Philly Fringies
What Are the Philly Fringies?
The Philly Fringies are the Philadelphia Fringe Festival’s audience choice awards for Independent Artists. The Fringies are a fun way to engage more deeply with the festival and it’s artists.
2026 Fringies Winners
Five Star Award:
The show with the most five star votes
Egg and How I Learned to Save Myself; Nicole Burgio & Jo Kramer Bailey / Burgio Wong Performance
Theater:
The Whole F**king Twilight Saga…in 60 Minutes; Theatre Contra
Comedy:
My Dog is Dead and You’re the Father; Isabel Beck-Roe, Dom Arp, Alex Braslavsky, Kelly Conrad, Kelsey Hébert, Jake Lucas
Dance:
Egg and How I Learned to Save Myself; Nicole Burgio & Jo Kramer Bailey / Burgio Wong Performance
Cabaret & Variety:
What Had Happened Was; Heavy R. Cream
Interactive Experience:
Eloise Bites the Hand that holds her; Gene Farbe
Music:
Wherever You Are; in situ
Clown:
Red Dye 40 and Diarrhea Jones Marry the Night; Madoc & Chelsea LLC (Live, Laugh, Clown)
Circus:
2nd Hand Circus; 2nd Hand Circus
Art for Young Audiences:
Baby Whale and the Plastic Ocean; Philadelphia Children’s Theater
Storytelling & Spoken Word:
Happy Camper; Sherri Hope Culver
Film:
House of Guns – Gunslinger’s Ball; Incredible Dreamz
Visual Arts:
Heart2Art; BreakTheCycle215 – Squirt
Honorable Mentions
returned, iridescent; Theatre by Development
Forge; Antihero Theatre Company
And Her Name Was Pickles; Dani Brugger
VOLTA; The Hum
Situational Beaver; Chip Sinton, Lea Dovon Sorrentino, Jake Symbol & company
Betsy Ross Groundhog Day; Grace Lazarz, Patrick Burke, Claire Bronchick
Notice Me, Gwyneth; Matthew Reid
We’re All Gonna Stop Die So Stop Caring; Nazeer Art’aud
Jake Strong’s Magic Show; Jake Strong
The Light Between; A Modern Cabaret with PJ Casbar and Tom McCormack
JENder BENDER; Jen Fellman and Drew Wutke
Karen Tenderness in DOPPEL BÄNGER; Asteroid B612
Impersonator; Spencer Boyce
Shtick presents: Yam On! We Can’t Go On. We Yam On; Lard Dog (Steven Erdman) & the Band of Shy
Opera on Tap Philadelphia Presents: Pagliacci; Opera on Tap Philadelphia
2026 Fringies Frontrunners
2026 Week 1 Frontrunners
Theater:
Stoop Bitch / The LAB
The Melon’s Cry / The Kammerspiel
Christmas Carol: The Rap Musical / Michael Radzwilla
The Sicilian Dilemma / Joe Canuso
DECLARATION / Joe Torsella
Comedy:
Betsy Ross Groundhog Day / Grace Lazarz, Patrick Burke, Claire Bronchick
We’re All Gonna Die So Stop Caring / Nazeer Art’aud
Cabaret & Variety:
Karen Tenderness in DOPPEL BÄNGER / Asteroid B612
I Don’t Dance! / Morgan Kirner
Dance:
Not Yet Complete / Bart.Co Dance x Canzonieri Dance collective
To Root, To Rise / Coke + Mentos Dance Co
DESCENDANZE: IN FULL EFFECT! / Native Nations Dance Theater & AfroDanze
Clown:
Red Dye 40 and Diarrhea Jones Marry the Night / Madoc & Chelsea LLC (Live, Laugh, Clown)
KACHONK / Suz Murray
Circus:
Lunarium / Skylark Circus Arts
ANARCHY! / The Rebellion Circus
Art for Young Audiences:
Baby Whale and the Plastic Ocean / Philadelphia Children’s Theater
Film:
House of Guns – Gunslinger’s Ball / Incredible Dreamz
Interactive Experience:
exotopia / Kirsten Lydic
2026 Week 2 Frontrunners
Theater:
And Her Name Was Pickles / Dani Brugger
VOLTA / The Hum
Custody / Lawrence Theatre Company
Americana Cosplay / Die-Cast
Bog Man / The Lemonade Stand
returned, iridescent / Theatre by Development
Comedy:
Betsy Ross Groundhog Day / Grace Lazarz, Patrick Burke, Claire Bronchick
Notice Me, Gwyneth / Matthew Reid
My Dog is Dead and You’re the Father / Isabel Beck-Roe, Dom Arp, Alex Braslavsky, Kelly Conrad, Kelsey Hébert, Jake Lucas
Cabaret & Variety:
Karen Tenderness in DOPPEL BÄNGER / Asteroid B612
The Light Between / A Modern Cabaret with PJ Casbar and Tom McCormack
Dance:
Masks Off / El Rizal & Joshua Marquez
Egg and How I Learned to Save Myself / Nicole Burgio & Jo Kramer Bailey / Burgio Wong Performance
Clown:
Red Dye 40 and Diarrhea Jones Marry the Night / Madoc & Chelsea LLC (Live, Laugh, Clown)
Art for Young Audiences:
Baby Whale and the Plastic Ocean / Philadelphia Children’s Theater
Music:
Opera on Tap Philadelphia Presents: Pagliacci / Opera on Tap Philadelphia
Wherever You Are / in situ
Interactive Experience:
The Untitled Court Show / Rachel O’Hanlon-Rodriguez
Visual Arts
Heart2Art / BreakTheCycle215 – Squirt
2026 Week 3 Frontrunners
Theater:
returned, iridescent / Theatre by Development
Forge / Antihero Theatre Company
A Murder Most Felt; or, It’s Not Easy Bleeding Green / Murder Most Felt
The Whole F**king Twilight Saga… in 60 Minutes / Theatre Contra
Comedy:
Notice Me, Gwyneth / Matthew Reid
My Dog is Dead and You’re the Father / Isabel Beck-Roe, Dom Arp, Alex Braslavsky, Kelly Conrad, Kelsey Hébert, Jake Lucas
Situational Beaver / Chip Sinton, Lea Devon Sorrentino, Jake Symbol & company
Jake Strong’s Magic Show / Jake Strong
Cabaret & Variety:
Shtick presents: Yam On! We Can’t Go On. We Yam On. / Lard Dog (Steven Erdman) & the Band of Shy
Impersonator / Spencer Boyce
What Had Happened Was / Heavy R. Cream
JENder BENder / Jen Fellman and Drew Wutke
Dance:
ROOMS/THRENODY – SOKOLOW/ANTHONY / Dancefusion & Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble
Egg and How I Learned to Save Myself / Nicole Burgio & Jo Kramer Bailey / Burgio Wong Performance
Film:
House of Guns – Gunslinger’s Ball / Incredible Dreamz
Interactive Experience:
Eloise Bites the Hand that holds her / Gene Farbe
Circus:
2nd Hand Circus / 2nd Hand Circus
Body as an Archive / Junru Wang
Storytelling & Spoken Word:
Happy Camper / Sherri Hope Culver
Past Years Fringies Winners
2025 Winners
Five Star Award (The show with the most five star votes) – Urinal, Theater By Development
Theater – Queerano, or A Very Great Mischief, Wolfsmouth Players Company
Dance – Helpful Hints for Strength and Health for Busy People, Rhonda Moore + Ben Grinberg | Almanac Projects
Comedy – Haute Glue, Rose Luardo
Immersive – Jake Strong’s Magic Show, Jake Strong Magic
Circus – Lunarium, Skylark Circus Arts
Music – The Beginning of the End: a rock opera by Bad Salmon, Bad Salmon
Art for Young Audiences – Ants on a Log Family Concert, Ants on a Log
Storytelling – It’s Giving…Single, Malaika Carpenter
Cabaret – Dan Kitrosser is KAREN TENDERNESS in QUEER WINDOW!, Asteroid B612
Visual Arts – Working Title, See/Hear Now Enterprises Worldwide
Film – The Women’s Film Festival 2025, The Women’s Film Festival
*BRAND NEW AWARD*
Clown – “Be Good!” with Paulette, Daniel Maseda
Runners Up
Time Loops, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts
The Great Philadelphia Comedy Magic Walk, Robert Malissa/Philly Magic Tours
Baby Everything, Lee Minora
Genetics, Amina Nefertari
Pennsylvania Semiconscious Liberation Army, Nick Gillette Improv
Alice Tierney, Opera on Tap Philadelphia
The Queen in Purple, Formed in Fright
Circumscribed: A True Tall Tale of One Father, Two Sons, and Thousands of Foreskins, Noam Osband/Lester W Productions
Get It Together, Woulder
Egg Project, Nicole Burgio & Miranda Jo Kramer
Miz Prophet Tells All, CCP Theater Program
Acute Exposure, The Lemonade Stand
Mommy & Momma or The Queerspawn Play, Em Harnett
Dogberry & Verges Are Scared, Slippery Trout Productions & Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
2024 Winners
F
The show with the most five star votes – The Tire Swing by The Circus Opera Company
Art for Young Audiences – Hundred Acre Park by My Mother Once Read
Circus – Finding Joy by Rebel Arts Movement
Comedy/Improv – Dead Dad Show by John Miller Giltner and Sasha Kostyrko
Dance – Self Help | PANOPTICON by mignolo dance/TARANTISM
Digital – Beauty Tips After 40 by Janine Renee Cunningham
Film – High and Dry: The Movie – Screening and Talk Back by A Famous Studio
Immersive/Interactive Experience – And the skies were not cloudy all day by Gene Farbe
Music – Tattoo Monologues by ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir
Nightlife & Cabaret – MADCAP & BUSTY by Michael “Dola” Amendola, Arantxa Chávez, Tenara Calem, Tyler Catanella, Graham Cook & Jo Kramer.
Storytelling – Walk Me Through Your Resume by Martha Cooney
Theater – Bluebird: A Cabaret by Curlyfish Productions
Visual Art/Installations – Rogues’ Gallery by See/Hear Now Pop-Up Enterprises Worldwide
Runners Up
ADHD Mixtape by Terry Brennan
All Quiet on the Western Front by Humble Materials
Black Joy: An Ancestral Offering to Liberation by Twin Eclipse
Crone Castle by Nulliparous Tits: Alicia McDaid and Rose Luardo
Forehand Down the Line by Thomas Choinacky
GHOST RIDE or the play that blows away by Agile Rascal Theatre
I Think It Could Work by Full Out Formula
Locker Room Pep Talk by Andrew Scharff
Love Lab by Love Lab Company
LoveBot: A Musical by Reed Bodenstein & Jimmy Boyle
On Buried Ground by Christ Church Preservation Trust
The Fluxus Brothers Present: Good Art Bad Art by The Fluxus Brothers
Where Sunflowers Dance by Quentin Charles Williams/ We The People Stage
2023 Winners
Five Star Award, The show with the most five star votes – Koal by Jacinta Yelland
Art for Young Audiences – Jack and the Beanstalk, Retold: A Children’s Puppet Show by Thomas High Performing Arts Class
Circus – Cirque Us Stories by Cirque Us
Comedy/Improv – The McManus Family Variety Hour and Interest Meeting (NOT A CULT) by McManus Family
Dance – PLAYLIST by Mallory Fabian
Digital – Making It Up (One Playwright to Another) by One Playwright Productions
Film – ‘City Sway’ Film Premiere by Chill Room Records
Immersive/Interactive Experience – Trans Party! by Matthias Volker
Music – Terry Pollard by The Philadelphia Jazz Tap Ensemble
Nightlife & Cabaret – HOMOS! A Solo Disaster Musical, Bitch. by Dan Kitrosser / Asteroid B612
Storytelling – The Softest Part of Her by Nikki Powerhouse
Theater – Eve by Kat Siciliano
Visual Art– Best-Laid Plans by See/Hear Now Pop-Up Enterprises Worldwide
Runners Up
KCBC X KCBCII: SUMMER SERIES by Klassic Contemporary Ballet Company
Kelly McCaughan: Catholic Guilt by Kelly McCaughan
Todorov’s Dirty Laundry by Nick Gillette Improv
Tristan Tzara Was My Best Friend In Junior High by Savannah Reich
Tea Party at the End of the World by IKantKoan Play/s
THE YELLOW WALLPAPER by Humble Materials
$7 Girl by Almanac Dance Circus Theatre
2022 Winners
Art for Young Audiences – Triggered by Danse4Nia
Circus – Bodies by Watermelon Bathtub
Comedy/Improv – STRESS EXORCIST by Mary McCool
Dance – KCBC x KCBCII: Summer Series by Klassic Contemporary Ballet Company
Digital – Next Chapter by Three Sheets
Film – Animation Nation IV by The Women’s Film Festival
Immersive/Interactive Experience – Yes, We’re Ready, We’ll Split an Order of Fries for The Table–Does That Work for You?–Sure, One Check Is Fine by Mike Durkin and Nick Schwasman
Music – Daughter of the Sea by Laura Lizcano
Storytelling – Lindsey Noel: I’m a Magician by Lindsey Noel
Theater – Scarlet Letter by Humble Materials
Theater – Oedipus in Seattle by Savannah Reich
Visual Art/Installations – Forever Never Lasts by See/Hear Now Pop-Up Enterprises Worldwide
2021 Winners
Circus – RagTag: A Circus in Stitches by Cirque Us
Comedy – yurodivy by Nick Gillette Improv (part of Cannonball Festival)
Dance – KCBC x KCBCII: Return to Müvment by Klassic Contemporary Ballet Company
Film – We Are More Than We Know by Justin Tyner
Immersive/Interactive – I Replaced Him with a Lamp & Nuptial Blitz by Gabrielle Revlock
Interdisciplinary – Of A Feather by Philly PACK
Music – Soundscape Visualz by Teyquil Skelton
Theater – The Choice by inFLUX Theatre Collective
Visual Art/Installations – Plein Air Guitar by Derek Ayres
3 weeks, 370+ shows, 100+ venues
Looking for other ways to explore the festival? Head back to our EXPLORE pages for more links, tips, and recommendations on navigating the Philly Fringe.
