Bobby G Awards Outstanding Chorus nominee: ThunderRidge High School

The Bobby G Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in Colorado high-school musical theatre. The sixth annual awards take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 24, at the Buell Theatre. (Reserve your seat here)

Each year, we single out one category for further recognition on the NewsCenter. This year, we are spotlighting the five schools nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Chorus with a selfie video shout-out (above), along with an Q&A with each school’s Choral Director. Next up: ThunderRidge High School’s Bring it On: The Musical in Highlands Ranch.

THUNDER RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

Once Upon a Mattress
Kylene Hurley, Director

  • Hurley, Kylene Bobby G Awards How does one become a Choral Director, anyway? I’m the theatre teacher, but the music director is a man who is involved in many musicals around the area. He played piano for PACE center musicals, Magic Moments, his church, many other high schools, Colorado School of Mines musicals and more. He was out in NY for many years doing this professionally.
  • Which singing range is hardest to find at your school? In our theatre department, we have very few baritones.
  • What is the value that a full and robust (and on-key) chorus brings to an overall production? They are the meat of the production. They are the energy of the production. When the energy is elevated by the ensemble, the whole production is elevated in quality.
  • What’s the one thing you wish people knew about the chorus of a high-school musical production? How much work goes into being in the chorus. There is a perceived lack of importance, but really they work just as hard as everyone else. 
  • What do you say to a student who is disappointed to ‘only’ be a chorus member? I would tell them, ‘Every single one of you contributes because you all get to create your own characters.’ I also would talk to them about the many times I walked away from a show remembering a chorus member over a lead performer. 
  • What is the greatest chorus performance you have ever witnessed? We just saw The Who’s Tommy at DCPA. The chorus is imperative to the plot line. They play multiple different characters throughout the play.  Without the chorus, Tommy’s storyline does not exist. They play doctors, family members, fans, and more — all supporting Tommy in his ups and contributing to his downs.

Reserve your seat for the May 24 Bobby G Awards

  • What does it mean to your kids to be nominated for a Bobby G Award as a choral ensemble? They are so excited. This is our first nomination. They can’t wait to get dressed up and go to the Denver Center. I think they’ll have a blast, win or lose.

  • What has this experience taught you about the value of music education and extracurricular activities at your school? They are so important. The performing-arts department is a place where everyone is welcome, and everyone has value. 

ThunderRidge High SchoolThunderRidge High School’s ‘Once Upon a Mattress’


Selected recent coverage of the Bobby G Awards:



Our series of featured Outstanding Chorus nominees (to date)








Meet our nominated Outstanding lead actors and actresses:

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

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