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. For news and updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.