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2024 Elgin Fringe Award Winners


Audience Favorite Performance: KELLY BOLTON

Fringegoers loved Kelly's original comedy show “Kelly Bolton Presents: Nice to Meet You!” that introduced audiences to a cast of memorable characters who are sure to stick in their minds and keep them laughing!




Audience Favorite Visual Art: GOING PLACES by Anna Lentz

Anna says this about her work, “I make artwork as a means to process my inner life. I rely heavily on bright, saturated color that demands to be looked at. It’s my hope that the colors and their shapes both unsettle and resettle into a new sensibility - a reordering that ultimately feels reassuring. In the end, each piece feels like a new home in which for me to reside. Hopefully, the viewer will join me there.”




Producers Award: GWEN COBURN

This award, given by the Fringe Planning Committee, recognizes a producer who brings positivity, professionalism, and respect to every interaction. Gwen’s dedication to collaboration, participation and support of other artists, and fully embracing the spirit of the Fringe made her stand out this year.


Coburn, a touring artist, performed her original comedy show, Sad Girl Songs, which drew strong attendance and received positive reviews from Fringe audiences.




Chris & Kathleen Mau Spirit of the Fringe Award: MARIE COONEY

This award honors the legacy of Chris and Kathleen Mau, who were instrumental in the festival's creation and ongoing success. This annual award recognizes those who embody the ethos of the Fringe: laughter, openness, community support, positivity, fringe nerdiness, creativity, and love. It celebrates individual contributions to fostering the unique and inclusive atmosphere of the festival.


Marie performed her original show, Pre-Perceptions, a collection of true stories, and shared her family’s cherished recipe for Irish Soda Bread.





 Percolator Award: THOMAS A. RODRIQUEZ This award, introduced in honor of Julie Leir-VanSickle’s standout 2023 performance, celebrates artists who push the boundaries of traditional theater and embrace innovation. Named after Julie’s unique piece featuring a coffee percolator, dance, theater, and audience engagement, the award recognizes those who think outside the "Fringe box”, challenge artistic norms, and create immersive, experimental performances.


Rodriguez’s "Upstairs Neighbor Music" show was a favorite among the Fringe audience. A special thanks to Julie Leir-VanSickle from Creative Moves for crafting a Percolator Amulet for this year’s winner!


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