Wed 7/16-Sat 7/19
Cleveland’s BorderLight Theatre Festival had its first event in 2019 and then ran into the headwinds of the pandemic—and survived. It went virtual in 2021 and had an all-fringe festival. Now it seems to have leaned into the “fringe” aspect with a festival that’s heavy on local artists, not a problem given how this region teems with theater and other performing talent.
It’s offering 40 productions on 16 stages in and around Playhouse Square. They include standard acted scripts, but also music, dance, storytelling, circus acts, butoh, magic, comedy, poetry, monologues, interactive shows and more. Some are lighthearted, just for fun, some tell historical or personal stories, and others address powerful contemporary issues.
It kicks off on Wednesday July 16 from 7-9:30pm with a program called Fringe Unleashed, which previews the offerings of the next three days, giving attendees a chance to learn about the lineup, meet the artists and see pop-up mini-performances. On Saturday from noon-5pm, Fringe Jr invites kids, teens, adults and families to take in a slate of shows suited to younger theatergoers, with productions rated 9-12 or 14+. that appeal to kids, teens, and adults alike—each with its own recommended age range and content advisories to help families make informed choices, from all ages to 8–13 or 14+.
For more information and a full schedule go to borderlightcle.org/2025-festival/.