CASE CLOSED: 2024-2025 Betty Mitchell Awards

Betty Mitchell Awards
Jun 26
7 min read

Betty Mitchell Awards

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Message from the Betty Board (it's long!)

From the Bettys Community

The Winners List

Juried Awards Recipients

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Message from the Board Written by Co-Chair Krys Christoffersen after working 15 hours straight with no breaks, no food, no water... no understanding of boundaries.

The final curtain has fallen on the 26th Annual Betty Mitchell Awards, and what a spectacular night it was!

For 26 years, The Bettys have brought together Calgary’s professional theatre community to celebrate, uplift, and champion the incredible work happening on our stages. Year after year, this community reminds us why Calgary theatre is so special—it’s driven by heart, humour, resilience, and a whole lot of talent.

The Bettys board would like to offer our deepest thanks to everyone who made this year’s celebration possible. To our sponsors, partners, volunteers, and the brilliant artists and theatre companies who continue to bring stories to life, thank you. Your work is the soul of this community, and we are honoured to celebrate alongside you.

A special shout-out to our sponsors and community partners, including Quinlan & Co Accountants, 660 News Radio, LiveWire-Calgary, and the true unsung hero of the night—Hi-Flyer Food —who generously provided post-show buckets of fried chicken for everyone. Because after the final bow, every chicken needs a home—just ask Sabrina, Secretary of the Bettys board, who made sure no drumstick was left behind. If she worked for the SPCA, the shelter would either be empty… or deeply concerned.

This year also marks a heartfelt farewell to one of our most dedicated leaders, Rebecca Solly, Co-Chair of the Bettys board. Rebecca has been the steady hand, the thoughtful guide, and the driving force behind the curtain of the Bettys over the past several years. Her commitment, creativity, and calm-in-the-storm energy have shaped these awards and helped grow them into the community celebration they are today.

On a personal note, Rebecca has always been my Queen, but more often, she’s been like an exhausted pigeon I’ve had the privilege of gently setting upright and offering a nearby cup of water whenever she’s flown into a window or hit a wall. Tireless, determined, and always in flight, Rebecca has led with a heart for this community, even when the journey has been long.

Her contributions will leave a lasting legacy, and while we will miss her at the helm, we are endlessly grateful for all she has given to the Bettys and to Calgary’s theatre community.

Oh right, this is where I’m supposed to talk about me...

Yes, this year I’m also saying goodbye to the Bettys board. After three years of quietly lurking in the background, the board generously promoted me to Co-Chair this past season—I assume because birds of a feather flock together, or because they knew I drive puns into the ground until they hit molten lava, or maybe they just wanted to send me off… full stop. Just send it.

I’ve been lucky to champion this event from both sides—as a board member and through my work at the Jubilee Auditorium—and it’s been one of the most rewarding, chaotic, and chicken-fueled adventures I’ve ever had. Full disclosure, though: I didn’t even get to eat the chicken, thanks to being celiac. So really, I did it for the desire to be part of a community I’ve only ever been on the periphery of but deeply adore.

While we’re stepping away from the board, don’t count us out. I’ve also become an exhausted pigeon like my co-chair, so we’ll flap together in the wings, cheering on future Bettys success.

Here’s to all the moments, madness, and magic we’ve shared—thank you for letting us be part of it.

As we wrap this season, we’re looking for new faces to help write the next chapter! If you’ve ever wanted to get involved, now’s the time! We’re seeking Board Members, Nomination Committee members, and even sponsors. Whether you love what we do, have ideas to make it even better, or just want to be part of the magic, we’d love to hear from you at info@bettymitchellawards.com.

Thank you for another unforgettable year, Calgary. We can’t wait to see what stories you’ll bring to life next.

And now, the winners of the 2024-2025 season…

From the Bettys Community

The Bettys community never misses a clue when it comes to showing up with love, support, and heartfelt celebration. This season, our social feeds were filled with mystery, appreciation, and moments of pure joy.

In the busy world of social media, some messages can fly under the radar. So, we wanted to take a moment to spotlight a few of the incredible notes left for our winners, because every kind word deserves to be seen.

Thank you for continuing to lift each other up and making this community truly special.

2024-2025 Betty Mitchell Award Recipients

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE

The Play That Goes Wrong - Theatre Calgary in Partnership with The Citadel Theatre and The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A DRAMA

Juried Award Recipients

Congratulations to the recipient of the Duval Lang Award at the 26th Annual Betty Mitchell Awards!

This award honours those who have made an outstanding contribution or significant achievement in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences in Calgary.

Keshia Cheesman is a passionate artist and educator whose work continues to ignite curiosity and create space for young people to see themselves reflected in the stories and leaders around them. Through her dedication, she is shaping the next generation of theatre lovers, artists, and dreamers.

In her inspiring acceptance speech, Keshia shared:

"Growing up, I never had an instructor who looked like me. I never saw my hair, body, or voice reflected in the people I was learning from. But now, I get to walk into rooms and be that reflection for kids who’ve never seen themselves represented... Theatre for Young Audiences is not only fun or educational, it's foundational. And that's why we need more TYA in Calgary. We are shaping the next generation of artists, storytellers, leaders, and dreamers."

This annual award was created to honour an individual or group who has made an outstanding contribution to Theatre for Young Audiences in Calgary. The award is made possible through a partnership between 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.

Congratulations to the recipient of the Dean Ott/Debbie Boult Award for Excellence in Technical Production at the 26th Annual Betty Mitchell Awards!

This year, we are proud to honour Barry “The Hammer” Eldridge, a cornerstone of Calgary’s theatre community whose dedication, craftsmanship, and mentorship have shaped local stages for over 40 years.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we couldn’t track down a photo of Barry with his award or a photo of Barry at all! In true backstage fashion, he’s managed to stay completely out of the spotlight. So, with all the love and a little tongue-in-cheek humour, we’ve chosen to feature an actual hammer in his place. (We hope you don’t mind, Barry.)

Barry has built over 200 sets, kept hundreds of artists safe, and has been the steady hand behind productions at Alberta Theatre Projects, Theatre Calgary, the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show, and many more. His impact on the Calgary theatre landscape is immeasurable.

As Kate Newby so beautifully said in her nomination: "Barry's unwavering dedication to his craft and commitment to the stories told on Calgary's stages are truly commendable. As a senior crafts person, he deserves recognition for his years of service and mentorship. Barry would be thrilled to receive this award—although he would never expect it."

Surprise, Barry, you’re getting the recognition you so richly deserve. And hey, we did manage to get a photo of you from your acceptance speech after all!

The Dean Ott/Debbie Boult Award recognizes outstanding achievement in technical production and honours the essential work that happens behind the scenes to bring theatre to life. Barry “The Hammer” Eldridge embodies that spirit, and we are proud to celebrate his contributions.

To submit your nomination for either the Duval Lang or the Dean Ott/Debbie Boult awards for next year, please submit online at www.bettymitchellawards.com, or email your nomination letter to info@bettymitchellawards.com. The deadline for these awards typically falls in June of each year.

Thank you for celebrating with us. Until next season—case closed.

CASE CLOSED: 2024-2025 Betty Mitchell Awards

Betty Mitchell Awards

Message from the Board Written by Co-Chair Krys Christoffersen after working 15 hours straight with no breaks, no food, no water... no understanding of boundaries.

From the Bettys Community

2024-2025 Betty Mitchell Award Recipients

Juried Award Recipients

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