[e-drive][AWARDS: BETTY MITCHELL AWARDS, CALGARY]

[Kaethe Yanovsky]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~e-drive~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JOE CLARK TO PRESENT AT 2002 BETTY MITCHELL AWARDS

Former Prime Minister of Canada, leader of the Progressive
Conservative Party of Canada, and MP for Calgary Centre, the Right 
Honorable Joe Clark will join the Calgary professional theatre 
community on Monday, August 26, 2002 at Stage West for the 2002 Betty 
Mitchell Awards.  Mr. Clark, along with a number of theatre 
professionals and members of the Calgary community, will be presenting 
one of the 15 coveted Betty Mitchell awards celebrating theatrical 
excellence.

The Betty Mitchell Awards steering committee is thrilled that Joe
Clark will be presenting at this year's awards ceremony.  Bettys 
steering committee member Laurie Leier stated "The arts are an asset 
in a city of innovation and progress, which Mr. Clark recognizes.  We 
are pleased that a political figure of his profile is sharing this 
celebration with the professional theatre community."

The Betty Mitchell Awards, named for a pioneer of Calgary's theatrical
community, Dr. Betty Mitchell, were started in 1998 to celebrate and 
honour outstanding achievement in Calgary's professional theatre 
community.  The 2002 Bettys mark the fifth year of recognizing 
excellence in Calgary's professional theatres.  The united front the 
Bettys represents continues to encourage audience growth as it raises 
the profile of live performance in our city.

Dave Kelly and Karen Johnson-Diamond will be co-hosting the 2002 Betty
Mitchell Awards.  Recipients of the juried Greg Bond Memorial Award, 
The Dean Ott / Debbie Boult Award, the Betty Mitchell Award for 
Outstanding Contribution to Theatre in Calgary, and the STRAIGHT 
Choice for Outstanding Newcomer will be announced along with 15 
balloted awards.

Various award nominees, award recipients, and members of the theatre
community will be available for comments and interviews.

Celebrating the past season on the eve of the new, the Betty Mitchell
Awards will be held on Monday, August 26, 2002 at Stage West, 727 - 42 
Avenue S.E.  The gala ceremony is always a great success and this year 
promises to be no exception Tickets are $36.00 and can be purchased at 
Vertigo Mystery Theatre Administration Offices: Suite 200, 918 - 6th 
Ave SW; phone 221-3708.  Doors open for dinner at 5:30pm and the 
ceremonies start at 7:30pm.