This award was created to honour outstanding achievements in Calgary’s professional theatre community. Discover more about the Betty Mitchell Award on Calgary-Trend.
Who Was Betty Mitchell?
The award is named after Bessie “Betty” Mitchell, a pioneering figure in Calgary’s theatre scene, a Canadian theatre director, and an educator.
Born in the United States, Betty moved with her family to Alberta at the age of 16. Along with her mother, brother, and sister, she settled on a farm near Oyen.
Betty completed high school by correspondence and later attended a local educational institution in Calgary. She enrolled at the University of Alberta, majoring in botany, and it was there that she first explored and developed an interest in dramatic production. Her debut performance in the university’s first dramatic production marked the beginning of a lifelong passion for theatre.
After graduating, Betty began teaching botany at Calgary schools but never abandoned her love for the arts. She founded several theatre groups, including:
- The Green Room Club (1930),
- Side Door Playhouse (1932),
- Workshop 14 (1944).
Workshop 14 later merged with Mac Theatre Society to form Theatre Calgary in 1966.
Drama Educator in Schools
In 1935, under the guidance of William Aberhart, a former high school principal, fine arts were integrated into the school curriculum in Alberta, the first jurisdiction in North America to do so. Betty became one of the first drama teachers in high schools. By 1942, her work led to the debut of Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town. Professor Barclay Latham reviewed and praised the students’ efforts. Latham, a director of the Cleveland Play House and the head of the drama faculty at Western Reserve University, was so impressed that he recommended Betty for a Rockefeller Foundation scholarship.
Betty followed his advice, and in August 1944, she earned a Master’s degree in Theatre from Iowa State University. The research grant provided numerous opportunities for Betty, enabling her to visit the U.S. and study amateur, professional, and educational theatres. She later applied this knowledge to nurture other talented students.
Return to Calgary
Upon her return to Calgary, Betty established Workshop 14, named after the venue where the rehearsals took place. She recruited many of her former students, such as Kay Grieve, Betty Valentine, and Frank Glenfield, who became integral members of the theatre group.
Initially serving as an advisor, Betty quickly became one of the most effective leaders of the country’s top amateur theatre group. Workshop 14 garnered numerous awards, and many of Betty’s students went on to have successful theatre careers. In 1958, she received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta.
In addition to the theatrical award established in her honour in 1998, the Allied Arts Center Theatre in Calgary and the Betty Mitchell Theatre at Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium also bear her name.
The Creation of the Betty Mitchell Award
Betty Mitchell’s contributions to Calgary’s theatre history were recognized during her lifetime, and the award established in her name serves as a posthumous tribute.
Founded in 1998, the inaugural Betty Mitchell Award ceremony took place on August 24, 1998, with Lindsay Burns as the first recipient. The award celebrates outstanding achievements in Calgary’s professional theatre community.
For many theatre artists, the Betty Mitchell Award is a coveted honour, recognizing the incredible work showcased on Calgary’s stages each year.
An anonymous jury selects nominees across 18 categories based on eligible productions. The jury comprises 12 theatre professionals from various fields, forming the Betty Mitchell Awards nomination committee. To qualify, professional productions must run in Calgary for at least nine performances over two weekends.
The nomination data is compiled into a table for the committee, which then votes on the final nominees. These results are verified by an individual who has attended at least 25 eligible productions during the theatre season. Winners are announced during the ceremony.
The Original Betty Mitchell Award Statue
The original statue consisted of a metal base with a glass monolith featuring motifs of mountains and prairies. Local sculptor Petronella Overes designed the award, inspired by Calgary’s geography.
By the 10th anniversary of the award, Overes redesigned the statue, replacing the steel base with powder-coated aluminum and increasing the contrast between the metal and glass tones and textures.
In 2014, the design underwent another transformation, with the statue reimagined as a multicoloured glass sculpture in the shape of a teardrop. The design was crafted by the local glassblowing collective Bee Kingdom Glass. Each award is hand-blown, making every statue unique.
Award Ceremonies
Selection criteria emphasize originality, professional excellence, and contributions to the advancement of theatrical arts in Canada.
On June 24, 2019, the Betty Mitchell Award ceremony (for the 2018–2019 season) was held at Vertigo Theatre.
In 2019, Ahad Raza Mir became the first Pakistani actor to play Hamlet in Canada and received a Betty Mitchell Award for his portrayal of the titular character. That same year, Inuit actress Tiffany Ayalik was highly praised by Calgary’s theatre community.
The Value of the Award
For many in Canada’s theatre community, the Betty Mitchell Award holds great significance:
- Recognition: It honours outstanding achievements in Canadian theatre and inspires creativity.
- Prestige: Receiving the award elevates the status of theatrical arts in Canada and encourages its development.
- Community: The ceremony fosters connections within Canada’s theatre community, offering opportunities to network and exchange ideas.
- Legacy: The award preserves the memory of Betty Mitchell, celebrating her invaluable contributions to Canadian theatre.
A Major Cultural Event in Calgary
The Betty Mitchell Award is a prominent cultural event celebrating the finest achievements in Canadian theatre. Its annual ceremony serves as a reminder that the legacy of influential figures like Betty Mitchell lives on, inspiring future generations.
Nominees often describe the event as an incredible honour and a testament to Calgary’s rich theatrical tradition. Such recognition motivates artists to continue striving for excellence in their craft.
