MEDIA

CLEVELAND (Wednesday, July 17, 2024) – The BorderLight Theatre Festival–kicking off in one week on Wednesday, July 24th, and running through Saturday, July 27th, in the Playhouse Square District–invites you to Know Before You Go to make the most of your festival experience. 

TICKET AND BOX OFFICE INFORMATION
Purchasing tickets online and in-person: Tickets to all festival shows can be purchased online. Tickets can also be purchased in person July 24-27th at the Playhouse Square Box Office in the KeyBank State Theatre Lobby and at BorderLight’s Main Box Office, which will be located at The City Club of Cleveland.

Purchasing tickets by phone Tickets to Fringe Shows can be purchased by phone (216.356.6485). Fringe Show tickets are available as single tickets and range in price from $12 to $20 on a pay-what-you-can basis. BorderLight is proud that 70% of its box office revenue goes directly back to support its Fringe artists. 

For those who want to binge on Fringe, tickets can also be purchased as 4-,8-,12-, or 16-packs at a discounted standard rate. Full information on Fringe Show ticket packs can be found on the Festival’s virtual box office.

Tickets to BorderLight International Shows and Comedy Shows can also be purchased by phone (216.241.6000). Tickets to International Shows are available as single tickets for $35, or as a 4-pack for $129. Full information on International Show 4-packs can be found on the Playhouse Square website.

PARKING
Summer in downtown Cleveland is a bustling hub for dining, retail, and entertainment. With so much going on, parking can be challenging to navigate. To make your BorderLight visit as seamless as possible, we have a comprehensive parking guide for festival attendees. With a variety of locations and price points, our parking guide will assist in finding convenient parking options near festival venues.  

ACCESSIBILITY
Celebrating the diversity of the human experience is at the core of BorderLight’s mission. We aim to make our events as accessible as possible so everyone can experience art and community. Please visit our accessibility guide to find out how to make your visit to the festival as comfortable and hassle-free as possible.

DINING
In addition to the plethora of fantastic restaurants in the Playhouse Square District, we're thrilled to announce this year’s festival will feature a variety of food truck favorites.

From Thursday, July 25th to Saturday, July 27th, head to E.14th St. next to U.S. Bank Plaza to dine on a diverse selection of delicious eats from our food truck vendors. This year’s food truck lineup includes Dee's Bitez, Feelin Good Ice Cream, and The Twisted Jerk!

We are also excited to announce Hofbrauhaus Cleveland is generously offering BorderLight attendees a 10% discount on their meals. On the day of your show (s), simply show your festival ticket to your server to redeem this discount.

FESTIVAL GUIDES
Festival Guides are available at various coffee houses, restaurants, and businesses throughout downtown Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods. The Festival Guide can also be accessed online on the BorderLight Theatre Festival website.

Be sure to continue to check BorderLightCLE.org for festival updates between now and July 27th.

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 2024 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/17DlGpcDrmE_dOcFyB6LTVdYniNNFu-1MC7iawBhdQNM/edit?usp=sharing 

 

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL 

SPECIAL EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS

 

CLEVELAND (Wednesday, July 10, 2024) – The BorderLight Theatre Festival–taking place Wednesday, July 24th - Saturday, July 27th in the Playhouse Square District– is pleased to highlight a selection of its special events and happenings at this year’s festival. Dive into the festival with a plethora of opportunities to celebrate the diversity of the human experience.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24th :: OPENING NIGHT HAPPENINGS

THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND FORUM :: OUTDOOR SERIES

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
US Bank Plaza
FREE

Before kicking off this year’s festival at the official Opening Night events, make plans to join us for The City Club of Cleveland’s Forum, Representation Matters: Voices from the BorderLight Festival. We will hear from featured artists from the 2024 Borderlight Theatre Festival about the importance of representation and diverse creativity in the arts and culture industry.

Forum participants include:

• Paterson Joseph :: Award-winning actor and author, The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho
• Kenneth Shirley (Diné) :: Champion Fancy Dancer, Indigenous Enterprise
• Moderated by Josy Jones :: BorderLight Associate Producer

This event is free, with reservations required. For full event and reservation information, please visit The City Club of Cleveland’s website. 

PERFORMANCE :: INDIGENOUS LIBERATION

6:00 p.m.
US Bank Plaza
FREE

Experience an evening of jubilant story, song, and dance with INDIGENOUS LIBERATION. Founder of Indigenous Enterprise and champion Fancy Dancer Kenneth Shirley leads the intertribal group in highlighting traditional powwow categories, including Jingle Dress, Hoop, Chicken Dance, Flute, and Grass Dance. Building on the company’s mission to share their culture and increase the understanding of Native identity, INDIGENOUS LIBERATION is a celebration of the power that lies at the heart of tradition.

For full performance information, please visit the INDIGENOUS LIBERATION page on the festival’s website. 

PERFORMANCE :; SANCHO & ME – FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY

6:30 p.m. - 8:10 p.m.
Westfield Insurance Studio Theatre in Playhouse Square
$35 | Includes talkback following the show

The incredible story of Charles Ignatius Sancho - a British abolitionist who was born on a slave ship in 1729 and went on to become a writer, composer, and first man of African Heritage to vote in Britain, among other accolades - is revisited in the critically acclaimed SANCHO & ME - FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY.

This unmissable storytelling by Paterson Joseph - an award-winning novelist and actor known for television and film roles (most recently WONKA) - accompanied by co-creator and musical director Ben Park, is built around Paterson’s recent novel THE SECRET DIARIES OF CHARLES IGNATIUS SANCHO.

SANCHO & ME - FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY explores ideas of belonging, language, education, slavery, music, and love while finding the intersection of those same themes in Paterson's own story of growing up Black and British.

For full performance information, please visit the SANCHO & ME - FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY  page on the festival’s website. 

PERFORMANCE :: WIZBANG! AWAY WE GO!

7:45 p.m.
US Bank Plaza
$12

AWAY WE GO! is an enchanting variety show that brings the talents of diverse circus performers with the charm and mystery of misplaced luggage, where every lost item holds a tale waiting to be told. Creating a magical experience that delights and entertains audiences of all ages, purveyors Pinch and Squeal send Vaudeville kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

For full performance information, please visit the AWAY WE GO! page on the festival’s website. 

OPENING NIGHT PARTY :: DIVE INTO BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL 

9:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Cibrèo Privato
Free, with a suggested donation of $10

Following the evening’s performances, BorderLight Theatre Festival will continue the celebration at its Opening Night Party, sponsored by Cuyahoga Community College at Cibrèo Privato! Fellow arts enthusiasts, festival artists, and VIP guests will mingle while enjoying performances by featured BorderLight artists, including Tango Unleashed, MK LeBeaux, and more! 

Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. 

Additional Opening Night festivities generously sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co. 

FRIDAY, JULY 26th 

SPECIAL EVENT :: SILENT DISCO

9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
US Bank Plaza
Free, with a suggested donation of $10

We’re taking over the US Bank Plaza with our Silent Disco! Join us 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. as DJ Nic Nacc and DJ Julian Mendez keep the party going with the hottest beats pumped through provided headphones. Bring your friends and your best dance moves, and come party on the plaza with us!

The Silent Disco is generously sponsored by Acuity and Rab Razzak. 

SATURDAY, JULY 27TH :: CLOSING DAY FESTIVITIES

SPECIAL EVENT :: FAMILY DAY

12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Various locations
Age 5 and under: FREE
Age 6 to 16: $10
Age 16+: $15

New to BorderLight in 2024, Family Day is a day of kid-friendly shows, interactive activities, and events that the whole family can enjoy! 

Family Day tickets include access to the full lineup of activities specifically curated for art enthusiasts of any age. The day will consist of theatre-themed crafts, skills, and performances in a variety of spaces in and around Playhouse Square. 

For full information, including ticket and venue details, please visit the Family Day page on the festival website.

Family Day is generously sponsored by Dealer Tire.

CLOSING NIGHT :: THE BORDERLIGHT AWARDS & FESTIVAL WRAP PARTY

9:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
The Hermit Club
Free, with a suggested donation of $10

Get ready to celebrate four days of art and inclusivity at the BorderLight Awards & Festival Wrap Party!  Attendees will be treated to a powerful performance from the Blakk Jakk Dance Collective, setting the stage on fire before we reveal the winners of the esteemed BorderLight awards. Then, let loose and dance the night away as we celebrate in style with DJ Red Eye. 

Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. 

TICKET AND FESTIVAL GUIDE INFORMATION

Tickets for all BorderLight Theatre Festival performances are on sale. Ticket prices range from $12-$35, with 12 shows free and open to the public. Tickets can be purchased online and by telephone (Fringe Shows: 216.356.6485 | International and Comedy Shows: 216.241.6000). Tickets can also be purchased in-person July 24-27th at the Playhouse Square Box Office located in the KeyBank State Theatre Lobby and at BorderLight’s Main Box Office, which will be located at The City Club of Cleveland.

Festival Guides are available at various coffee houses, restaurants, and businesses throughout downtown Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods. The Festival Guide can also be accessed online on the BorderLight Theatre Festival website.

Be sure to continue to check BorderLightCLE.org for festival updates between now and July 27th.

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 2024 BorderLight Theatre Festival at BorderLightCLE.org, and across social platforms by following @BorderLightCLE.

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BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: FRINGE ARTIST ASSETS

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fevUP-YFyDvXHY21WTACh0fRj2JJ-wV1?usp=sharing 

 

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: INTERNATIONAL ARTIST ASSETS

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_t26gabn0GEvo7AvpJwKRU6DluK_MY8s?usp=sharing 

 

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: FESTIVAL ASSETS

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17HKc4OFMqSpCa0p7nqJNmWBpNA_H-JUZ?usp=sharing 

 

MEDIA CONTACT

Debby Samples, Marketing Strategist, debby@BorderLightCLE.org

 

 

CLEVELAND (Thursday, June 6, 2024) – Tickets to BorderLight Theatre Festival—taking place July 24-27, 2024 across 20 stages in the Playhouse Square District—are now on sale at Borderlightcle.org/2024festival/. This year’s diverse lineup, representing five countries and national acts across seven states, showcases 43 Fringe shows, five international shows, and eight workshops.

Ticket prices range from $12-$35, with 13 shows free and open to the public. Tickets can be purchased online and by telephone (Fringe Shows: 216.356.6485 | International and Comedy Shows: 216.241.6000). Between July 24th and 27th, tickets can also be purchased in-person at the Playhouse Square Box Office located in the KeyBank State Theatre Lobby, at BorderLight’s Main Box Office located at The City Club of Cleveland, and at various festival performance stages one hour before showtime. 

Festival Guides will be available by July 1 at coffee houses, restaurants, and businesses throughout downtown Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods. Beginning June 17 the Festival Guide can be accessed online on the BorderLight Theatre Festival website.

Be sure to continue to check BorderLightCLE.org for festival updates between now and July 27th.

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 2024 BorderLight Theatre Festival at BorderLightCLE.org, and across social platforms by following @BorderLightCLE.

###

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: FRINGE ARTIST ASSETS

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fevUP-YFyDvXHY21WTACh0fRj2JJ-wV1?usp=sharing 

 

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: INTERNATIONAL ARTIST ASSETS

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_t26gabn0gevo7avpjwkru6dluk_my8s?usp=sharing 

 

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: FESTIVAL ASSETS

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17HKc4OFMqSpCa0p7nqJNmWBpNA_H-JUZ?usp=sharing 

 

MEDIA CONTACT

Debby Samples, Marketing Specialist, debby@BorderLightCLE.org 

CLEVELAND (Monday, June 3, 2024)

The BorderLight Theatre Festival—taking place July 24-27, 2024 at Playhouse Square—has unveiled its full lineup with the announcement of its Fringe program at Borderlightcle.org/2024festival/. 

During its four-day run, this year’s festival will shine a spotlight on 43 Fringe shows, five international shows, and host 8 workshops, all of which represent artists from seven states and five countries.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, June 6th at 10:00 am ET. Ticket prices range from $12-$35, with 13 shows free and open to the public. Once on sale, tickets can be purchased online and by telephone (Fringe Shows: 216.356.6485 | International and Comedy Shows: 216.241.6000). Tickets can also be purchased in-person July 24-27th at the Playhouse Square Box Office located in the KeyBank State Theatre Lobby and at BorderLight’s Main Box Office, which will be located at The City Club of Cleveland.

Festival Guides will be available by July 1 at various coffee houses, restaurants, and businesses throughout downtown Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods. Beginning June 17 the Festival Guide can be accessed online on the BorderLight Theatre Festival website.

Be sure to continue to check BorderLightCLE.org for festival updates between now and July 27th.

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 2024 BorderLight Theatre Festival at BorderLightCLE.org, and across social platforms by following @BorderLightCLE.

###

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: FRINGE ARTIST ASSETS

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fevUP-YFyDvXHY21WTACh0fRj2JJ-wV1?usp=sharing 

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: INTERNATIONAL ARTIST ASSETS

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_t26gabn0GEvo7AvpJwKRU6DluK_MY8s?usp=sharing 

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: FESTIVAL ASSETS

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17HKc4OFMqSpCa0p7nqJNmWBpNA_H-JUZ?usp=sharing 

[CLEVELAND, May 15, 2024]

The BorderLight Theatre Festival—taking place July 24-27, 2024 at Playhouse Square—is thrilled to unveil this year’s festival artwork created by Cleveland-based multidisciplinary artist Angelo Maneage. Chosen through a contest designed to engage local artists, Maneage's artwork exemplifies the festival’s commitment to fostering creativity and inclusivity.

Angelo Maneage's captivating collage, featuring Modernist luminary Marsden Hartley, beautifully encapsulates the innovative spirit of BorderLight Theatre Festival—a vibrant celebration of imagination and diversity at the heart of Cleveland's arts scene,” said Dale Heinen, BorderLight Theatre Festival’s Executive & Artistic Director. “With its dynamic imagery and bold vision, Maneage's collage serves as a testament to both the festival's innovative ethos and the rich tapestry of artistic talent within our community.,”

Using a mixed medium of collage, Angelo worked to emulsify traditional, communal, and experimental themes when creating the featured elements in the artwork. Much thought and consideration was put into how each asset could work together to reflect the unconventional and imaginative spirit of BorderLight Theatre Festival.

“Working with vintage matchboxes from the public domain, a swim team of aerobic water droplets formed as a sort of collaborative concierge to the festival, the clowning flower brooch a fountain of magic, its vinery climbing up the audience,” explained Angelo Maneage. “This celebration of theatre is a wide portal-pond that hones in on the culturally expressive and the fringe-tastically strange.”

The 2024 BorderLight Theatre Festival artwork will be featured alongside festival merchandise, promotions, and the much-anticipated Festival Guide.

ABOUT THE ARTIST :: ANGELO MANEAGE 

Angelo Maneage is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and poet from Cleveland, Ohio. He specializes in book and editorial design, often working with small, micro, university, and independent literary organizations and presses including Literary Cleveland, New American Press, Ruffian Books, Write Bloody US/UK, Thirty West Publishing House, Cleveland State University Poetry Center, and Malarkey Books. He is the author of two small books of poetry: BALL PIT BUCKET FILLED WITH BRIDGE WATER (Ghost City Press, 2023) and THE IMPROPER USE OF PLATES (Ghost City Press, 2021). In 2022, he was a performing artist at the BorderLight Festival in the variety show The Small Garden. He is currently the Art Director and Sole Designer at Cleveland Review of Books, a journal of literary criticism.

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL 2024

BorderLight Theatre Festival will take place July 24-27, 2024, at borderlightcle.org, and across social platforms by following @BorderLightCLE.

BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL :: ARTWORK

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sssF6cMBQRzzCL9v41Vho1OjcJznCROo/view?usp=sharing

[CLEVELAND, April 24, 2024]

Three months from today, the 2024 BorderLight Theatre Festival will return to Playhouse Square with four days of innovative performances sure to entertain audiences!  From July 24 to 27, established and emerging companies in theatre, circus, immersive experiences, street theatre, poetry, workshops, stand-up comedy, and more from Cleveland and across the U.S. will light up stages throughout the performing arts neighborhood.

As one of the newest fringe festivals worldwide—the inaugural event was held in 2019— BorderLight is a platform for independent artists and companies to showcase their work and engage new audiences in a vibrant environment. In 2024 and alternating years, BorderLight is thrilled to welcome, alongside the fringe artists, several acclaimed international touring companies featuring work of diverse regions and genres.

“BorderLight Theatre Festival proudly presents a groundbreaking lineup where theatre meets societal urgency,” said Executive and Artistic Director Dale Heinen. “With two U.S. premieres, our shows delve into themes vital to our human experience, from the pressing issue of loneliness—declared a public health crisis—to explorations of belonging, racism, music, identity and love. Featuring innovative work in puppetry, physical theatre, improvisation, audience interaction and dance, these award-winning productions—some hailed at the renowned Edinburgh Festival—promise to captivate and inspire Cleveland audiences."

This year’s curated touring productions—including four international shows, (pictured from left to right)—include:

• Paper Cut | Israel
• Sancho & Me - For One Night Only | England
• The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much | France/UK
• Indigenous Liberation | Native American
• Perhaps, Perhaps … Quizás | Mexico

BorderLight Theatre Festival will take place July 24-27, 2024 in the  Playhouse Square District. The full festival lineup will be announced in May 2024, with tickets going on sale in early June 2024.

BorderLight Theatre Festival :: Special Program Assets