Playhouse Square
Playhouse Square - photo Bob Perkoski
Playhouse Square is Cleveland’s entertainment district, home to the second largest performing arts center in America. But it also increasingly is a neighborhood, adding residents by the bushel just like the rest of downtown. So now, in addition to the five grand theatres playing host to Broadway shows, classical and contemporary theater, cabaret, comedy and spoken word, there are new bars, restaurants and retail that make urban living a reality. Home base for tech, arts education and programming is the state-of-the-art Idea Center building, home not only to WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN, but also a handful of high-tech companies. New streetscapes and lighting have added a level of polish not seen around here since the Roaring 20s.
Playhouse Square, will launch its 2025-2026 Children's Theater Series in October, featuring four productions ranging from classic adaptations to cultural celebrations. The series, includes sensory-friendly performances and educational workshops to enhance the theater experience for young audiences.
Several events are planned this weekend around he 90th anniversary of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, honoring outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and human diversity. With a diverse lineup of award-winning authors, panel discussions, and interactive events, the Cleveland Book Fest solidifies the Cleveland as a major literary hub.
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The Improvaneers, the world's first all-Down syndrome improv troupe, will perform at the BorderLight Festival. The group uses improv comedy to improve communication skills and build self-confidence among performers with Down syndrome, while also entertaining and educating audiences about the capabilities of individuals with Down syndrome.
The City Club of Cleveland launches its annual Outdoor Summer Series this week, featuring free forums on topics ranging from Superman to the city's waterfront. Held at Playhouse Square Plaza, is meant to increase civic engagement and kicks off with a discussion on Superman's connection to Cleveland and the upcoming movie filmed in the city.
The BorderLight Festival will take over Playhouse Square later this month, featuring more than 40 performances across 16 stages in Playhouse Square. This year's festival expands its international programming and accessibility efforts while offering a diverse range of shows, including Fringe Jr. performances for younger audiences, street dance battles, and interactive theater experiences.
Mira Cahalane, a Hudson High School senior, in May won Best Actress at Playhouse Square's Dazzle Award before going to New York City, where she won a Jimmy Award for Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble. In New York, Cahalane had brushes with Broadway stars—Broadway actress Lillias White and 'Hamilton' creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Northeast Ohio's bookstores will celebrate the 12th annual Independent Bookstore Day this Saturday April 26. Eighteen local bookshops will participate in the nationwide event, offering a range of activities including author readings, signings, giveaways, and a region-wide bookstore crawl.
The 49th Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF49) concluded with recognizing its award winners and exceptional independent filmmaking across various categories. The festival screened 300 feature and short films from 60 countries, distributed a total of $134,500 in cash prizes.
The 49th Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF49) kicked off at Playhouse Square last Thursday, March 27.The 10-day festival features 300 films from 60 countries. Special events, workshops, and community engagement programs are also planned, with closing night events on Saturday, April 5.
Playhouse Square is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Dazzle Awards and Disney Musicals in Schools. These education initiatives bring performing arts to Northeast Ohio students of all ages, providing opportunities for growth and recognition through sustainable theater programs—reaching beyond its renowned Broadway productions.
BorderLight Theatre Festival organizers will host a fundraising event on March 20, showcasing the festival's 2024 Audience Choice Award-winning play "I Wear My Dead Sister's Clothes" by Cleveland playwright Amy Schwabauer. The intimate performance will take place in the historic Peckham House in Shaker Heights.
BlueBridge Networks has evolved from a data center to one of the top comprehensive IT solutions providers in the country under the leadership of Kevin Goodman. As BlueBridge celebrates its 20th anniversary, it continues to adapt to technological changes and maintain its commitment to excellence in IT services and community involvement.
The BorderLight Theatre Festival—the four-day event that pushes creative boundaries and celebrate diversity—will return to Playhouse Square from July 16 through 19. Right now, the BorderLight has opened its call for artists, with applications due by the end of January.
The third annual FutureLAND Conference, hosted by the City of Cleveland, United Black Fund, and JumpStart, will bring together thought leaders, industry innovators, and content creators to explore ways in which tech shapes the entrepreneur ecosystem and creative economy this Thursday, Oct. 10 to Saturday, Oct. 12 at Playhouse Square.
“Velveteen, A New Musical” is the first show Playhouse Square has created and self-produced for young audiences. The adaptation from the classic children's book "The Velveteen Rabbit" premiers later this month with a sensory-friendly performance in the Mimi Ohio Theatre.
The 89th Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, which recognize outstanding books that contribute to our understanding of racism and celebrate cultural diversity, take place this weekend at the City Club of Cleveland. As part of the ninth annual Cleveland Book Week, the awards will introduce a new author symposium, “When Artists Go to Work,” with Anisfield-Wolf Award-winning authors and the jurors
The event is presented by the Cleveland Foundation.
Scott O'Con, who founded the popular Tours of Cleveland, LLC, died suddenly on Sunday. He moved from Virginia to the West Park neighborhood in 2017 with his husband, West Park United Church of Christ pastor Jason Thompson, and embraced the city.
With a mission to deploy a citywide network of affordable high-speed internet, DigitalC announced this week that it has partnered with BlueBridge Networks to host its second data center. The second data center will provide better reliability and allow Digital C to expand its client base throughout the city.
Twin sisters and Laurel School graduates Natalie and Sophia Casa will debut their new musical comedy "Ship Show" at the Hermit Club this week as part of the BorderLight Theatre Festival. When the lead character is injured during the opening number, two ensemble members make a hilarious attempt at holding true to saying, "the show must go on."
The BorderLight Theatre Festival returns this Wednesday for its fourth in-person four-day event, with theater, comedy, music, and other performances at various indoor and outdoor venues throughout Playhouse Square.