Haunting play wins 3 Calgary theatre awards
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 | 1:00 AM ET
CBC News
NiX won Betty Mitchell awards for best set and best lighting for its innovative design set on an ice rink. (Alberta Theatre Projects) Alberta Theatre Project's production Studies in Motion: The Hauntings of Eadweard Muybridge was the big winner Monday evening at the Betty Mitchell Awards in Calgary.
The story of a famous photographer haunted by a killing in his past won three awards, including best production, at the annual celebration of the best in Calgary theatre.
Vancouver choreographer Crystal Pite, who created the mesmerizing movements of the original Vancouver production and oversaw the choreography of the Calgary production, earned the Betty for outstanding choreography.
Another Betty went to Patrick Pennefather, a composer specializing in electronic music, who wrote the score for the play, which recalls a period when Muybridge's experiments with photography approached the creation of film.
The Clockmaker by Stephen Massicotte was named best new play. (Alberta Theatre Projects) Alberta Theatre Projects had another winner with the metaphysical romance The Clockmaker by Calgary-based playwright Stephen Massicotte, which was named best new play.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a musical based on the film of the same name about duelling con men, won two Bettys, including best musical.
The Theatre Calgary production also earned Stephen Woodjetts a best musical direction honour.
The ATP's new artistic director, Vanessa Porteous, won the award for best direction for When That I Was..., a one-man show she directed for the Shakespeare Company that is a love letter to the Bard. Christopher Hunt won a best actor Betty for his performance.
NiX, the innovative production created on an ice rink by ATP, Ghost River Theatre and Only Animal theatre troupe, won awards for best set and best lighting.
Set designer Carl Schlichting created a post-apocalyptic world of ice and snow for the production, with lighting by William Hales.
Bettys for performance went to:
- Best actress in a comedy or musical (tie): Ava Jane Markus, The Attic,The Pearls and Three Fine Girls and Jan Alexandra Smith, An Ideal Husband.
- Best actor in a comedy or musical: Bruce Horak, Evil Dead: The Musical.
- Best actress in a drama: Nicola Lipman, Another Home Invasion.
- Best supporting actress: Shawna Baird, Frozen.
- Best supporting actor: Christian Goutsis, The Mousetrap.
