The Betty Mitchell Awards were started in 1998 to celebrate and honour outstanding achievement in Calgary’s professional theatre community. Run by a volunteer Steering Committee of dedicated theatre professionals, educators and enthusiasts, the Committee is responsible for the administration, organization and production of the Betty Mitchell Awards Gala. We oversee the nomination and voting processes, secure sponsorship opportunities and build relationships with Calgary’s arts community. Our goal is to promote and celebrate professional theatre in Calgary.

We are seeking a Production Manager to join our dynamic group. This is the perfect opportunity for an interested candidate to build their resume and gain valuable hands-on experience working with other arts professionals.

The Production Manager will:

1. Oversee all technical elements for “The Big Show” – this year, The Betty Mitchell Awards gala will be on August 26 at Stage West Theatre in Calgary.
2. Work closely with the venue and rental companies to secure all necessary equipment.
3. Act as the Lighting Designer for the Show with the Producer.
4. Create and implement the tech schedule for the Show, overseeing set-up, tech rehearsal, the Show and strike. This includes managing volunteers.
5. Arrange the pick up and return of all rental gear and equipment from storage.
6. Work within budget requirements, and maintain good communication between stakeholders.

Ideally all applicants will have 1-2 years technical theatre experience and a keen interest in a Production Manager role. You should be a versatile and creative individual with a passion for theatre, and a great sense of humour.

This is a volunteer position requiring a candidate who is able to participate in monthly Betty Mitchell Awards Steering Committee meetings, and is available throughout the month of August 2013 to coordinate the technical needs of the Show.

To apply, please send a letter of interest along with your resume to info@bettymitchellawards.com

We are seeking a Ticketing Coordinator to join our dynamic group. This is the perfect opportunity for an interested candidate to build their resume, expand their skill-set, and connect with other arts professionals.

The main responsibilities of the Ticketing Coordinator include:

• Acting as the liaison between the Betty Mitchell Awards Committee and the venue box office: managing all communications, troubleshooting potential challenges and providing the Committee with sales updates
• Helping to facilitate and monitor public sales: ensuring that tickets to the Betty Mitchell Awards are available as of our onsale date, arranging for door sales if needed
• Maintaining our complimentary tickets list and managing all internal ticket requests from the Betty Mitchell Awards Committee

All applicants will have experience or a keen interest in a Box Office or Front of House role. You should have excellent communication skills, a passion for theatre, and a sense of humour.

This is a part-time, volunteer position requiring a candidate who is able to work independently as well as participate in monthly Betty Mitchell Awards Steering Committee meetings.

To apply, please send a letter of interest along with your resume to info@bettymitchellawards.com

We are seeking a Sponsorship Coordinator to join our dynamic group. This is the perfect opportunity for an interested candidate to build their resume, expand their skill-set, and connect with other arts professionals. The Sponsorship Coordinator’s main role is to maintain and build upon relationships with current Awards sponsors, while also seeking new prospects that reflect the Bettys image.

Other responsibilities include:

• Managing communications with all sponsors including local businesses, media outlets and generous individuals
• Create and implement a Bettys sponsorship strategy for 2013: set donor levels and create reward programs; develop a list of potential sponsors who will benefit from their association with the Betty Mitchell Awards and the exposure we can provide them
• Coordinate ticketing and benefits for all Bettys sponsors leading up to the Gala
• Liaise with the Committee members to ensure that we fulfill all sponsorship commitments through logo placement, website, Gala program and stage recognition

All applicants will have 1+ years of experience in a Sponsorship or Development role, or other relevant experience. You should have excellent communication skills, a keen business sense, a passion for theatre, and a sense of humour.

This is a part-time, volunteer position requiring a candidate who is able to work independently as well as participate in monthly Betty Mitchell Awards Steering Committee meetings.

To apply, please send a letter of interest along with your resume to info@bettymitchellawards.com

Click here to see the full recipient list

Recipients of the 15th Annual Betty Mitchell Awards were announced during a gala event at Stage West Theatre Restaurant on Monday, August 27, 2012. This year’s award ceremony paid homage to 80 nominations in 16 award categories from 61 eligible productions.

The evening of awards honouring Calgary’s 2011/2012 professional theatre season was hosted by Russell Bowers of CBC’s Daybreak. Joining in the celebration were The Honourable Heather Klimchuk, MLA and Minister of Culture for Alberta and Mayor Naheed Nenshi who both expressed their admiration for the fine work that graces the city’s stages throughout the year.

Musicals were well-represented, with Vertigo Theatre’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street garnering four honours (Outstanding Musical Direction – Stephen Woodjetts; Outstanding Performance By An Actor In A Comedy Or Musical – Kevin Aichele; Outstanding Production Of A Musical and the FFWD Weekly Readers’ Choice Award) and Ash Rizin from Alberta Theatre Projects taking home three (Outstanding Performance By An Actor In a Supporting Role – Kyle Jespersen; Outstanding Performance by An Actress In A Supporting Role – Allison Lynch; and Outstanding Sound Design Or Composition – Kyprios).

Although there were no landslide winners, Alberta Theatre Projects productions had the most honours with nine awards, also netting three for Playing With Fire: The Theo Fleury Story (Outstanding Set Design – David Fraser; Outstanding Direction – Ron Jenkins; and Outstanding Performance By An Actor In A Drama – Shaun Smyth), two for Mary’s Wedding (Outstanding Lighting Design – Narda McCarroll and Outstanding Production Of A Play), and one more for The Wizard of Oz (Outstanding Costume Design – John Pennoyer).

The sole tie of the night was in the category of Outstanding New Play which was awarded to Ethan Cole and Eric Rose (Peril in Paris) alongside Karen Hines (Drama: Pilot Episode).

Rounding out the ceremony were the awards for Outstanding Choreography Or Fight Direction going to Anita Miotti (Hunger Striking, Urban Curvz); Outstanding Performance By An Actress In A Comedy Or Musical awarded to Nicola Cavendish (Shirley Valentine, Theatre Calgary); and Outstanding Performance By An Actress In A Drama for Julia Mackey (Jake’s Gift, Lunchbox Theatre).

In addition to the 16 balloted awards, three juried awards were also presented: The Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award to Kathleen Foreman; the Greg Bond Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre in Calgary to Chris Jacko; and the Dean Ott/Debbie Boult Award honouring Outstanding Achievement in Technical Production to Riley Miljan.

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 award recipients can be found here.

The juries have convened, deliberated, and have chosen the recipients for the 2012 Betty Mitchell Awards juried awards:

• Kathleen Foreman for the Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award presented in conjunction with Quest Theatre, honouring Outstanding Achievement in Theatre for Young Audiences
• Chris Jacko for the Greg Bond Memorial Award recognizing Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre in Calgary
• Riley Miljan for the Dean Ott/Debbie Boult Award honouring Outstanding Achievement in Technical Production

The 2012 Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award honours
Kathleen Foreman. Kathleen Foreman is a performing artist and teacher specializing in actor training, improvisation, performance creation, mask creation and performance, theatre for young audiences, applied theatre, and drama education. She is an original member of the Loose Moose Theatre Company and a member of masQuirx: a company of masks and mask performance. She is a co-researcher in Aesthetic Process and Leadership Development at the Banff Centre.

Karen Johnson-Diamond, Chair of the Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award jury, says, “Ms. Foreman is a powerhouse in the community. The jury chose Kathleen unanimously, and the letters of support that accompanied her nomination were glowing with praise. The joy felt by her nominators is overwhelming.”

Trevor Rueger, Chair of the Betty Mitchell Awards Steering committee adds “Nobody is more deserving of this award – Kathleen works tirelessly to promote Theatre for Young Audiences in Calgary and ensure this important genre is a vibrant part of our theatre landscape. We at the Bettys are thrilled to have the opportunity to recognize the immense contributions she has made over many years as a teacher and performer, and we thank and congratulate her.”

The 2012 Dean Ott/Debbie Boult Award honours Riley Miljan. Riley Miljan learned carpentry from his father and grandfather before training at Red Deer college. He has since become an institution in the scenic carpentry and design/fabrication disciplines in Calgary. His connection to multiple media including steel, wood, paint, and found objects from nature is only matched by his respect for his fellow artists and he freely gives his time and energy to teaching the next generation of theatrical craftspeople.

In a letter supporting Riley’s nomination, Gie Roberts, former Managing Director of Alberta Theatre Projects, writes “Where Riley really shines though is his connection to the people he works for and with. He’s a joy to have as your head carpenter on a show if you’re a designer. For the people who work for Riley, he makes the work fun and exciting, mostly because he’s having fun and is excited by it.”

The 2012 Greg Bond Memorial Award honours Chris Jacko. After training at Ryerson University Theatre School in Toronto, Chris Jacko appeared on the Calgary technical production scene and quickly made a name for himself. After working with companies such as Theatre Junction and the University of Calgary, Chris found a home with Theatre Calgary where he uses his outstanding talent and his keenly honed ear to create spectacular auditory experiences for the audience.

Kathryn Kerbes, Chair of the Greg Bond Memorial Award jury, says, “The jury was unanimous in its endorsement of Mr. Jacko who not only embodies the spirit of the award, but goes above and beyond to mix extraordinary sound, making every performer sound better, and every director and musical director indebted to him. He is truly the unsung hero of musical theatre.”

Celebrating the past season on the eve of the new, this year’s Betty Mitchell Awards will be held on Monday, August 27th, 2012 at Stage West, 727 42 Avenue SE. The gala ceremony is always great fun and this year promises to be no exception.

Tickets can be purchased through Stage West Theatre Restaurant by phoning 403.243.6642.
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REMINDER: The Nominations Announcement for the 2012 Betty Mitchell Awards will take place this Tuesday, July 3^rd at 4 p.m. in the Auburn Saloon (115, 9^th Ave. S.E.-at the base of the Calgary Tower). Members of the community are welcome and encouraged to attend!

The complete list of nominees can be accessed at www.bettymitchellawards.com following the announcement.

Now in their 15^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.

Tickets for the 2012 Betty Mitchell Awards are on sale now and can be purchased through Stage West Theatre Restaurant by phoning 403.243.6642. The first 150 tickets will be sold at an early bird price of $60. For further information please visit our website at www.bettymitchellawards.com.

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

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Nominations are currently being accepted for the Dean Ott/Debbie Boult Award. Deadline for Submission: July 16, 2012.

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 27, 2012, 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, Susan McNair Reid, and Kira Campbell.

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.

Photo by Brent Calis

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Nominations are currently being accepted for the Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award. Deadline for Submission: July 16, 2012.

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 27, 2012, which celebrate Calgary’s professional theatre community.

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

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

Photo by Brent Calis

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Nominations are currently being accepted for the Greg Bond Memorial Award. Deadline for Submission: July 16, 2012.

This annual award is intended to honour the outstanding achievement by an individual—either for this season or for accumulated dedication or achievement—in musical  theatre in Calgary.

The award is made possible through the Toronto Community Foundation, and is presented by the Bond Family in memory of their son, Greg (1954–1989). Greg studied and worked in musical theatre across Canada, from Banff to Charlottetown as well as in Australia. His life was marked by a drive for professionalism, a talent for composition, and a desire to continually study, create and perform. He will be remembered for his positive attitude and his remarkable ability to give and engender respect from everyone whom his life touched.

Criteria for nomination:

• Must be a Calgary resident who has continuously striven for excellence in his/her craft;
• Will have contributed to the profile of musical theatre in Calgary;
• Will have the qualities of: cooperation, self-discipline and work ethic;
• Areas of specialization may include, but are not restricted to: performance, musical direction, education, choreography, composition, instrumentalist;
• Is a professional in his/her field, and viewed as such by his/her peers.

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 by a jury consisting of past recipients plus other industry professionals, as selected by the Betty Mitchell Awards Steering Committee. The successful nominee will receive a $1000 cash award and be recognized at the Betty Mitchell Awards, August 27, 2012, which celebrate Calgary’s professional theatre community.

Previous recipients have included: Doug McKeag, Tom Doyle, Margot McDermott, Bob Foster, Marilyn Perkins, Stage West Calgary, Hal Kerbes, Joe Slabe, Elaine Higgin Case, Mark Bellamy, David Rhymer, Denise Clarke, Joel Cochrane, and Tory Doctor.

To submit a nominee, please mail to:

Betty Mitchell Awards, Re: Greg Bond Memorial Award
PO Box 924 Station T
Calgary, AB
T2H 2H4

or email to:
info@bettymitchellawards.com
Subject Line: Greg Bond Memorial Award

Photo by Brent Calis

The 15^th Annual Betty Mitchell Awards will be held on Monday, August 27^th, 2012 at Stage West Theatre.

Tickets are $65.00 (with early bird tickets for $60) 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.

Early Bird Price: $60 (First 150 tickets)
Regular Price: $65

Hosted by Russell Bowers of CBC Radio’s Daybreak Alberta.

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).

Keep up with our Facebook page and Twitter feed for the latest news!

facebook.com/BettyMitchells

@BettyMitchells

Follow Russell at @VoiceOfRuss

Photo by Brent Calis