DCPA NEWS CENTER
Enjoy the best stories and perspectives from the theatre world today.
Enjoy the best stories and perspectives from the theatre world today.
While the popular musical Wicked played to a capacity crowd in the Buell Theatre next door, it was lyrics from two other iconic Broadway musicals that wafted from the lobby of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, spread outside under the arch covering the Denver Performing Arts Complex and drifted throughout the nearby parking garage late Thursday night. Dozens of joyous students from Valor Christian High School were singing the irresistible refrain “Gimme, gimme that thing called love” from Thoroughly Modern Millie as they marched arm-in-arm to their cars while alongside them, others from Castle View High School belted, “I feel like I win when I lose” from the ABBA musical MAMMA MIA!
Abby Linderman. Photo by John Moore.
That song may be called “Waterloo,” but there were no losers on Thursday night. Rather, the seventh Bobby G Awards was heaven for two of Colorado’s youngest high schools, along with a crowd of about 2,000 students, educators, parents and theatre lovers.
Castle View High School, which only opened in Castle Rock in 2006, became the seventh different school to win the Bobby G Awards’ Outstanding Production of a Musical honor for its staging of MAMMA MIA! Director Rochelle Walter’s program won three awards for the second straight year, including Outstanding Direction and Scenic Design.
Meanwhile Valor Christian, which opened in Highlands Ranch in 2007, produced both the Outstanding Leading Actress and Actor: Seniors Abby Linderman, who played Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Kyler Hershman, who played Trevor Graydon. Both graduated just three hours before the start of the Bobby G Awards ceremony, and both are heading to Pace University in New York City in the fall.
Valor Christian Director Kurt Muenstermann with Outstanding Leading Actress Abby Linderman, left, and Kyler Hershman. Photo by John Moore.
“I am just stunned because these kids have such incredible hearts, and they have so many wonderful gifts. I am just glad to be a part of it all,” said Valor Christian Director of Theatre Arts Kurt Muenstermann, who previously directed 2017 Outstanding Leading Actress winner Elleon Dobias as well.
Linderman became the first student to win two Bobby G Awards on the same night. She and castmate Joshua Cellar, himself also nominated for Outstanding Actor, were part of a four-person Valor team that won for Outstanding Choreography. “I am so proud to be part of a community that is so passionate about storytelling,” said Linderman.
In all, 12 schools won at least one award on Thursday night while two – Vista Peak Preparatory and Fort Collins High School – took home two each.
The Bobby G Awards are the culmination of a year-long program administered by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts that emphasizes camaraderie and shared experiences while supporting, promoting and celebrating achievements in Colorado high-school musical theatre. This year, adjudicators considered musical productions from 45 Colorado high schools, of which 20 took part in workshops conducted by DCPA Teaching Artists. Thursday’s culminating celebration was another opportunity for theatre students from all over the state to commune, perform and mutually support one another’s work.
But there is also much at stake. The students named Outstanding Actor and Actress will go on to represent Colorado at The Jimmy® Awards/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards™ (NHSMTA) on June 24 at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City. Linderman and Hershman will participate in a 10-day series of intensive classes and workshops with Broadway actors, directors and designers leading up to the national awards ceremony, which is presented by The Broadway League Foundation and will be hosted this year by Broadway star Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen).
Students from the Bobby G Awards’ winning Orchestra from Palmer Ridge High School (‘Catch Me If You Can.’) Photo by John Moore.
Nine of the nominated Outstanding Leading Actors and Actresses. Photo by John Moore.
Each year, the 10 nominated Outstanding Actors and Actresses are invited to the Denver Center two weeks before the awards ceremony to prepare an original medley together in community and friendship, which they then perform at the ceremony. The current nominees are joined by the previous years’ winners in an annual ritual created anew each year by Denver Center Education Coordinator Claudia Carson. 2018 Outstanding Actress Abby Lehrer opened Thursday’s number with a clever sampling from the Les Misérables song “On My Own” – a reference to the absence of 2018 Outstanding Leading Actor Elisha Horne. He is currently performing in the Town Hall Arts Center’s production of Sister Act. Incidentally, one of the five 2019 Outstanding Actress nominees was unable to attend Thursday’s party for the same reason: Littleton High School junior Bella Hathorne is also performing in Sister Act.
In addition, casts from the five nominated Outstanding Musicals performed a number from their shows, each drawing thunderous response from the enthusiastic crowd. The challenge of resurrecting a musical number for the Bobby G Awards ceremony varies for each school because some of them staged their productions a few weeks ago, while others staged them last fall.
Presenter Candy Brown.
Among the highlights of the ceremony each year are remarks by presenters and winners alike. When student director Wesley Ferguson accepted his award for his part in Castle View’s MAMMA MIA, he drew cheers for saying: “No matter who you are, or who you were, or who you will be – you can always be someone else in theatre.”
Broadway veteran and theatre educator Candy Brown, who was in the original Broadway company of Chicago with Gwen Verdon, delivered stirring words to her future fellow performing artists before presenting four awards:
“Remember to be aware of everyone’s sacrifices, not merely your own. Remember to be responsible for yourself by showing up as the best you that you can be. Remember to support your tribe, cast, fellow students, coworkers, team, family. Remember to show up on time. … Remember to learn the history of those who came before you. Remember to always give above and beyond your best with no expectation. That way if you don’t get the applause or respect or whatever it is you expect, you won’t be disappointed. Relish the work, and then you will have great joy and gratitude for what you do receive. And above all, remember: You must never let casual become your beacon.”
The Master of Ceremonies for this year’s ceremony was Charlotte Movizzo, who won the 2016 Outstanding Leading Actress award for her portrayal of Charity Hope Valentine in Ponderosa High School’s Sweet Charity. “My involvement in the Bobby G’s helped me to make the decision to continue in performing,” said Movizzo, who is now pursuing a degree in musical theatre at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
The cast of Castle View High School’s ‘MAMMA MIA!’ performs before winning the 2019 Outstanding Musical Bobby G Award. Photo by John Moore.
Nominees for the Bobby G Awards are determined by scoring from a team of professional adjudicators who offer each school detailed, constructive feedback. Unlike other awards categories, the Outstanding Actor and Actress winners are determined by two equally scored criteria: First, the students are judged for their actual performances in their respective school musicals. The five students with the highest scores then go before a professional panel for a private, scored audition.
All participating schools received one personal master class session with a DCPA Education theatre teacher. Winners of the Outstanding Supporting Actor, Actress and Rising Star awards also earn a full year of free classes at the Denver Center. “Theatre is alive in Colorado,” said DCPA Education Director Allison Watrous. “The DCPA is proud to be a part of your journey.”
The Bobby G Awards were founded in 2013 by the late DCPA President Randy Weeks. They are named after late producer Robert Garner, who established Denver as a top destination for touring Broadway shows. “It’s safe for me to say the Bobby G Awards is one of our favorite things to work on each and every year,” said John Ekeberg, Executive Director of the DCPA’s Broadway Division. “And it is your talents, your passions and your energy that feed all of us.”
In the seven years of the Bobby G Awards, 28,000 Colorado students have participated in the program. More than 2,850 students have been involved in free workshops delivered by DCPA Education Teaching Artists. Since the Randy Weeks Memorial Fund was begun in 2015, five schools have received funding to help support their productions.
“Theatre is undeniably strong in Colorado,” Denver Center President and CEO Janice Sinden said in her introductory remarks. “Educators, we understand the incredible impact the arts have on the lives of our students, and we celebrate you.”
The 2019 Bobby G Awards winners. Photo by John Moore.
Outstanding Achievement in Hair and Make Up Design
Britney Juarez
The Little Mermaid
Fort Collins High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design
Elle Armstrong, Kari Armstrong, Ranier Kahl and Alida Kress
James and the Giant Peach
Poudre High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design
Chad Hawthorne
Chicago (High School Edition)
Discovery Canyon Campus
Other nominees:
Outstanding Achievement in Scenic Design
Rylee Carlson, Rose Goolsby and Rob Scott
MAMMA MIA!
Castle View High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography
Joshua Cellar, Jamie Geary, Abby Linderman and Caroline Younger
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Valor Christian High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Achievement in Musical Direction
Mary Bateman and Beau Bryson
Les Misérables
Boulder High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Performance by a Chorus
Big Fish
Ralston Valley High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra
Catch Me If You Can
Palmer Ridge High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Ellie Hill
Sister Mary Patrick
Sister Act
Regis Jesuit High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Gabriel Ureño
Mereb
Aida
Vista PEAK Preparatory
Other nominees:
Rising Star (Outstanding Underclassman)
Gatlin Zbylski
Chef Louis
The Little Mermaid
ThunderRidge High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Abby Linderman
Millie Dillmount
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Valor Christian High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Kyler Hershman
Trevor Grayden
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Valor Christian High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Rochelle Walter and Wesley Ferguson
MAMMA MIA!
Castle View High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
MAMMA MIA!
Castle View High School
Other nominees:
Outstanding Special Achievement in Student Leadership
Kelsey Renee Hurt
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Central High School
Outstanding Special Achievement in Design Process
Jason Tyler and the Tower Theater Program
The Little Mermaid
Fort Collins High School
Outstanding Special Achievement in Props Management and Design
Olivia Martinez
Aida
Vista PEAK Preparatory
Adjudicators made up of professional working theatre artists attended the participating high schools’ musical theatre productions. Using the standards set by The Bobby G Awards training and criteria, as well as their own professional experience, these adjudicators complete extensive evaluation forms offering detailed feedback on all of the various elements involved with staging a musical production. Participating schools receive a copy of the forms complete with each adjudicator’s comments, praise, and constructive criticism designed to motivate growth and recognize success. These evaluations serve as a foundation for the nominations.