In just the second season of their existence, an Airdrie theatre group is being recognized for the quality of their work.

Torchlight Theatre has received seven CAT award nominations from the Calgary Alliance of Community Theatres.  Founder and Artistic Director Chelsea Restall calls that amazing.

"It's really exciting. We're only in our second season so the fact that we even got anything is awesome. Being a company that's outside of the Calgary core, I think that's amazing that people are nominating us from the Calgary community and also our own community."

Restall explains how the nominations came about.  

"Torchlight is part of the Calgary Alliance of Community Theatres, which include places in Okotoks, Sundre, Canmore, myself and Nose Creek Players which is also in Airdrie.  The nominations are by adjudicators and judges who actually come out and watch the show, but it's also by Joe Blow from off the street who comes and watches a show and says, 'Oh wow, I really like that, I'm going to log on an nominate them', so it's kind of a mix of the theatre people and the audience base."

Torchlight received two nominations for their Christmas production of Scrooge - A Christmas Carol With A Twist.  Kate Dekker was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress and Chad Blain was nominated for Outstanding Soundscape.

The group received five nominations for their May production of Steel Magnolias.  Jen LeClaire was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play and Deborah Ferguson for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play.

Rylee Petkau was nominated for Outstanding Stagecraft and Blain received his second nomination for Outstanding Soundscape.

The production was also nominated for Outstanding Production of a Play with Restall herself the Producer.

Restall says 122 nominations have been given out in 22 categories this year.  The awards will be presented Saturday, August 26th at the Rosa Centre in Calgary.  

 

 Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com