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Awards & Contests

Patron's Picks

The winners of Patron's Picks represent the best selling show at each main venue. They are announced at the Awards Ceremony in the final week of the festival. Winning shows are awarded with an extra performance on closing night of the festival. 

24 Hour Playwriting Contest

2020 winner: The Smell of Earth by Michael Lee

The 24 Hour Playwriting Contest is generously supported by Centennial College – School of Communications, Media, Arts & Design.

The winner receives:

New Play Contest

2020 Winner: 9428 by AMIN KHEIROLLAHIZADEHSHIRAZI

Second Runner Up, receiving a $100 cash prize is: THIS WAY OUT by ANNIE ROSENBERG 
First Runner Up, receiving a $250 cash prize is: IF THE SHOE FITS by GENEVIEVE ADAM

The Fringe New Play Contest is the “hit-maker” of the Fringe theatre scene. Responsible for launching the careers of artists like Ins Choi and Kat Sandler, the New Play Contest gives an emerging artist the chance to have their work presented at the Fringe Festival for free – one of the only ways to circumvent the lottery process. The winner of the contest is offered:

The New Play Contest accepts applications every fall. The winner is notified at the Fringe Lottery Party in November. 

The New Play Contest is sponsored by the Aubrey and Marla Dan Charitable Foundation.

Past winners include:  "Checkpoint 300," by Michelle Wise (2019), “Women of the Fur Trade” by Frances Koncan (2018), “The Seat Next to the King,” by Steven Jackson (2017), “Cam Baby,” by Jessica Moss (2016), “Rukmini’s Gold,” by Radha Menon (2015), “Potosi,” by Alexander Offord (2014), ”The Oak Room” by Peter Genoway (2013), “Help Yourself” by Kat Sandler (2012), “Kim’s Convenience” by Insurp Choi (2011), “Short Story Long”  by joel fishbane (2010), “A Singularity of Being” by T. Berto (2009), “Wake” by Rachel Blair (2008), “Expiry Dating” by Alison Broverman (2007), “Love Songs from Unlikely Places” by David Egan (2006), “Bella Donna” by David Copelin (2005), “Stealing Freedom” by Stephanie Nickerson (2004), “That Boy” by Paul Gibson (2003) and “Fish/Wife” by Rick Roberts (2002).

the adams prize for Musical Theatre

2020 winner: STATISTICS by SHREYA JHA

2020 Honourable mentions:
GONORRHEA: THE MUSICAL by PHIL HUTCHINS
THERESA: A HOUSE IN CRISIS by SCOTT CHRISTIAN

First place winner will receive the following:

The Adams Prize for Musical Theatre accepts applications every fall. The winner is notified at the Fringe Lottery Party in November. 

This award is generously sponsored by the Pat and Tony Adams Freedom Fund for the Arts.

Past winners include: "The Break-Up Diet" by Tamara Williamson (2019), "The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel" by Kevin Wong and Julie Tepperman (2018), "Seeking Refuge" by Rick Jones (2017), "Life After" by Britta Johnson (2016). Previously called the Paul O’Sullivan Prize.

Tosho Cutting Edge Award

2020 winner: tbd

Want to vote for the most cutting edge show in the festival? Simply Tweet #ToshoCuttingEdge with your pick and both you AND the show will be entered to win a draw for two sets of $200 premium knives from Tosho Knife Arts.

 

Comedy Bar and Second City Award for Outstanding Comedy

2020 winner: tbd.

The funniest shows in the festival. Two shows will be selected for various performances in the fall selected by representatives from both Second City and Comedy Bar.  

 

David Seguin Memorial Award for Accessibility in the Arts

2020 Winner: TBD

The Seguin family is proud to sponsor the David Seguin Memorial Award for Accessibility in the Arts (DSMA), a $1,000 prize that celebrates the work of artists with disabilities. This award is given to a Toronto Fringe Festival production that features the work of an artist or artists with a disability.

To be eligible for this award, a production must be part of the 2019 Toronto Fringe Festival and  feature the work of an artist with a disability. A jury attends identified productions and evaluates them based on the following criteria: artistic excellence, representation of artists with disabilities in the cast or creative team, and subject matter addressing the disabled experience. 

 

The TeenJur young critics AWARD

2020 winner: tbd.

The Teenjur Young Critics Award was awarded by members of the Young Critic Program. The Young Critic Program is a free three-day intensive that introduces teens to theatre criticism.  Participants attended performances at the 2019 Toronto Fringe as well as workshops where they learned about the role of a critic and how to generate their own criticism. 

 

 

 

 

Best of Fringe Cedar Ridge Creative Centre (Scarborough)

2020 winner: tbd.

Cedar Ridge selects two shows from the Toronto Fringe to play again after the Toronto Fringe Festival. 

 

north (519) Best of Fringe (Orangeville)

2020 winners: tbd

Theatre Orangeville selects three shows from the Toronto Fringe to play again after the Toronto Fringe Festival.