DENVER • Two Colorado Springs area students won major awards Friday night at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ 10th annual Bobby G Awards. The ceremony, held at Buell Theatre, celebrates achievement in Colorado high school musical theater.

Caleb Kezeor of Woodland Park High School was one of two winners for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role, which means he will advance to represent Colorado at the national Jimmy Awards on June 24 at the Minskoff Theatre, home of Disney’s Broadway production of “The Lion King.” Kezeor played Quasimodo in Woodland Park’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

In addition, Ana Barringer of Liberty High School was honored for Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role for playing Bambi Bernet in “Curtains.” In her program bio, Barringer wrote that her love for dance and musical theater began at age 4.

Kezeor, a graduating senior, was also part of Woodland Park High School’s Envirothon Team that last month won the state championship for natural science and environment. That team is headed to the International Envirothon this summer in New York. This fall, he will study musical theater at Oklahoma City University.

Kezeor’s mother, Kelly Kezeor, not only is a board member for the Jr. Woodland Players, a children’s theater in Divide, she is a Bobby G Award nominee herself. She was part of a team of three nominated for creating the scenic design for “Hunchback.”

In “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” Kezeor played the iconic, hunchbacked bell ringer who longs to join the outside world.

“As we went through the rehearsal process, my nerves started to kick in, which soon accompanied the need to be amazing,” Kezeor told the DCPA NewsCenter. “Yet I feel that pushed me to be better and better.”

Kezeor said playing Quasimodo was his toughest yet most fulfilling role.

“It helps ease the stress when you have a strong support system,” he said. “I find that even when I’m having off days, the theater folk always help me to feel a lot better.”

In all, 51 high school musicals were considered. The list of winners is posted at denvercenter.org.