Creek Senior Amelia Mindlin-Leitner Wins Prominent Theater Award: See Moments From Bobby G Awards Ceremony Here
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts hosted Colorado’s annual Bobby G awards on May 16. The awards seek to honor exeptional high school theater cast and crew. A member of ThunderRidge High School’s The Addams Family cast (left) hugs a friend on the red carpet. Members of The Addams Family cast came in costume to the red carpet in preparation to perform later in the evening on the Buell theater’s stage.
May 22, 2023
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) hosted their annual Bobby G awards on Thursday. The program seeks to recognize outstanding achievement in high school theater, and hands out awards for exceptional action in design, performance, and more throughout the evening.
Named for former DCPA President Robert Garner, the Bobby Gs were founded by former DCPA President and Broadway Director Randy Weeks in 2013, and have worked to honor high school theater since. In 2023, 49 schools participated in the awards ceremony, competing against each other in 14 categories.
This year, two Creek students were nominated for awards. Seniors Amelia Mindlin-Leitner and Ryan Lie were nominated for outstanding achievement in Stage Management and Best Supporting Role consecutively. Mindlin-Leitner went on to win a Bobby G in her category.
“[It feels] absolutely incredible and also kind of insane. I feel proud of not only this accomplishment but also proud of and thankful for the cast, crew, and pit of The Man of La Mancha who worked so unbelievably hard to make this production possible,” Mindlin-Leitner said. “This award is really theirs too, as I could have done nothing without their constant support and inspiring talent.”
The Man of La Mancha, which Mindlin Leitner was the stage manager for, was Creek’s annual musical, held from March 8-11. Throughout the process, Mindlin-Leitner and others worked to produce a show that would not only be shown to Creek students but also to Bobby G adjudicators, who would decide which productions would be nominated for awards.
Mindlin-Leitner attributes much of her win to those who worked on the production with her, who are fellow Creek students and faculty.
“These people worked tirelessly on this production and kept my head on straight. I could easily speak for hours about how each one contributed blood, sweat and tears for over 3 months to ensure the show was a success,” she said.
When nominations were released, Mindlin-Leitner was surprised to see her name on the list. “I was shocked but also quite excited. When I submitted my materials to be considered, I was in no way expecting to be on the nomination list. I was excited about what being nominated could mean for the future of Creek theater and the knowledge of stage management,” she said.
Mindlin-Leitner’s award for the Claudia Carson Outstanding Achievement in Stage Management was the first to ever be awarded. The award recognizes the work that stage managers put into their shows, which range from facilitating communication with directors, actors, and crew; acting as a right hand to the directors; and overseeing technical elements like lighting and sound; as well as calling cues during the show to keep everything running. The award is named to honor Claudia Carson, the DCPA’s Education and Program Manager, who is set to retire this year after 25 years with the program.
“Her contribution to theater and theater education is immeasurable. Claudia made the Bobby Gs at the DCPA possible with her leadership of this impactful program, [and she] holds the Bobby Gs and all of you so close to her heart,” Allison Watrous, the DCPA’s Executive Director of Education and Community Engagement said during the ceremony.
The announcement of Carson’s retirement earned a standing ovation, and Mindlin-Leitner celebrated Carson’s contributions to the DCPA as well. “I’m so thankful to Ms. Claudia Carson for fighting for this award category to exist. I was honored just to be nominated and now having won, I can’t even begin to describe how thankful I feel,” she said.
Across all categories, schools won awards for costuming, hair and makeup, direction, overall performance, and two students were named for Outstanding Achievement in a Leading Role, an award that encompassed the student’s whole performance during their musical production.
Camille Nugent, who played Alice Murphy in Fossil Ridge’s production of Bright Star won alongside Connor O’Brian, who won for his portrayal of Shakespeare in Lakewood’s production of Something Rotten.
“I have to thank my two families, that is my mom and dad who are here tonight: thank you for helping me through all my endeavors, I am so blessed to have parents who never said no to my dreams,” O’Brian said during his acceptance speech. “And my second family, obviously, the cast and crew of Something Rotten and the entire LHS theater company- you have given me a home, somewhere to belong, somewhere to embrace who I am. Each and every one of you has inspired me to do my best, I love you all.”
Over the course of fourteen awards and three special achievement recognitions, the Bobby Gs were a night that many theater students would remember, whether they won something or not. The Bobby Gs served as a night where students could celebrate their achievements with others who shared their interests, and it concluded with a ceremony full of heartfelt speeches and outstanding achievements. See moments from the night below.
Full List of Winners:
Best Supporting Actress: Tass Rabilard as Hedy LaRue, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Erie High School
Best Supporting Actor: Micheal LoSasso as Nostradamus, Something Rotten, Lakewood High School
Rising Star: Camryn Leistico as Crutchie, Newsies Central High School
Hair & Make-Up Design: Sarah Duncan & Katie Skolad, The Addams Family, ThunderRidge High School
Lighting Design: Athena Peirson & Theo Tran, Something Rotten, Lakewood High School
Costume Design: Cole Emarien & Anna Katherine Mier, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Erie High School
Scenic Design: Lyric Bishop, Kaiya Brown, Paige Ioeger & Jason Watkins, Beauty & The Beast, Niwot High School
Orchestra: SpongeBob The Musical, Fort Collins High School
Musical Direction: Bri McCormick & Nate Wambolt, Bright Star, Fossil Ridge High School
Choreography: Remy Fenske & Ella Brosseau, The Addams Family, ThunderRidge High School
Chorus: Newsies, Central High School
Stage Management: Amelia Mindlin-Leitner, The Man of La Mancha, Cherry Creek High School
Direction: Tami LoSasso & Sophia Navarro, Something Rotten, Lakewood High School
Special Achievement in Parental Support: Mark Leistico, Newsies, Central High School
Special Achievement in Student Leadership: Gen Ruano, RENT, Hinkley High School
Special Achievement in Community Leadership: Nicholaus Sander, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Montezuma-Cortez High School
Best Leading Actress: Camille Nugent as Alice Murphy, Bright Star, Fossil Ridge High School
Best Leading Actor: Connor O’Brian as Shakespeare, Something Rotten, Lakewood High School
Production of a Musical: Something Rotten, Lakewood High School
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![As candidates start applying for positions through the website, coordinators are faced with the task to sift through all the applications and check resumes, as well as letters of recommendation, for the perfect teacher. “In the past, weve only had maybe 20 or 25 people apply for our [science department] jobs,” science department coordinator Stephen Smith said. “This year, we had twice as many apply.”](https://unionstreetjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_7823-300x200.jpg)
