MEDIA

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2025

SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING

CLEVELAND, OH (Tuesday, July 8, 2025) – BorderLight Theatre Festival, taking place  
July 16–19 in Cleveland’s Playhouse Square District, is thrilled to announce an exciting slate of special events and programming to engage audiences of all ages. 

OPENING NIGHT EVENT 
Fringe Unleashed | Previews. Pop Ups. Live Performances. 
Ticket Price: $11.25 (includes fees) 

Kick off BorderLight 2025 in style at its Opening Night event, FRINGE UNLEASHED | PREVIEWS. POP UPS. LIVE PERFORMANCES, taking place Wednesday, July 16th from  
7:00 PM to 9:30 PM at The City Club of Cleveland. The evening will feature a mix of food, drinks, and unforgettable performances marking the official start of the Festival. Hosted by the fabulous Sam Dee, guests can expect roaming characters, including the iconic Mary Kay Vampires—plus pop-up performances by artists such as Informed Chaos, The Life I Sing About, 10K Movement, Black is the Color of My Voice, Instant Opera, Sankofa, Jacquesalope, Arachne, and Rustbelt. Attendees will mingle with artists and fellow Fringe fans, preview shows, and grab tickets on the spot with Box Office staff available to assist with passes and packs. 

Come early to catch Wizbang Theatre performing in their tent on Playhouse Square Plaza from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM before the party kicks off across the street at The City Club. 

Tickets are limited, so order yours today. 

FRINGE JR.  
Family-Friendly Programming 
Ticket Price: Varies per show | Fringe Jr. 4-pack $43 

BorderLight’s Fringe Jr. program lineup is curated for kids, teens, and adults alike, blending imaginative storytelling and creative artistry across genres. Performances run throughout the festival, where families can enjoy circus arts, magical stories, dance battles, and interactive theatre. In addition, large-scale games like Giant Bowling, Checkers, Connect 4, and Cornhole will be available for free Thursday, July 17 through Saturday, July 19 on the Playhouse Square Plaza. 

And be sure to mark your calendars for BorderLight’s special Family Zone event on Saturday, July 19, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on the Playhouse Square Plaza. Kids can get creative with blackout poetry, bubbles, hand puppets, coloring, wrist ribbon crafts for the kid dance party, collage-making, chalk art, and designing their own pennant flags.  

For full information on Fringe Jr., including show times and ticket information, please visit the Festival’s website. 

CLOSING NIGHT EVENT 
Fringe Finale Wrap and Awards Party 
Ticket Price: FREE | $10 suggested donation 

As the curtain closes on BorderLight 2025, make plans to attend the Festival’s Closing Night Event, Fringe Finale Wrap and Awards Party, on Saturday, July 19, from 9:00 PM to 11:30 PM at The Hermit Club.  

This masquerade-themed celebration will honor BorderLight’s 2025 standout performances and most magical festival moments. Dance to DJ Theo, enjoy live piano tunes, visit the oracle reader, and create your own mask upon arrival. Costumes are encouraged for extra flair, but come as you are and join the festivities because everyone’s invited to this unforgettable night. 

Space is limited, so reserve your spot for BorderLight’s Closing Night Event today. Come masked. Come marvelous. Come ready to celebrate the stars of the show. 

FESTIVAL TICKET INFORMATION 

Tickets are available online or by phone (216.356.6485). Single ticket prices range from $9.25 to $36.25, with ticket packs from $43 to $156. The festival is also offering 13 free shows open to the public.  

 

Festival Guides are available at coffee houses, restaurants, libraries, and businesses throughout downtown Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods. The Festival Guide is also available in digital form on the BorderLight Theatre Festival website. 

Be sure to continue to check BorderLightCLE.org for festival updates between now and July 19th. 

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL 

Founded in 2015 by Dale Heinen and Jeffrey Pence, BorderLight Festival is a nonprofit whose mission is to present innovative theatre that inspires, builds cross-cultural understanding, and celebrates the diversity of the human experience. Since debuting in 2019, BorderLight has welcomed thousands of arts enthusiasts to downtown Cleveland and showcased hundreds of international and domestic performances. Learn more about the 2025 BorderLight Theatre Festival at BorderLightCLE.org, and across social platforms by following @BorderLightCLE. 

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BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: MEDIA KIT 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19XHUgimVqP-RZLiK1tWZiu34-XrfqnDK/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=113589413651848158254&rtpof=true&sd=true  

 

MEDIA CONTACT 

Debby Samples, Marketing Strategist | debby@BorderLightCLE.org  

 

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL 

ANNOUNCES 2025 PARTNERED PROGRAMS 

 

CLEVELAND (Tuesday, June 24, 2025) – The BorderLight Theatre Festival, returning to downtown Cleveland’s Playhouse Square District July 16th-19th, proudly announces its slate of partnered programs that highlight collaboration across Northeast Ohio’s rich performing arts scene. 

 

BORDERLIGHT BRAWL - 1V1 OPEN STYLES DANCE BATTLE

Presented in partnership with 10K Movement, this dynamic mini-dance battle showcase features eight dancers from across Northeast Ohio. In this tournament-style event, each dancer will compete head-to-head, with the ultimate goal of being the last one standing.

 

CIRCUS BIZARRE 

Wizbang Theatre invites you to enter a whirlwind of wild vaudeville, surreal sideshow acts, and outrageous talent! Hosted by mischief-makers Pinch and Squeal, this twisted variety show reimagines the circus through jaw-dropping stunts and unforgettable spectacle.

 

D.O.C. STUDIOS SHOWCASE

A vibrantly powerful showcase of scenes and monologues performed by beginner and intermediate acting students from Cleveland’s acclaimed D.O.C. Studios.  

 

FRENCH CREEK THEATRE PRESENTS: THE CRITTER CREW! 

A playful, family-friendly puppet adventure about a group of reptiles putting on a theatre fest, until Harry the turtle loses confidence. Brought to life in collaboration with Lorain County Metro Parks.

 

IN THE SHADOWS: A MONOLOGUE EVENT WITH CONVERGENCE-CONTINUUM  Co-created with convergence-continuum, this powerful monologue event uncovers what hides in the shadows, amplifying stories that are often overlooked and voices that deserve to be heard.

 

JULIA DE BURGOS CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts proudly presents their youth dance groups, Grupo Coqui and Sabor Latino, as they bring to life the rhythms of salsa, bachata, merengue, and plena.

 

MAGIC BUBBLE CIRCUS

Step into a world of color, wonder, and over 100,000 bubbles! Presented by Wizbang Theatre, the Bubble Witch blends science, silliness, and spectacle in this whimsical, all-ages performance. 

 

MOTHER NATURE’S TEARS 

An original work exploring themes of climate change, family trauma, and women’s mental health as told through dance, physical theatre, and storytelling. This production is in partnership with Cleveland State University Department of Theatre & Dance.

PLAYGROUND 2025

Talespinner Children’s Theatre proudly presents the newly relaunched PLAYGround, a series of short plays for young audiences and families. This sensory-friendly performance features an interactive response process where attendees help shape future full-length productions, along with family-friendly activities and take-home kits to extend the fun at home.

 

POETRY FREE CLEVELAND

Back by popular demand, Poetry Free Cleveland invites you to take part in spontaneous, heartfelt, and one-of-a-kind street poetry in action. Step up and give a word, image, or idea, and a personalized poem will be crafted on the spot. 

 

THIS IS MY PLACE

A funny, bold musical exploration of the college experience—created and performed by the true experts: eleven students from the Cleveland State University Department of Theatre & Dance.

 

UNHINGED: A BURLESQUE PLAY ON MODERN DATING HIGHS AND LOWS

Through drag and burlesque, artists unleash raw, unfiltered stories of love, trauma, and healing. Presented by Issa Vybe Productions, this striking and provocative production explores the humor, heartbreak, and vulnerability of modern dating.

 

WELCOME TO THE CLUB

This one’s for the weirdos, the wallflowers, the wanderers. Set within the historic Hermit Club, this site-specific work by Micro Theater CLE is part play, part cabaret, part community ritual—blurring the line between art and gathering, performance and party.

 

Tickets are available online or by phone (216.356.6485). Single ticket prices range from $9.25 to $36.25, with ticket packs from $43 to $156. The festival is also offering 13 free shows open to the public. 

 

Festival Guides are available at coffee houses, restaurants, libraries, and businesses throughout downtown Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods. The Festival Guide is also available in digital form on the BorderLight Theatre Festival website.

Be sure to continue to check BorderLightCLE.org for festival updates between now and July 19th.

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL

Founded in 2015 by Dale Heinen and Jeffrey Pence, BorderLight Festival is a nonprofit whose mission is to present innovative theatre that inspires, builds cross-cultural understanding, and celebrates the diversity of the human experience. Since debuting in 2019, BorderLight has welcomed thousands of arts enthusiasts to downtown Cleveland and showcased hundreds of international and domestic performances. Learn more about the 2025 BorderLight Theatre Festival at BorderLightCLE.org, and across social platforms by following @BorderLightCLE.

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BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: FESTIVAL ASSETS

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WuGO4PNCrYbZfxO8h_fsJPnAm0VSdhA6?usp=sharing 

 

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: PARTNERED PROGRAM SHOW IMAGES

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FwLsOymSySMD8B9BGZaDymaSJYxSzY8-?usp=sharing

 

MEDIA CONTACT

Debby Samples, Marketing Strategist | debby@BorderLightCLE.org 

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL 

UNVEILS LINEUP

TICKETS NOW ON SALE

CLEVELAND (Tuesday, May 20, 2025) – The BorderLight Theatre Festival, taking place July 16th-19th across 16 stages in the Playhouse Square District, is thrilled to announce its lineup, with tickets now on sale at BorderLightCLE.org. 

This year's program showcases 49 diverse and innovative shows, representing 10 states, three countries, and a wide range of artistic genres. 

Single ticket prices range from $9.25 to $36.25, with ticket packs from $43 to $156. The festival is also offering 13 free shows open to the public. Tickets are now available online. Beginning May 28th, tickets are also available by phone by leaving a message at 216.356.6485. From July 16th-20th, tickets can be purchased at our Main Box Office at The City Club of Cleveland  (1317 Euclid Ave | 44115). During the festival, tickets are also available 1 hour before show time at: Cleveland State University’s Theatre & Arts Building (2121 Euclid Ave | 44115), The Hermit Club (1629 Dodge Ct | 44114), and the Wizbang Tent on the Playhouse Square Plaza (1350 Euclid Ave | 44115). 

Festival Guides will be available in early June at coffee houses, restaurants, and businesses throughout downtown Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods. The Festival Guide is also available in digital form on the BorderLight Theatre Festival website.

Be sure to continue to check BorderLightCLE.org for festival updates between now and July 19th.

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL

Founded in 2015 by Dale Heinen and Jeffrey Pence, BorderLight Festival is a nonprofit whose mission is to present innovative theatre that inspires, builds cross-cultural understanding, and celebrates the diversity of the human experience. Since debuting in 2019, BorderLight has welcomed thousands of arts enthusiasts to downtown Cleveland and showcased hundreds of international and domestic performances. Learn more about the 2025 BorderLight Theatre Festival at BorderLightCLE.org, and across social platforms by following @BorderLightCLE.

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BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: FESTIVAL ASSETS

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WuGO4PNCrYbZfxO8h_fsJPnAm0VSdhA6?usp=sharing 

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: SHOW IMAGES

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1s75sQgGB-AUCO7CdmKra56jRSa-nxTd6?usp=drive_link 

MEDIA CONTACT

Debby Samples, Marketing Specialist, debby@BorderLightCLE.org