Wed 7/8-Sat 7/11
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.
This year it’s offering more than 120 performances of 43 shows from twelve states and three countries on stages around Playhouse Square. There’re always some standard play scripts, but there are also performances of monologues, movement, poetry, comedy and much more, ranging from the frothy and fun, to those that delve deeply into serious issues ranging from environmental degradation to race relations to surviving a traumatic brain injury. Some performances are being presented in partnership with area performing groups such as Talespinner Children’s Theater, Karamu, convergence-continuum, Dancing Wheels and 10K Movement. And 14 of the shows are free.
Things start to pop on Wednesday July 8 with Fringe Unleashed from 7-9:30, featuring previews, pop-ups, roaming performers, light eats and a cash bar at the City Club. And it wraps up Saturday evening, July 11, with the free Fringe Finale, which includes a wrap-up and awards, taking place at the Hermit Club. Performances ranging from a street dance battle hosted by 10K Movement, to a solo Butoh performance about a butterfly farmer, to a magic and comedy show, to “The Peace (Co) Lab: Tiny Play Experience” where you “listen to an immersive story under the ribbon umbrella and have a tiny play written especially for you.” Hungarian-American singer Eszter Balint, who appeared in the Jim Jarmusch film Stranger Than Paradise, will perform I Hate Memory! in which she tells her own story in music and words of migrating from Community Hungary to New York City’s late 70s art scene.
And that’s just scratching the surface. You can find a full copy of the schedule here and start planning your itinerary.
In addition to the ticketed shows, there’ll be entertainment on the Playhouse Square outdoor plaza each evening, including Line Dance Is My Therapy on Friday evening.