This year marked the 20th Anniversary of The Betty Mitchell Awards, or, as they’re more affectionately known, The Bettys — the Calgary theatre community’s chance to celebrate and recognize outstanding theatrical performances and productions in our city over the past year.
With hosts Mark Bellamy and Selina Wong keeping the Monday evening show entertaining — from constant reminders to us all of what everyone was up to 20 years ago, to a humorous look at the realities of being an artistic director — it was an enjoyable night of laughs and and good cheer.
The main event, however, was of course the award ceremony, with Theatre Calgary taking much of the spotlight for their productions of Crazy For You and A Thousand Splendid Suns, which earned the company nine awards. But there were so many other great performances and technical achievements recognized throughout the evening, here is a run-down of this year’s winners:
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble: It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Lunchbox Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Three-way tie between Christopher Hunt for 1979, Alberta Theatre Projects; Graham Percy for The Audience, Theatre Calgary; and Michael Tan for Wait Until Dark, Vertigo Theatre
Outstanding Projection or Video Design: Amelia Scott with illustrations by Tyler Jenkins for Crime Does Not Pay, Downstage and Forte Musical Theatre with support of Hit & Myth Productions
Outstanding Lighting Design: Anton de Groot for All’s Well That Ends Well, High Performance Rodeo, The Shakespeare Company and Hit & Myth Productions
Dean Ott/Debbie Boult Award Honouring Outstanding Achievement in Technical Production: Michelle Latta and Liz Sutherland
Outstanding Set Design: Anton de Groot with Alison Yanota for Crime Does Not Pay, Downstage and Forte Musical Theatre with support of Hit & Myth Productions
Outstanding Costume Design: Tie between Cory Sincennes for Crazy For You, Theatre Calgary, and Deitra Kalyn for All’s Well That Ends Well, High Performance Rodeo, The Shakespeare Company and Hit & Myth Productions
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Kathryn Kerbes for The Hollow, Vertigo Theatre
Outstanding New Play: Tie between Ursula Rani Sarma for A Thousand Splendid Suns and Joan MacLeod for Gracie
Outstanding Choreography or Fight Direction: Dayna Tekatch for Crazy For You — The Musical, Theatre Calgary and the Citadel Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design or Composition: David Coulter for A Thousand Splendid Suns, Theatre Calgary and the American Conservatory Theater
Greg Bond Memorial Award Honouring Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre in Calgary: Konrad Pluta
Duval Lang Theatre for Young Audiences Award: David and Sheryl Chantier
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama: Haysam Kadri for A Thousand Splendid Suns, Theatre Calgary and the American Conservatory Theater
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Comedy or Musical: Jamie Konchak for Crime Does Not Pay, Downstage and Forte Musical Theatre with support of Hit & Myth Productions
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Comedy or Musical: Andrew MacDonald-Smith for Crazy For You, Theatre Calgary and the Citadel Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama: Lil Beaudoin for Gracie, Alberta Theatre Projects, a Co-Production with Belfry Theatre
Outstanding Achievement Award: Grant Burns
Outstanding Musical Direction: Don Horsburgh for Crazy For You, Theatre Calgary and the Citadel Theatre
Outstanding Direction: Peter Hinton for All’s Well That Ends Well, High Performance Rodeo, The Shakespeare Company and Hit & Myth Productions
Outstanding Production of a Musical: Crazy For You, Theatre Calgary and the Citadel Theatre
Outstanding Production of a Play: A Thousand Splendid Suns, Theatre Calgary and the American Conservatory Theater
Kari Watson is a writer and former Listings Editor of FFWD Weekly, and has continued to bring event listings to Calgary through theYYSCENE and her event listings page, The Culture Cycle. Contact her at kari@theyyscene.ca.
