Golden Lanyard Awards

2025 Golden Lanyard Awards! 

Awardees were announced Sunday, August 10th during the 
Closing Night Party at The Cedar

Audience-driven Awards 

Spirit of the Fringe (1 recipient): Vote for the "Fringiest" production you saw in this year's Festival Season! Who made the boldest choices, took the most risks? Which piece took audiences on an adventure?

• "Your Hello To My Goodbye" by Cornucopia Productions

Audience Picks (3 recipients): Vote for your favorite production of the Festival Season!

• "Your Hello To My Goodbye" by Cornucopia Productions
• "The Lasso Way: A Musical" by Literally Entertainment
• "Joan of Arc for Miss Teen Queen USA" by Melancholics Anonymous

Venue Picks (8 recipients): The top selling production at each Fringe-managed venue (based on the first 4 performances).

• "Cabin Fever" by Small Waves
• "Your Hello To My Goodbye" by Cornucopia Productions
• "Final Dress" by MDV Productions
• "The Temporary Tattoo Trio" by an alleged Theatre Company
• "Songs Without Words (or, The Mendelssohn Plan)" by Jennifer Vosters
• "Joan of Arc for Miss Teen Queen USA" by Melancholics Anonymous
• "Death! A Musical" by Gabriel Shen | Twin Cities Youth Theatre
• "Breach" by Third Space Theater

Fringe with Benefits Member Pick (1 recipient): A special award for our year-round champions, Fringe with Benefits members, to select their favorite production.

• "Songs Without Words (or, The Mendelssohn Plan)" by Jennifer Vosters

Artist-driven Awards (ARTISTS: QR Codes for ballots*** were delivered at your technical rehearsal)

Artist Picks (3 recipients): Vote for one favorite company/production showcasing artistic achievement -- a prestigious, peer-given award! 

• "The Wickie" by Richie Whitehead
• "All Your Shimmering Gold" by SUPERMOON
• "Breach" by Third Space Theater

Underdog Award (1 recipient): Vote for the company -- producing here at Minnesota Fringe in the Festival for the first time -- which has taken the boldest risks, been the most ambitious newbie, and wowed you with their first show!

• "INSOMNIA DOGS" byCora Casper

Staff-driven Awards 

• "husk/vessel" by KAIROS Dance Theater
• "A Song in the Dark" by Vaky Vaky
• "Rat Mass" by The Church of Ratology
• "The Way Out Is Through" by Rainy Day Cabaret
• "One Who is Home" by Little Lamp Theatre Company
• "Against My Will" by Michael Quadrozzi

But Wait There's More

• "The Kendra Plant Variety Hour: Good Things Edition! -with special guests-" by Kendra Plant (Leap of Faith)
• "Salt" by Griffy LaPlante (Future of Fringe)
• "Neon Breeze" by The House in the Woods (Rockstar Production Team)
• "The Big Secret" by Brad Lawrence (This Is The Story We Need Right Now)
• "Boxcutter Harmonica" by Paper Soul (Flip of a Fringe Trope)
• "The Show Must Go On: A Backstage Escape Game" by David Pisa (Record Number of Performances)
• "La Tunda: A Reimagining of a Colombian Folklore" by JexArzayus Productions (Shots and Shrimps (IYKYK))

Special Awards 

The Beverlee Award honors the legacy of Beverlee Everett, mother of theater reviewer and playwright Matthew Everett. Each summer, Beverlee made the trip from Pennsylvania to Minnesota to tenaciously "Fringe-binge" with Matthew. Beverlee was a warm and wonderful presence to all who knew her. Our Fringe flame burns darker in her absence.

• Helene Barcelo

The Bryon Award honors the legacy of long-time Fringe Festival Theater Technician, Bryon Gunsch. As the Technical Director of the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater for over 20 years, Bryon was an essential member of their team as well as ours. This award will be bestowed on the Festival Tech who demonstrates Bryon's abundant creativity and resourceful ability to make theater magic with humble resources. The stage lights are dimmer in his absence.

• Emmet Kowler