ThunderRidge High School’s cast of The Addams Family poses for a photo on the Bobby G Red Carpet. ThunderRidge was nominated for multiple awards, including Rising Star, Hair & Make-Up Design, Costume Design, Choreography, Chorus, Direction, and overall Production of a Musical.

Before the awards ceremony started, parents, friends, and directors gathered around the red carpet to photograph actors. Many students came in costume to perform during the ceremony, or dressed up. DCPA staffers interviewed nominees and former winners on the red carpet as well, livestreaming the event to local news channels.

Two Creek students, seniors Amelia Mindlin-Leitner and Ryan Lie, were nominated for awards from the Bobby Gs. Mindlin-Leitner was selected for and won the Claudia Carson Outstanding Achievement in Stage Management award, and Lie was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. “This award is a reflection of my dedication to always looking for ways to do the Stage Management job better and more efficiently,” Mindlin-Leitner said. “There is always room for improvement in anything you do, and this is an attitude I plan to take forward with me throughout my college and professional career.”

Members of Central High School’s production of Newsies perform during the first showing of the night. Newsies follows the story of the Newsboys Strike in 1899 New York, where young children gathered to strike against popular news companies over raised purchasing prices. Each show nominated for Outstanding Production of a Musical performs at the Buell theater during the awards ceremony. Newsies did not win the award.

Two members of Central High School’s production of Newsies perform onstage, celebrating their escape from the police that were chasing members of the strike. Newsies cast member Camryn Leistico, who played Crutchie, won the Robert And Judi Newman Rising Star award for her outstanding performance as an underclassman. “[I would like to thank] the entire cast of ‘Newsies,’ I love you all so much,” Leistico said.

Allison Watrous, the DCPA’s Executive Director of Education and Community Engagement, gives her opening statement, describing the importance of the Bobby G’s to the audience. “Everybody just take a moment to share the joy that you have all put in the world with your work and your artistry, your work is really stunning and it’s so inspiring, and we applaud you for your tenacity and your unwavering commitment,” Watrous said during her speech.

ThunderRidge High School’s The Addams Family cast member Sophie Goldberg performs as Morticia Addams during the second performance of the night. ThunderRidge won two out of the seven awards they were nominated for: Sarah Duncan and Katie Skolad won for Hair & Make-Up Design and Remy Fenske and Ella Brosseau won for Choreography. During their speech, Fenske quoted Gomez Addams, a main character in The Addams Family, saying, “Let’s live until we die, and dance,” they said.

Ibrahim Souare, who plays Bobby Strong in Overland High School’s production of Urinetown speaks to a crowd during the third performance of the night. Urinetown discusses capitalism and how corporate mismanagement after a terrible water shortage leads to a government ban on the use of private toilets.

The cast of Overland High School’s production of Urinetown gathers around the lead character Bobby Strong, played by Ibrahim Souare, during their performance. Overland was nominated for Outstanding Choreography, Chorus, Direction, and Overall Production of The Musical, but did not win in any category.

Claudia Carson, the DCPA’s Education and Program Manager, laughs as it is announced that the Bobby G for stage management will be renamed to the Claudia Carson Outstanding Achievement in Stage Management. The title works to honor her work for the DCPA after her retirement. “I would also like to shout out Claudia Carson for her dedication to helping young theater artists. I am so glad this award is to be named after her,” Creek student Amelia Mindlin-Leitner, who won the award, said.

Camille Nuget performs as Alice Murphy in Fossil Ridge’s production of Bright Star, which was the fourth performance of the night. Bright Star follows the story of Alice Murphy’s journey to understand her past after falling in love with a soldier who returned from World War II. Nuget won Best Actress, and Bri McCormick and Nate Wambolt won for Musical Direction, although the school was nominated in four categories. “It feels strange to stand here alone because there are so many people whose words and guidance are a part of who I am and deserve to be seen just as clearly,” Nuget said during her acceptance speech.

Micheal LoSasso performs as Nostradamus in Lakewood High School’s Something Rotten during the fifth performance of the night. LoSasso won best Actor in a Supporting Role, the first award given during the ceremony. “It was a lot of fun bringing this goofy little character to life,” LoSasso said during his acceptance speech.

Ethan Hoover performs as Nick Bottom in Lakewood High School’s Something Rotten during the fifth performance of the night. Hoover was nominated alongside fellow Lakewood actor Connor O’Brian in the category for Best Actor, but did not win. Alongside O’Brian’s award for Best Actor, Lakewood’s cast also won four more awards. Micheal LoSasso won for Best Supporting Actor, Athena Pierson and Theo Tran won for Lighting Design, Tami LoSasso and Sophia Navarro won for Direction, and the whole cast and crew won Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical.

Connor O’Brian performs a part of Lakewood High School’s Something Rotten during the Leading Role Medley. Each nominee for Outstanding Achievement in a Leading Role, better known as Best Actor or Actress, performed in a group medley that featured individual performances of parts of their various musicals. O’Brian won the award for his portrayal of Shakespeare in Something Rotten. “I’m so grateful to be here today, and to be able to perform with all of these wonderful, talented people,” O’Brian said in his acceptance speech. “Thank you all so much for helping me make memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

Nominees for Outstanding Achievement in a Leading Role group together during their group medley, where each performed part of their individual musicals. There were ten nominees (from left to right:) Ethan Hoover (Lakewood), Rebekah Jacobs (Lutheran), Camille Nuget (Fossil Ridge), Blythe Lockwood (Arvada West), Evan McKercher (Erie), Mark Gomez (Pueblo County), Connor O’Brian (Lakewood), Juliette Molina (Niwot), Cooper Hand (Fossil Ridge), and Georgia Lawrence (Palmer Ridge). Out of the category, Nuget won for her portrayal of Alice Murphy in Bright Star, and O’Brian won for his portrayal of Shakespeare in Something Rotten.