BorderLight Theatre Festival

BorderLight Theatre Festival is an international theatre and fringe festival held each summer in downtown Cleveland. It was founded by Dale Heinen, its executive and artistic director, and Jeff Pence, and debuted in 2019 with 40 productions and events over four days, including work from South Africa, Syria, Mexico, Ireland and Israel. Its mission is to present innovative theatre that inspires, builds cross-cultural understanding and celebrates the diversity of the human experience.

The festival has three strands: a local and national fringe programmed through an open call, a curated selection of international touring productions, and new work by Cleveland organizations presented in partnership with the festival. Some performances are outdoors and free; others are staged in unexpected spaces. The 2026 festival, centered in the Playhouse Square District, drew 6,022 attendees to work by 191 artists, including 21 new works.