2026 AWARD NOMINATIONS & WINNERS
We extend our deepest thanks to every artist, audience member, judge, and supporter who made this year’s 30 Minutes or Less Festival such a meaningful success. This festival exists to prove that powerful stories, real connection, and exceptional theatre can happen in a short amount of time, and this year’s work fully delivered on that promise.
We are proud to share that ticket sales doubled from last year, every show was seen by multiple judges, and the overall caliber of work was widely praised across the community.
We offer sincere gratitude to our venue partner, Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre, for providing a creative home and for their continued belief in artists and new work.
Most of all, we thank the artists. Your bravery, creativity, and generosity are the heartbeat of this festival. We are honored to now present the 2026 nominees and award recipients below.
-Matthew Quinn & Bertha Rodriguez
Best Actor*
Gilded Spindle - Zander Raphael Winner(T)
Kitties in Space: Doomsday - Lena Bouton Winner(T)
Sweet Lorraine - Chris Devlin
Mr. Big - Brian Knudson
Sweet Lorraine - Cindy D'Andrea
Best Comedy
Kitties In Space: Doomsday - Winner
Mamma! I burnt the chicken!!!
Heartbreak Feels Good (in a place like this)
Mr. Big
(Un)Drinkable & Will's Dramaturge
Best Design
Mamma! I burnt the chicken!!! - Winner
Mr. Big
The Miraculous V: The Bizarre Awakening of a Virgin Witch
(Un)Drinkable & Will's Dramaturge
Sweet Lorraine
Best Director
Sweet Lorraine- Dana Schwartz - Winner
Emily F-ing Dickinson: America’s Favorite Recluse - Kelsey Miller
(Un)Drinkable & Will's Dramaturge - Bernadette Armstrong & Kim Hlavac
The Queen of Reading Gaol - Nixe Lightner
Nancy - Christopher Moncayo - Torres
Best Drama
Nancy - Winner
Sweet Lorraine
(Un)Drinkable & Will's Dramaturge
Counting the Hours
The Miraculous V: The Bizarre Awakening of a Virgin Witch
Best Ensemble
Kitties In Space: Doomsday - Winner
Mr. Big
Gilded Spindle
Blow the Man Down: A Sea Shanty Concert
Best Music & Sound Design
(Un)Drinkable & Will's Dramaturge - Winner
Blow the Man Down: A Sea Shanty Concert
Emily F-ing Dickinson: America’s Favorite Recluse
Best Out of Town Show
Heartbreak Feels Good (in a place like this) - Winner
Emily F-ing Dickinson: America’s Favorite Recluse
Counting the Hours
Best Solo*
Nancy - Winner
Autastic
The Queen of Reading Gaol
Heartbreak Feels Good (in a place like this)
The Miraculous V: The Bizarre Awakening of a Virgin Witch
Best Two-Hander
Sweet Lorraine - Winner
I Wrote You a Play / A Letter From the Grave
She Was Dick's Tracie
Best Writing
Autastic by Jeff Ahern - Winner
Sweet Lorraine Jan Buttram
Emily F-ing Dickinson: America’s Favorite Recluse Shelley Cooper
(Un)Drinkable & Will's Dramaturge Dana Hall & Rich Rubin
Against All Odds: Coincidence, Chaos, and Everyday Miracles - Lawrence Meyers
Coppola Acting Award
Counting the Hours- Juan Camillo - Winner
LA Hidden Gems Incandescence Award
Being the Perfect Woman - Winner
The Queen of Reading Gaol
I Wrote You a Play / A Letter From the Grave
Barbara Colby Award
Nancy - Winner
Namba Arts Award
Autastic - Winner
Nancy - Winner
Being the Perfect Woman - Winner
Blow the Man Down: A Sea Shanty Concert - Winner
Out of the Box
Heartbreak Feels Good in a Place Like This - Winner
Against All Odds
Bad Medicine
Being the Perfect Woman
Mamma! I Burnt the Chicken
P3 Cabaret/Musical Award
Heartbreak Feels Good (in a place like this) - Winner
Spirit of the Fest
June Neely - Winner
John Enright
Shelley Copper
Aditya Putcha
The Blockbuster Award
Sweet Lorraine - Winner
Mama! I Burnt the Chicken!! By Nina Childs
Gilded Spindle
Looking For Backup
Top of Festival
Nancy - Winner(T)
Kitties in Space : Doomsday - Winner(T)
Mamma! I burnt the chicken!!!
Against All Odds: Coincidence, Chaos, and Everyday Miracles
Sweet Lorraine
Top of Stage Takes
Being The Perfect Woman by Ashley Diaz - Winner
Autastic by Jeff Ahern
The Miraculous V: The Bizarre Awakening of a Virgin Witch by Chaotic Fable Ent.
Mama! I Burnt the Chicken!! By Nina Childs
Emily F—ing Dickinson: America’s Favorite Recluse by Shelley Cooper
Unplugged Award
The Queen of Reading Gaol - Winner
Stuck
She Was Dick's Tracie
www.stretchlab.com/location/hollywood
*Stretchlab Award for Best Actor and Solo
2025 AWARD NOMINATIONS & WINNERS
🌟 THANK YOU! 🌟
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who took part in the inaugural year of the 30 Minutes or Less Festival. The sheer talent, the sense of community, and the rich artistic discussions we shared were something I haven’t felt in a long time. What started as just an idea six years ago is now a living, breathing reality—one that will be back and continue to grow.
To our audiences—thank you for showing up, supporting live theater, and embracing these bold, unique, and powerful short-form performances. You are the heartbeat of this festival.
To all of the teachers and mentors involved with shows—your wisdom and generosity lifted these artists to new heights.
To the judges and reviewers—your thoughtful feedback and support mean the world to us.
To Spencer Frankeberger—your incredible ability to keep things running smoothly helped make the awards a success.
To our Executive Director, Bertha Rodriguez—your leadership and unwavering dedication made this all possible.
To Stephanie Feury—your generosity, creativity, and commitment to fostering artistic expression made this festival feel like home. Your belief in this festival has been invaluable. (Please consider donating to help save her space—see below.)
And most importantly, to our artists—your passion, dedication, and creativity brought this festival to life. Whether onstage or behind the scenes, you made this happen.
This is just the beginning. The 30 Minutes or Less Festival will return, bigger and bolder—I can’t wait to see where we go from here.
💫 And now, a huge congratulations to this year’s winners! 🎭🏆
Diversity Entertainment Spotlight Mentorship
Being the Perfect Woman: A Guide to Going Back into Hiding Post 2024
Runner Up - Welcome to the Uterus
Top of the Festival
Mister Snow
The Blockbuster Award
Welcome to the Uterus
Ensemble
Welcome to the Uterus
Acting
Two Girls - Barika Phillips Bell and Ayla Rose Barreau
Stand-Up/Hosting
Cat Alvarado- Holy Water & Tequila
Solo
Ain't I/Ain't It/ Ain't We - Latrice Young
Writing
The Cancer Survivors Live Show - Lili Ignon
Director
Still Alive - Tony Kelly
Design
Still Alive
Out of Town
Ain't I/Ain't It/ Ain't We
Out of the Box
Safety Stew
Bertha Rodriguez Publicity Award
Mister Snow
Matthew Quinn’s Producing Award
Being the Perfect Woman: A Guide to Going Back into Hiding Post 2024
