional Canadian theatre company, and having performances in the Toronto area.
The prize had a monetary value of $25,000, and was named for benefactor Floyd Chalmers, an editor and publisher.Floyd Chalmers at The Canadian Encyclopedia.
From the award's inception until 1980, one play was named the winner of the award, except for a tie in 1977. In 1980, the award began honouring multiple plays. That year, five winners were named. Since then, four plays normally won the award each year. In 1983, a youth theatre prize was added alongside the general theatre category.
The award was one of several arts awards created by the Chalmers family of Toronto. In 2001 the award was presented for the final time,"Chalmers winners for the last time; Rich theatre awards will be replaced with grants system". Toronto Star, May 15, 2001. and in 2002 the Chalmers family endowed an Ontario Arts Council fund for two arts grant programs."Chalmers Awards takes its eye off the prize". The Globe and Mail, March 14, 2002.
Winners YearGeneral theatreYouth theatre1973David Freeman, CreepsNo award presented1974David French, Of the Fields, Lately1975James Reaney, Saint Nicholas Hotel1976John Herbert, Fortune and Men's Eyes1977W.O. Mitchell, Back to Beulah Larry Fineberg, Eve1978Rick Salutin, Les Canadiens1979Roland Lepage, Le temps d'une vie1980David Fennario, Balconville David French, Jitters John Gray, Billy Bishop Goes to War Antonine Maillet, La Sagouine John Murrell, Waiting for the Parade1981Erika Ritter, Automatic Pilot Neil Munro, F C U George Luscombe, Mac Reynolds and Larry Cox, Mac Paps John Craig and George Luscombe, Ain't Lookin'1982Allan Stratton, Rexy! Charles Tidler, Straight Ahead/Blind Dancers George F. Walker, Theatre of the Film Noir1983Anne Chislett, Quiet in the Land John Lazarus and Joa Lazarus, Dreaming and Dueling Tom Walmsley, White BoysMarcel Sabourin, Pleurer pour rire1984Sherman Snukal, Talking Dirty Jean-Pierre Plante, Francine Ruel, Louis Saia, Michel Côté, Marcel Gauthier, Marc Messier and Claude Meunier, Brew Betty Lambert, Jennie's Story Margaret Hollingsworth, Ever LovingJim Betts, Mystery of the Oak Island Treasure Anne Dansereau, Une histoire à dormer debout Joel Greenberg, The Nuclear Power Show1985George F. Walker, Criminals in Love David French, Salt-Water Moon John Krizanc, Prague Sharon Pollock, DocColin Thomas, One Thousand Cranes Robert Bellefeuille and Isabelle Cauchy, Les nez1986Michel Tremblay, Albertine in Five Times Michael Hollingsworth, The History of the Village of the Small Huts: Part 1, New France Michael Mercer, Goodnight Disgrace Allan Stratton, PapersSuzanne Lebeau, Little Victories/Les petits pouvoirs Duncan McGregor, Running the Gauntlet John Lazarus, Not So Dumb Paul Shilton and Jim Biros, The Fabulous Farming Show1987John Murrell, Farther West Linda Griffiths, Jessica Don Hannah, The Wedding Script Tomson Highway, The Rez SistersDennis Foon, Skin Robert Morgan and David S. Craig, Morgan's Journey1988Tom Wood, B Movie: The Play Robert Fothergill, Detaining Mr. Trotsky Judith Thompson, I Am Yours Ralph Burdman, Tête-à-TêteBeverley Cooper and Baņuta Rubess, Thin Ice Frank Etherington, The Snake Lady Robert Morgan, Not As Hard As It Seems1989Paul Ledoux and David Young, Fire Ann-Marie MacDonald, Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) Michel Tremblay, Le vrai monde? George F. Walker, Nothing SacredCarol Bolt, Ice Time Marvin Ishmael, Forever Free1990Sally Clark, Moo Tomson Highway, Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing John Krizanc, The Half of It George F. Walker, Love and AngerThe Great Unwashed Fish Collective, i.d. Jim Betts, The Groundworld Adventure Shirley Barrie, Straight Stitching1991Marie Brassard and Robert Lepage, Le Polygraphe Brad Fraser, Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love Judith Thompson, Lion in the Streets Michel Tremblay, La maison suspendueMartha Brooks, Andrew's Tree Colin Thomas, Two Weeks Twice a Year1992Michel Marc Bouchard, Lilies, Daniel Brooks and Guillermo Verdecchia, The Noam Chomsky Lectures Daniel MacIvor, House John Mighton, A Short History of NightDrew Hayden Taylor, Toronto at Dreamer's Rock Maristella Roca, The Servant of Two Masters Colin Thomas, Flesh and Blood1993Normand Chaurette, The Queens Joan MacLeod, The Hope Slide Jason Sherman, The League of Nathans George F. Walker, Escape from HappinessMichael Miller, Birds of a Feather Shirley Barrie, Carrying the Calf Paula Wing, Naomi's Road1994Michael Hollingsworth, The Life and Times of Mackenzie King Hillar Liitoja, The Last Supper Alisa Palmer, A Play About the Mothers de Mayo Guillermo Verdecchia, Fronteras AmericanasMaristella Roca, Pinocchio Kathleen McDonnell, Loon Boy Edward Roy, A Secret Life1995Robert Lepage, Needles and Opium Geoff Kavanagh, Ditch Ken Garnhum, Pants on Fire Diane Cave and Nadia Ross, The Alistair TrilogyJoan MacLeod, Little Sister Dennis Foon, The Short Tree and the Bird That Could Not Sing1996Timothy Findley, The Stillborn Lover Brad Fraser, Poor Super Man Andrew Moodie, Riot John Murrell, The Faraway NearbyAnne Chislett, Flippin' In Rex Deverell, Belonging1997Don Druick, Where Is Kabuki? Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt, 2 Pianos, 4 Hands Daniel MacIvor and Daniel Brooks, Here Lies Henry Guillermo Verdecchia and Marcus Youssef, A Line in the SandDavid S. Craig, Napalm the Magnificent: Dancing with the Dark Ron Reed, Book of the Dragon1998George F. Walker, Problem Child Djanet Sears, Harlem Duet Carole Fréchette, The Four Lives of Marie David Rubinoff, StuckRonnie Burkett, Old Friends Robert Priest, Minibugs & Microchips1999George F. Walker, The End of Civilization Leah Cherniak, Oliver Dennis, Maggie Huculak, Robert Morgan, Martha Ross and Michael Simpson, The Betrayal Michel Marc Bouchard, The Orphan Muses Jason Sherman, PatienceDavid S. Craig and Robert Morgan, Dib and Dub and the Journey Home Robert Morgan, The General2000"Chalmers slams rich at arts awards". Toronto Star, May 16, 2000.Linda Griffiths, Alien Creatures: A Visitation from Gwendolyn MacEwan Michel Tremblay, For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again Ronnie Burkett, Street of Blood Michael Healey, The Drawer BoyGail Nyoka, Mella Mella Leslie Arden, The Happy Prince2001Florence Gibson, Belle Chris Earle, Radio:30 Michael Redhill and Ross Manson, Building Jerusalem George F. Walker, HeavenSean Reycraft, Pop Song Richard Lacroix, André Laliberté and Richard Morin, The Starkeeper/Le porteur
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