Creek Senior Amelia Mindlin-Leitner Wins Prominent Theater Award: See Moments From Bobby G Awards Ceremony Here

Quinn Rudnick

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.

Quinn Rudnick, Managing & Sports Editor

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. 

  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.”

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.”

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  • 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.

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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