Who’s leading the 2025 Betty Mitchell Awards? “Awoowaakii,” “Legally Blonde,” and more

What do you think of this year’s Bettys nominees?
Have your say in the Behind the Curtain People’s Pick—and you could win a pair of tickets to the big night!
Vote now and enter the draw.

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The nominations are out for the 26th annual Betty Mitchell Awards, and the races are intense.

The Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama category might be one of the most competitive in recent memory.

Lindsey Angell is nominated for her role as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, a performance that left audiences weeping with mixed feelings. She’s up against both queens from Mary Stuart — Lauren Brotman and Norma Lewis — who portrayed what’s often billed as a historical catfight in a more intimate, emotionally grounded way. Also in the mix is Joe Perry from The Woman in Black, a chilling turn that captured the terror and isolation of that abandoned mansion. Rounding out the category is Makambe K. Simamba, whose one-woman performance in Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers has already won national acclaim. That show is also nominated for direction, sound, projections, and choreography.

One of the most celebrated new works this year is Awoowaakii, which picked up seven nominations, including Outstanding Production of a Play, New Play, and multiple design and performance nods. Written by Sable Sweetgrass and directed by Alanis King, the play centres on a Blackfoot Two-Spirit woman and explores themes of family, healing, and identity in a modern-day Calgary apartment. It was described by King as “a ceremony” and “a chance to come together in hope.” The project has been years in the making behind the scenes at Theatre Calgary.

Also making strong showings:

Legally Blonde (Theatre Calgary with the Citadel) leads musicals with seven nominations, including lead and supporting performances, musical direction, choreography, and costume design. You still have a chance to catch it — the show runs until June 15.

The Strategy of War (Downstage) scored six nominations, including New Play, sound, lighting, and fight choreography.

Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers (Handsome Alice with Tarragon and Verb) also earned six nominations.

For their dueling 50th anniversary seasons, Alberta Theatre Projects picked up nominations for The Seafarer and Charlotte’s Web. The latter marks the return of a beloved family story not seen on Calgary stages in years.

And Lunchbox Theatre landed several nods for new work, including Twelve Days, starring Devon Brayne, who’s nominated for Outstanding Performance in a Musical. Go for Gold, Audrey Pham! by Camille Pavlenko also earned recognition. The play highlights an offbeat friendship formed during the 1988 Calgary Olympics.

Other multi-nominated productions include The Lehman Trilogy, The Seafarer, Charlotte’s Web, Twelve Days, and A Streetcar Named Desire.

The 2025 Betty Mitchell Awards take place on June 23.

Behind the Curtain is pleased to be offering a chance for one lucky winner to snag a pair of tickets to the awards show.

More information about that contest can be found here.

Full nominations at www.bettymitchellawards.com/

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NOMINATION COUNTS BY PRODUCTION

7 Nominations:
• Awoowaakii – Theatre Calgary
• Legally Blonde – Theatre Calgary with the Citadel Theatre

6 Nominations:
• The Strategy of War – Downstage
• Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers – Handsome Alice with Tarragon and Verb

5 Nominations:
• A Streetcar Named Desire – Theatre Calgary with the Citadel Theatre
• The Woman in Black – Vertigo Theatre
• Two Moons: A Folk Lullaby – Handsome Alice Theatre

4 Nominations:
• Twelve Days – Lunchbox Theatre and Forte Musical Theatre
• Mary Stuart – Sage Theatre
• Charlotte’s Web – Alberta Theatre Projects
• The Seafarer – Alberta Theatre Projects
• The Lehman Trilogy – Theatre Calgary with Arts Commons
• Proving Up – Ammolite Opera
• Austentatious – Forte Musical Theatre

3 Nominations:
• Echoes of the Land – Ghost River Theatre
• Static: A Party Girl’s Memoir – Inside Out and Chromatic Theatre
• The Da Vinci Code – Vertigo Theatre

2 Nominations:
• Go For Gold, Audrey Pham! – Lunchbox Theatre
• Blithe Spirit – Theatre Calgary
• The Play That Goes Wrong – Theatre Calgary with Citadel and Manitoba Theatre Centre
• BlueBeard’s Castle & Gianni Schicchi – Calgary Opera

1 Nomination:
• Every Brilliant Thing – Verb Theatre
• Twelfth Night – The Shakespeare Company
• I Don’t Even Miss You – Tiny Bear Jaws with One Yellow Rabbit and Verb Theatre
• Murder on the Links – Vertigo Theatre
• Liars at a Funeral – Alberta Theatre Projects

TOTAL NOMINATIONS BY COMPANY

• Theatre Calgary: 27 nominations
• Handsome Alice Theatre: 9 nominations
• Alberta Theatre Projects: 9 nominations
• Vertigo Theatre: 9 nominations
• Verb Theatre: 8 nominations
• Downstage: 6 nominations
• Lunchbox Theatre: 5 nominations
• Forte Musical Theatre: 5 nominations
• Ammolite Opera: 4 nominations
• Sage Theatre: 4 nominations
• Ghost River Theatre: 3 nominations
• Inside Out Theatre / Chromatic Theatre: 3 nominations
• Calgary Opera: 2 nominations
• Tiny Bear Jaws / One Yellow Rabbit: 1 nomination
• The Shakespeare Company: 1 nomination