2011 Betty Mitchell Award Recipients Announced!

Recipients of the 14^th Annual Betty Mitchell Awards were announced during a gala event at Stage West Theatre Restaurant on Monday, August 8, 2011.

The evening of awards honouring Calgary’s 2010/2011 professional theatre season were hosted by talented Calgary theatre performers Karen Johnson-Diamond and Kevin Rothery.  Special guest, Alderman Peter Demong, joined in the celebration of Calgary’s theatre achievements with an address to the crowd conveying his respect and admiration for the fine work that graces the city’s stages throughout the year.   This year’s award ceremony paid homage to 80 nominations in 16 award categories from 57 eligible productions.

The acting awards were a testament to the shear versatility of Calgary’s theatre performers.  From a woman playing a man in Alberta Theatre Projects’ Penelopiad (Jamie Konchak, Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role) to a man playing a drag queen in Lunchbox Theatre’s With Bells On and a man playing a multitude of roles in Vertigo Theatre’s The 39 Steps (Paul Welch and Christopher Hunt, respectively-co-recipients of the award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Comedy or Musical), the 2010/2011 season gave performers an opportunity to show their acting chops.  Other acting hardware went out to Allison Lynch (Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Comedy or Musical), Esther Purves-Smith (Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama), and Patrick MacEachern (Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama).

A particular highlight of the night was the presentation of the award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.  For years, Trevor Rueger, now Chair of the Betty Mitchell Awards, has worked tirelessly in orchestrating the awards show and promoting the work of Calgary’s theatre artists.  Rueger was nominated for his performance in Theatre Calgary’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest-his first nomination-and the crowd reaction when took the award was truly enthusiastic.

Though no one production gleaned the hardware in landslide proportions, Ghost River Theatre/Redtoblue Performance’s ONE received more awards than any other single production.  The play was honoured with the awards for Outstanding Lighting Design (Snezana Pesic with Lester Lee), Outstanding Sound Design or Composition (Matthew Waddell), and Outstanding Production of a Play.

With 4 Betty Mitchell Awards to their credit, Vertigo Theatre amassed more awards this year than any other company.  In addition to Christopher Hunt’s award, other awards carried off for Vertigo productions were Outstanding Costume Design (Bretta Gerecke), Outstanding Direction (Mark Bellamy), and Outstanding Production of a Musical.

Rounding out the awards ceremony were the awards for Outstanding New Play going to Mieko Ouchi (Nisei Blue, Alberta Theatre Projects), Outstanding Musical Direction awarded to Joe Slabe and Kris Demeanor (Twisted, Forte Musical Theatre Guild and The Bitter Suite Society), Outstanding Choreography or Fight Direction awarded to Adrian Young (Kung Fu Panties, Ground Zero Theatre and Hit & Myth Productions).  And one final award, Outstanding Set Design, was presented to often nominated but first time recipient, Deitra Kalyn for her work on reasons to be pretty (Ground Zero Theatre and Hit & Myth Productions).

In addition to the 16 award categories comprising the bulk of the ceremony, 3 special adjudicated awards were also announced on Monday night.  The Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award was presented to Daniel Hall.  The Greg Bond Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre in Calgary was presented to Tory Doctor.  The Dean Ott/Debbie Boult Award honouring Outstanding Achievement in Technical Production was presented to Kira Campbell.

The Betty Mitchell Awards media sponsor, Fast Forward Weekly, presented the Fast Forward Weekly Readers’ Choice Award to Ground Zero Theatre and Hit & Myth Productions for their production of Rebecca Northan’s new work, Kung Fu Panties.

Vanessa Porteous, Artistic Director of Alberta Theatre Projects, delivered a touching and personal tribute to the life and work of Gina Wilkinson.  The recently passed director worked on numerous Calgary productions and will be missed by all who knew her.

The Betty Mitchell Awards are a significant annual event for Calgary’s professional theatre community.  These awards recognize the continued level of excellence in our theatres, raise the profile of live performance in our city, and encourage audience growth.

The complete list of nominees and award recipients can be accessed here.

Have you got your ticket?

This year’s Bettys are right around the corner!  To get the best seats be sure to order your tickets soon.

Tickets are on sale at the Stage West Theatre Box Office.  Tickets are $55.00 and include a buffet dinner, the Betty Mitchell Awards Show and entrance to the Official Bettys After Party at the Auburn Saloon.  Tickets may be purchased in person by cash, credit card, or debit.  Using a credit card, tickets may also be purchased by phone: 403.243.6642.

The 14^th Annual Betty Mitchell Awards will be held on Monday, August 8^th, 2011

Stage West Theatre (727 - 42 Avenue S.E).

Doors: 6 p.m.

Dinner: 6-7:30 p.m.

Presentation: Following dinner service

Official After Party: Immediately following at the Auburn Saloon

*****

The Betty Mitchell Awards, named for a pioneer of Calgary’s theatrical community, Dr. Betty Mitchell, were started in 1998 to celebrate and honour outstanding achievement in Calgary’s professional theatre community.  The Betty Mitchell Awards provide the opportunity to recognize the excellent work that takes place on our stages in Calgary throughout the year.

2011 Betty Mitchell Award Nominations Announced!

Nominations for the 2011 Betty Mitchell Awards, celebrating Calgary’s professional theatre, were announced today at the Auburn Saloon.  Presenting the 2011 nominees was last year’s recipient of the Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Julie Orton.

The nominations for the 2011 Betty Mitchell Awards are spread particularly evenly across Calgary’s professional theatre companies reflecting a high calibre of work being produced on all stages throughout the city.  While larger companies that produce more plays in a given year have received more nominations, smaller companies have received a similar proportion of nominations per play produced.  Addressing the distribution of the 2011 award nominations, Trevor Rueger, Chair of the Betty Mitchell Awards Steering Committee, remarks,

“The representation of both the largest budget companies and the smallest budget companies really speaks to the incredible community of work being created and performed in Calgary.”

Three special adjudicated awards will also be presented at the 2011 Betty Mitchell Awards: the Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award (a $2000 cash prize) presented in conjunction with Quest Theatre, the Greg Bond Memorial Award (a $1000 cash prize, honouring Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre in Calgary), and the Dean Ott/ Debbie Boult Award (honouring Outstanding Achievement in Technical Production).  The Bettys’ media sponsor, Fast Forward Weekly will also be presenting the Fast Forward Weekly Readers’ Choice Award.

The complete list of nominees can be accessed here.

The 2010/2011 professional theatre season (June 15, 2010-June 14, 2011) brought to the stage 57 shows eligible for Betty Mitchell Award nominations.  Ballots for voting on the nominations will be distributed to the 12-member Nominating Committee and eligible Passport Holders from the theatre community and general public.

The recipients of the 2011 Betty Mitchell Awards will be announced at the gala ceremony on Monday, August 8, 2011 at Stage West Theatre (727 - 42 Avenue S.E).  Tickets are on sale now through the Stage West Box Office.  Tickets are $55.00 (all fees included) and include a buffet dinner, the Betty Mitchell Awards Show and entrance to the Official Bettys After Party at the Auburn Saloon.  Tickets may be purchased in person by cash, credit card, or debit.  Using a credit card, tickets may also be purchased by phone: 403.243.6642.

For more information about the Betty Mitchell Awards, email info@bettymitchellawards.com.

Passports at the Nominations Announcement

Due to submission complications arising from the Canada Post mail strike, we will have both the passport stamp and EXTRA blank passports at the 4 pm Nominations Announcement this Tuesday at the Auburn. Either bring in your completed passport or fill out a new one there. You will then be able to leave your passports with Karen Johnson-Diamond, who will then hand deliver them all to the accountant’s office by the 30th.

Please direct any additional questions to Karen Johnson-Diamond at kjdc@shaw.ca.

Nominations Announcement this Tuesday!

REMINDER: The Nominations Announcement for the 2011 Betty Mitchell Awards will take place this Tuesday, June 28^th at 4 p.m. in the Auburn Saloon. Members of the community are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Nominations for the 2011 Betty Mitchell Awards will be announced at The Auburn Saloon (115, 9^th Ave. S.E.-at the base of the Calgary Tower) on Tuesday, June 28^th at 4 p.m. by the recipient of last year’s award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Julie Orton.

Members of the Calgary theatre community, friends, patrons, and the media are all invited to attend the Nomination Announcement.  The complete list of nominees can be accessed at www.bettymitchellawards.com following the announcement.

Now in their 14^th year, The Betty Mitchell Awards are an important part of Calgary’s professional theatre community.  These awards not only recognize the continued level of excellence in Calgary theatres but also raise the profile of live performance in our city and encourage audience growth.

The 2010/2011 professional theatre season (June 15, 2010-June 14, 2011) brought to the stage 57 shows eligible for Betty Mitchell Award nominations.

Tickets for the 2011 Betty Mitchell Awards are on sale now and can be purchased through Stage West Theatre Restaurant by phoning 403.243.6642. For further information please visit our website at www.bettymitchellawards.com.

*Due to submission complications arising from the Canada Post mail strike, we will have both the passport stamp and EXTRA blank passports at the 4 pm Nominations Announcement this Tuesday at the Auburn. Either bring in your completed passport or fill out a new one there. You will then be able to leave your passports with Karen Johnson-Diamond, who will then hand deliver them all to the accountant’s office by the 30th.

Please direct any additional questions to Karen Johnson-Diamond at kjdc@shaw.ca.

REMINDER: Nominations for Juried Awards

The nomination deadline for the juried awards presented at the 2011 Betty Mitchell Awards ceremony is Thursday, June 30th.

Nominations are currently being accepted for the following juried awards:

The Dean Ott/Debbie Boult Award
(Honouring Outstanding Achievement in Technical Production)

The Greg Bond Memorial Award
(Honouring Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre in Calgary)

The Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award
(Honouring Outstanding Contribution to Theatre for Young Audiences in Calgary)

For criteria and submission guidelines go to www.bettymitchellawards.com.  Full details are outlined under News.

Time to Send in Your Passports!

Betty Mitchell Awards Passports are due by June 30^th

Members of the community who have seen 25 or more eligible theatre productions, and have had their passports stamped, are encouraged to mail in their passports NO LATER THAN JUNE 30^TH.

Passports should be mailed to:

Betty Mitchell Awards
c/o R.W. Quinlan
#209, 6131-6^th Street S.E.
Calgary, AB  T2H 1L9

Please be sure to include your name, mailing address, and phone number with your passport.  Ballots will be mailed out to all community members who have submitted passports containing 25 or more stamps.

**In light of the current postal strike, we suggest the following alternatives:

1) You can drop the ballot off at Quinlan’s offices:
209 - 6131 - 6 St. S.E.
Calgary, AB T2H 1L9 CA
He is located in the professional building across the street from the Quest office on the corner of Blackfoot trail and Glenmore. If you happen to be in the area at some point when you have completed the ballot then feel free to use this option.

2) If you would like to use a courier to get it to Bob then he has offered us the option of phoning his office and he will have the courier company that his office uses send one by. The number to Bob’s office is: (403) 571-2470

3) You can drop the package at the stage doors of the Epcor Centre. If this is the option you choose then please mark the envelope with the name “Braden Griffiths” and email griffiths.braden@gmail.com. Please ensure the envelope is sealed (seems like a given, but I guess you never know).

4) Drop off completed passports to Trevor Rueger at 440 -13th Avenue NE and leave them in the brass mailbox.

5) If you have a good quality scanner, you can scan the passport pages and send it via email to Bob Quinlan’s office. Add a subject line to the effect of “Bettys Passport”. Bob Quinlan’s email is: Bob.Quinlan@cma-accountant.com.

5) Braden can come and pick up the package from you. If none of the other options work for you, contact griffiths.braden@gmail.com.

Please direct any questions about the passport process to Karen Johnson-Diamond at kjdc@shaw.ca.

See 25 Shows.  Get a Vote.

Tickets Are On Sale Now!

The 14^th Annual Betty Mitchell Awards will be held on Monday, August 8^th, 2011 at Stage West Theatre.

Tickets are $55.00 and include a buffet dinner, the Betty Mitchell Awards Show and entrance to the Official Bettys After Party at the Auburn Saloon. Doors open for dinner at 6:00 p.m. The Betty Mitchell Awards Show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are on sale through the Stage West Box Office. Order tickets by phone with a credit card at 403.243.6642 or in person at Stage West.

Stage West is located at 727 - 42 Avenue S.E. The Auburn Saloon is located at 163, 115 - 9 Avenue S.E. (at the base of the Calgary Tower).

Dean Ott/Debbit Boult Award

Nominations are currently being accepted for the Dean Ott/Debbie Boult award. Deadline for Submission: June 30, 2011.

This annual award has been created to honour a member of Calgary’s theatre community who has made a major contribution or significant achievement in the area of technical production in Calgary. This award is given in recognition of Dean Ott and Debbie Boult. Throughout their lives, Dean and Debbie continually strove for excellence and were regarded as a benchmark for professionalism. The recipient of this award will reflect Dean and Debbie’s passion for their craft.

Criteria for nomination:

• Must be a Calgary resident who has continuously striven for excellence in his/her craft;
• Will have the qualities of professionalism, cooperation, self-discipline and strong work ethic;
• May be awarded for an outstanding season of work, individual achievement, or a sustained contribution to the community;
• Areas of specialization may include, but are not restricted to: stage management, stage carpentry, production management, running crew, wardrobe, lighting or sound technician.

The nominator will elaborate on the manner in which the candidate meets the above criteria. Additional letters of testimony will be accepted to a maximum submission of ten pages total.

The recipient will be chosen from among the nominees by a jury consisting of past recipients plus other industry professionals, as selected by the Betty Mitchell Awards Steering Committee. The successful nominee will be recognized at the Betty Mitchell Awards, August 8, 2011, which celebrate Calgary’s professional theatre community.

Previous recipients have included: Tom McCarthy, Colin McCracken, Monty Schneider, Dianne Goodman, Brad & Ellen Leavitt, Lance Olson, Tracey Hooper, Darcy Foggo, Ian Wilson, Brian Beaulieu, Terri Gillis, Wes Jenkins, and Susan McNair Reid.

To submit a nominee, please mail to:

Betty Mitchell Awards, Re: Dean Ott/Debbie Boult Award
PO Box 924 Station T
Calgary, AB
T2H 2H4

or email to: info@bettymitchellawards.com, Subject Line: Dean Ott/Debbie Boult Award.

With the current labour dispute at Canada Post we encourage, where ever possible, that nomination submissions be emailed to info@bettymitchellawards.com.  If that is not possible, please contact the steering committee at the same email address to arrange alternate delivery or pickup options.

Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award

Nominations are currently being accepted for the Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award. Deadline for Submission: June 30, 2011.

This annual award has been created to honor an individual or group of individuals who have made an outstanding contribution or significant achievement in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences in Calgary.

This award is made possible through the collaborative efforts of Quest Theatre and the Betty Mitchell Awards and is supported by a fund established in 2008 at the Calgary Foundation by a group of generous donors in recognition of Duval Lang.

Duval Lang was the founding Artistic Director of Quest Theatre and spent 25 years making theatre accessible, meaningful and enjoyable to young audiences. Along the way he has nurtured many emerging artists who have been inspired by his influence. Duval’s dedication to his craft has, and will continue to have, a significant impact in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences.

Criteria for nomination:

• May be an individual or group of individuals (but not an organization);
• Must be a Calgary resident who has continuously striven for excellence in his/her craft;
• Has demonstrated excellence in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences;
• May be awarded for an outstanding season of work, individual achievement, or a sustained contribution to the community.

The nominator will elaborate on the manner in which the candidate(s) meets the above criteria. Additional letters of testimony will be accepted to a maximum submission of ten pages.

The recipient will be chosen from among the nominees by a jury consisting of past recipients plus other industry professionals, as selected by Quest Theatre and the Betty Mitchell Awards Steering Committee. The successful nominee will be recognized at the Betty Mitchell Awards, August 8, 2011, which celebrate Calgary’s professional theatre community.

2009 was the first presentation of the newly created Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award.   Past award recipients have been Lana Skauge and Karen Johnson-Diamond.

To submit a nominee, please mail to:

Betty Mitchell Awards, Re: Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award
PO Box 924 Station T
Calgary, AB
T2H 2H4

or email to: info@bettymitchellawards.com, Subject Line: Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award.

With the current labour dispute at Canada Post we encourage, where ever possible, that nomination submissions be emailed to info@bettymitchellawards.com.  If that is not possible, please contact the steering committee at the same email address to arrange alternate delivery or pickup options.

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