Entertainment Awards

Page in progress. If you have received an award, please contact me on Facebook with your name, year, and award name so that you can be added.

 

Cracked Cup (started in 1978)

Given to the outstanding Rookie entertainer of the year

  • 1978 – 1991 – ?
  • 1992 – Corvis Elrod
  • 1993 – 1997 – ?
  • 1998 – Jessica Lerbs
  • 1999 – ?
  • 2000 – Mark Lazarchic
  • 2001 – 2003 – ?
  • 2004 – Jason Braddock
  • 2005 – William Bradshaw
  • 2006 – Penn Bowen
  • 2007 – Jeff Neppl
  • 2008 – Jim Stone
  • 2009 – Brad Scarp
  • 2010 – 2011 – ?
  • 2012 – Bud the fairy?
  • 2013 – Peter Tornquist
  • 2014 – Breanna Cecile
  • 2015 – Christof Rochel
  • 2016 – Kelli Grant
  • 2017 – KT Mueller
  • 2018 – Samantha Lorenz
  • 2019 – Don Espe
  • 2020 – no award given this year
  • 2021 – Eric Mord as Torgils the Ox
  • 2022 – Cecilia Lazarchic
  • 2023 – Ember Robinson as Clover
  • 2024 – Allison Emeott as Maple the Squirrel

Late Bloomer (started in 1985) / Spirit of the Renaissance (renamed in 2021)

Presented to a veteran entertainer who has brought something new to their performance

  • 1985 – John Elsner – Beau Monde
  • 1986 – Katheryn Wilson -Queen Mum
  • 1987 – Jaqueline Smith – Lady Bella Hapsburg
  • 1988 – D’Lis Schmidt – Duchess of Diddle
  • 1989 – Marcus Volimas – Reynard Reynard
  • 1990 – Joseph Manussier -Sir Guy of Gisborne
  • 1991 – Vin Parker/Michael Ritchie
  • 1992 – John Neitz – Sir Edward Whimsleton
  • 1993 – Corvus Elrod
  • 1994 – 1997 – ?
  • 1998 – Michael Heck
  • 1999 – Julia Fuller
  • 2000 – 2005 – ?
  • 2006 – Guinevere Lazarchic
  • 2007 – David Pipho
  • 2008 – 2012 – ?
  • 2013 – Mike Heck
  • 2014 – Seamus O’Kirwan
  • 2015 – Missy Cutler Iverson
  • 2016 – Dana Baird
  • 2017 – Peter Buckholtz
  • 2018 – Chris Ackert
  • 2019 – Ester Swanson
  • 2020 – no award given
  • 2021 – Rachael Sterling
  • 2022 – Kipp Ritchie
  • 2023 – Steven Hoff / Prince William
  • 2024 – Sarah Heller of Sycamore Gap

Street Performance of the Year (started in 2012? – discontinued after 2019)

Given to the best solo/duo street character

  • 2012 – Kathy Gefeller (Twig)
  • 2013 – 2015 – ?
  • 2016 – Michael Bloom & Erik Knower (Sheriff & Sir Guy)
  • 2017 – Neal Skoy (Pluto
  • 2018 – Mal Mohn
  • 2019 – Sarah Baker

Bottomless Hat

Given to the best new act (stage, street or music) of the festival season

  • 1993 – Feathers & Lead
  • 1994 – ?
  • 1995 – Tatterdemalions
  • 1996 – ?
  • 1997 – Rogue Mystic
  • 1998 – 2000 – ?
  • 2001 – Shakespeare’s Love Child
  • 2002 – Drunk & Disorderly
  • 2003 – 2012 – ?
  • 2013 – Pros and Cons
  • 2014 – SkyVault
  • 2015 – Ted Femrite & Kyle Dekker (Knight & Squire)
  • 2016 – Salsa Sterling (Kazamir)
  • 2017 – Sisters Twa
  • 2018 – Gargoyles
  • 2019 – The Raptor Show
  • 2020 – no award given this year
  • 2021 – Peter Micholic as Martin the Hurdy Gurdier
  • 2022 – Aluma The Littlest Dragon Rowan Munson
  • 2023 – Gabs the Fool
  • 2024 – City Folk

Everybody’s a Ham

Presented to someone who is not on entertainment cast but has shown outstanding ability as a performer

  • 1998 – Mark Lazarchic
  • 1999 – Wine booth girl
  • 2000 – ?
  • 2001 – Jim Stone
  • 2002 – 2015 – ?
  • 2016 – Marc McLoyd (salad & wrap booth)
  • 2017 – Schwarma Lady
  • 2018 – Normal Alston (Cabriolet
  • 2019 – Crepe, Bacon, Ice Cream Booth
  • 2020 – no award given this year
  • 2021 – Cole McDonald from the Fencing Booth
  • 2022 – Hassan Bouchareb at Vegetable Justice
  • 2023 – The Special Events Team
  • 2024 – Felony at Jacob’s Ladder

Excellence in Entertainment (started in 2003, discontinued after 2019)
Awarded to one stage and one musical act. These performers exhibit the qualities of professionalism both on and off stage, continuous growth as performers and a sense community spirit.

Music
(list of recipients provided by Anita Kelling)

  • 2003- Ian Mac Farlane – Jeff Callander
  • 2004- Reve du Faun – Elizabeth Hall, Anita Kelling, John Gladman, Jay Koelsch
  • 2005- Robin and Lark – Liz and Laura Euller
  • 2006- Allen-A-Dale – Gerald Saetveit
  • 2007- Bedlam – John Sjogren, Joe Smith, Mark Sterling, Paul Regge (w/ Bosco and Tara)
  • 2008 – 2012 – ?
  • 2013 – Four Pints Shy
  • 2014 – Randy Everson
  • 2015 – Court Revelers
  • 2016 – Naughty Bawdy Brigade
  • 2017 – Kathy Ulmen Johnson
  • 2018 – The Dregs
  • 2019 – Langer’s Ball

Stage

  • 2003 – 2013 – ?
  • 2014 – Fandazzi Fire Circus
  • 2015 – Robin Hood
  • 2016 – Wise Fools
  • 2017 – Toil & Tumble
  • 2018 – Vilification Tennis
  • 2019 – Zilch the Torysteller

Group

  • 2003 – 2012 – ?
  • 2013 – I, Arroganti
  • 2014 – The High Court
  • 2015 – The Viking Encampment
  • 2016 – The Groundlings
  • 2017 – The Puppet Troupe
  • 2018 – The Royal Navy
  • 2019 – The Riddle Booth

Pinnacle of Performance (started 2021, reworked from previous awards)

Presented to a veteran act or group that has shown something exceptional this season

  • 2021 – Tuey
  • 2022 – ?
  • 2023 – Gus the Bardic Troubadour
  • 2024 – Rogue’s Daughters

 

The Big Picture (started 2021, reworked from previous awards)

Presented to a performer who best embodies the tenets of the Big Picture

  • 2021 – Gaea
  • 2022 – ?
  • 2023 – John Behr as King Henry
  • 2024 – Evan Webster

Unicorn Award (started in 1981)
Recipients have participated as entertainers a minimum of 10 years. Given to those people whose talent and love of performing personify the magic of Festival. Who, with their special gifts continue to ensure the artistic quality of the festival year in, year out, and all year ‘round.

See separate section The Unicorn Award for list of recipients


Keeper of the Flame Award (started in 2003)
Presented to a longtime member of the cast who has been consistently excellent as aperformer and who has served as a mentor and example to the rest of the cast
(note: some of the years may be inaccurate, per Tim Wick who generously provided the list. If you are a recipient and listed incorrectly, please contact me through Facebook so I can update your information. Thank you.)

  • 2003 – Gary Parker
  • 2004 – Terry Foy
  • 2005 – Tim Wick
  • 2006 – D’Lis Schmidt
  • 2007 – Brian Murphy
  • 2008 – George Herman
  • 2009 – Gerry Saetveit
  • 2010 – Bill Peltzman, Sr.
  • 2011 – Erin Kasper
  • 2012 – Butch Roy
  • 2013 – Carr Hagerman
  • 2014 – Walter Napiorkowski
  • 2015 – Jim Cunningham
  • 2016 – Nan Miller
  • 2017 – Johnny Behr
  • 2018 – Lloyd Brant & Rosie Cole
  • 2019 – Joe Kudalis (posthumously) & Mark Sieve
  • 2020 – no award given
  • 2021 – Anjila Olsen
  • 2022 – Mark Lazarchic
  • 2023 – Eric Knight
  • 2024 – Kristin Kujawski

Gary Parker Order of Thespis (started in 2024)

Presented to a longtime member of the cast whose contributions may have gone overlooked

  • 2024 – Ed Stern from the Morris Dancers
  • 2025 – TBD

Brian Murphy Word Weaver Award (started in 2024)

Presented to a veteran or rookie performer who shows exceptional ability as a writer and wordsmith

  • 2024 – Tony Miller as Seamus The Insulter
  • 2025 – TBD