Golden Lanyard Awards

The 2023 Golden Lanyard Award Winners!

Audience-driven Awards 

Spirit of the Fringe

• A Swimming Lesson in a Theatre Without a Lifeguard by an alleged Theatre Company

Audience Picks

• Grindr Help Desk: The Musical by David Stillman
• New Origins: Beauty and the Beast by Two Minnie Cooks
• A Girl Scout's Guide to Exorcism by Melancholics Anonymous

Venue Picks 

• Adaptopus by Hercules Theatre Company at Augsburg Main
• The Very Model of a Modern Monster Scientist by Mermaid Productionsat Augsburg Studio
• Grindr Help Desk: The Musical by David Stillman at Mixed Blood Theatre Company 
• BRUTUS by Rebecca Wickert and Ella Eastman-Kiesow at Theatre in the Round 
• A Girl Scout's Guide to Exorcism by Melancholics Anonymous at Rarig Arena 
• 1992: Mistakes Were Made! by Jason Schommer at Rarig Xperimental 
• 5-Step Guide to Being German by Paco Erhard at Rarig Thrust 
• Ha Ha Da Vinci by Phina Pipia at Southern Theater

Fringe with Benefits Member Pick 

• Baldwin's Last Fire by Black Lives Black Words International Project

Artist-driven Awards 

Artist Picks:

• "Starved": The Astonishing True Story of the University of Minnesota Starvation Experiment by Pat O'Brien
• Ha Ha Da Vinci by Phina Pipia
• A Girl Scout's Guide to Exorcism by Melancholics Anonymous

Underdog Award 

• The Definition of Loss by Ashen Armor Productions

Staff-driven Awards

• Reincarnation Soup by Viet Nguyen presented by Amber Bjork, Artist Liaison / Office Manager
• Funny, Like an Abortion by EnCompass Theatre,  presented by Felicia Cooper, Director of Audience & Volunteer Engagement
• we can wish: a beatboxing and music variety show by musicbyskippy, presented by Mitchell Frazier, Festival Technical Director
• Phoneix Presents by Phoenix Theater, presented by Ariel Pinkerton, Community Liaison

Beverlee Award was given to our dedicated patron, Nanette Stearns

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The 2022 Golden Lanyard Award Winners!

Audience-driven Awards 

Spirit of the Fringe

• 3 Guys on Stage Who Get Hit with Hot Dogs, Snow Cones, etc. - an alleged Theatre Company

Audience Picks

• On a Stick: A Minnesota State Fair Musical - Literally Entertainment
• Endometriosis: the Musical - Ripped Nylons Productions
• My Empty Arms - Broken Wing Productions

Venue Picks 

• Burr: A New Musical - The CHurchill THeater at Augsburg Main
• Black Wall Street: Dreamland Theatre - Doc Woods & Friends at Augsburg Studio
• Developers - Michael Rogers at CFPA Black Box
• 3 Guys on Stage Who Get Hit with Hot Dogs, Snow Cones, etc. - an alleged Theatre Company at CFPA Flex
• Changing the Narrative: Climate Stores for Justice - Change Narrative LLC. at Bryant Lake Bowl
• Moonwatchers - Killer Whale Collective at HUGE
• A Day with the Newhearts - Meloncholics Anonymous at Mixed Blood Theatre Company
• Endometriosis: the Musical - Ripped Nylons Productions at Theatre in the Round 
• Orzel Rising - Hey Rube! at Rarig Arena
• The Hysterical Woman - Fortune's Fool Theatre at Rarig Xperimental 
• Desi Heart Crust - SAATH at Rarig Thrust 

Fringe with Benefits Member Pick 

• 'WHOOSH! The Civil War Mythology of Michael Hickey and His Perilous Precipitation Oer St. Anthony Falls.' - Wheeler In The Sky

Artist-driven Awards 

Artist Picks:

• 'WHOOSH! The Civil War Mythology of Michael Hickey and His Perilous Precipitation Oer St. Anthony Falls.' - Wheeler In The Sky
• Orzel Rising - Hey Rube!
• Finger Lickin' Good - Special When Lit
• Peace Retreat - New Endeavors
• Endometriosis: the Musical - Ripped Nylons Productions

Underdog Award 

• Moonwatchers - Killer Whale Collective

Staff-driven Awards

• TRAITOR - Rogue and Rabble Dance, presented by Amber Bjork, Artist Liaison / Office Manager
• Swords & Sorcery: The Improvised Fantasy Campaign - The Bearded Company,  presented by Kaitlen Osburn, Business Operations Director
• The Withcy World of Luna Muse - Luna Muse, presented by Mitchell Frazier, Festival Technical Director
• Becoming Baba Yaga - Laura Packer, storyteller, presented by Angela McLaughlin, Development & Communication Director

Fringe-spiration Award

• Jon Bennett: FIRE IN THE METH LAB - 2HOOTS PRODUCTIONS

A Joyful Mess Award

• Help Me Help You Help Yourself - Your Silent Partner

Beverlee Award was given to our gracious patron Florence Brammer

Red Locks 'Give it a Shot' Award was presented by Kieran Folliard to Connor's Gonna Tell: The Táin Bó Cúailnge - Mad Company

...Additionally, 60 awards were presented from artists to other artists for their inspiration, perspiration, and dedication to make the Minnesota Fringe Festival successful. Thank you!!!

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The 2019 Golden Lanyard Award Winners were:

Audience-driven Awards 

Spirit of the Fringe

• Chisago: The Musical - Haute Dish Productions
• Fool Muun Komming! [BeBgWunderful/YEsyes/4sure.Hi5. TruLuv;Spank Spank:SOfun_Grate_Times] - Sam Kruger

Audience Picks

• The Scranton Strangler: An Office Musical - Literally Entertainment
• Chisago: The Musical - Haute Dish Productions
• STOOPIDITY - Ian McCarthy, Michael McKitt & Domino D’Lorion

Venue Picks

• Minneapolis Human Rhythm Project - Keane Sense of Rhythm at Barker Center
• Decision Artist: A Comedy Mind Reading Show about Decision Making - Kristoffer Olson, Funny Magician at Strike Theater
• Booth’s Ghost - Andrew Erskine Wheeler at Ritz Mainstage
• Which Middle Name of Philip Seymour Hoffman Are You? - An Alleged Theatre Company at Ritz Studio
• You are Cordially Invited to the Life and Death of Edward Lear - The Winding Sheet Outfit at The Crane Theater
• Quiet Riot - Broken Box Mime Theater at Augsburg Mainstage
• Chocolate Covered Chicken Wings - Paradox Productions at Augsburg Studio
• Operation: Immigration - Wandering Jew Productions at Mixed Blood Theatre Company
• Xena and Gabrielle Smash the Patriarchy by Mermaid Productions at Theatre in the Round
• A Cult Classic - Sheep Theater at The Southern Theater
• Edith Gets High - Devious Mechanics at Rarig Arena
• STOOPIDITY - Ian McCarthy, Michael McKitt & Domino D’Lorion at Rarig Xperimental
• The Scranton Strangler: An Office Musical - Literally Entertainment at Rarig Thrust

Fringe with Benefits Member Pick

• You are Cordially Invited to the Life and Death of Edward Lear - The Winding Sheet Outfit

Artist-driven Awards

Artist Picks:

• Fool Muun Komming! [BeBgWunderful/YEsyes/4sure.Hi5. TruLuv;Spank Spank:SOfun_Grate_Times] - Sam Kruger
• Booth’s Ghost - Andrew Erskine Wheeler
• A Confederate Widow in Hell - Breaker/Fixer Productions

Underdog Award

• Unproblematic Faves: Best of Ladybrain - Ladybrain

Staff-driven Awards

• Magic Girl - Emily Michaels King, presented by Jay Gilman, Artistic Director
• RELIC - Jesse Factor, presented by Amber Bjork, Artist Liaison / Office Manager
• Adventuring While Black in Great Britain - The Adventures of Les Kurkendaal, presented by Liz Neerland, Festival Technical Director
• Beowulf - John Heimbuch, presented by Kaitlen Osburn, Director of Audience & Volunteer Services

Beverlee Award was jointly given to Candice & Sarra Beckham-Chasnoff.

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The 2018 Golden Lanyard Award Winners were:

Audience Picks:

• Not Fair, My Lady! - Colleen Somerville Presents
  
• My 4 Bodies - Nightfox Stage Productions
  
• DREAMING - Gabriel Mata/Movements
  
• Next: The Musical (A Sidekick Story) - Foxlin 

Spirit of the Fringe: 

• Hamlet, but Hamlet's a Chicken - Grand Island Theatre
  

Venue Picks:

• Next: The Musical (A Sidekick Story) - Foxlin  at Augsburg Studio 
  
• Inescapable - Concrete Dropsat Augsburg Main
  
• WHALES - Hit the Lights! Theater Co.  at Ritz Main
  
• Estate of Affairs - So Shall I  at Ritz Studio 
  
• Slapdash Panic: Comedy Suitcase ended up in the Fringe Festival with 3 weeks notice and no show! - Comedy Suitcase  at Strike Theater
  
• Not Fair, My Lady! - Colleen Somerville Presents  at Mixed Blood Theatre
  
• Hamlet, but Hamlet's a Chicken - Grand Island Theatre  at Minnsky Theatre
  
• Summers in Prague - Sidecar Theatre  at Rarig Arena 
  
• Couple Fight: The Musical! - Weggel-Reed Productions  at Rarig Thrust
  
• Forsythian Dweller's Club - Bittersweet Arts Co.  at Rarig Xperimental
  
• Blood Nocturne - The Winding Sheet Outfit  at Southern Theatre
  
• A Justice League of their Own - Mainly Me Productions  at Theatre in the Round
  

Fringe With Benefits Members' Pick

• Blood Nocturne - The Winding Sheet Outfit
  

Artist-driven Awards

Artist Picks:

• Swords & Sorcery: The Improvised Fantasy Campaign - The Bearded Company Minneapolis
  
• WHALES - Hit the Lights! Theater Co.
  
• Blood Nocturne - The Winding Sheet Outfit 

Underdog Award: (awarded to a first-time-at-Minnesota-Fringe-first-time producer/company)

• Not Fair, My Lady! - Colleen Somerville Presents
  

Staff Picks

• Still, Or I've Been Choreographed - Kevin Williamson + Company (Awarded by Jay  Gilman, Artistic Director)
• Stark Dance: Politics, Religion, Sex - Fearnot Dance (Awarded by Liz Neerland, Technical Director)
• (a) Normal Theatre Play - Goof Goof (Awarded by Amber Bjork, Artist Liaison/Office Manager)
• Abeyance - Tyler West (Awarded by Kaitlen Osburn, Director of Audience & Volunteer Services)