Prolific local actor honoured for work
Calgary-based actor Christopher Hunt has been honoured with the 2018 Harry & Martha Cohen Award for his longtime contributions to the city’s arts community.
“Season after season, Chris has given performances that are significant, technically assured, innovative, subtle, engaging, amusing and often deeply moving,” said Hunt’s nominators Grant Reddick and Marilyn Potts. “He is a master of comedy, his energy and timing in farce are delightful, and he tackles serious drama with ease.”
Hunt’s prolific and award-winning 35-year career as an actor, teacher, mentor, and director began during his youth when he became involved in both his hometown of Okotoks’ community theatre and his high school drama club.
He has become particularly well-known for his versatility in both comedic and dramatic roles. Hunt has portrayed characters ranging from the age of 12 to 90, and depicted three Canadian political figures in the world premiere of Michael Healey’s highly acclaimed comedy 1979 as part of Alberta Theatre Projects’ 2016-17 season, for which Hunt was awarded his seventh Betty Mitchell Award.
Hunt expanded his career to include multiple acting credits across Canada in theatre, film and television, teaching, and theatre direction. Hunt returned to his alma mater as a professor of senior acting classes, delivered an opera training program at the Banff Centre for the Arts, headed a number of Theatre Alberta workshops, and has become a highly sought-after adjudicator at various play festivals. Hunt’s directorial work includes credits for both Calgary’s Lunchbox Theatre and Theatre Junction Grand.
“Chris navigates the roles of leader, mentor, collaborator and friend with an egoless grace,” said Vertigo Theatre’s artistic director Craig Hall. “Despite his success, his choice in projects is not driven by the scale of the theatre or the size of his paycheque, but by his desire to create great theatre and work with interesting people … If I had my way, every promising young actor in the city would get an opportunity to work with him and to follow his example.”
Since 1984, Alberta Theatre Projects has awarded The Harry and Martha Cohen Award to more than 35 outstanding industry members as a recognition of their significant and sustained contribution to the theatre industry in Calgary.