Pandemonium 2026 showcased dancers, acrobats, and other talents.Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) welcomed hundreds of guests to its Gordon Square Arts District campus on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 19, for its 24th Annual Pandemonium benefit, a fundraiser that raises 15% to 20% of CPT’s annual funding. This year’s theme, “Under Construction,” invited attendees to witness the ongoing campus transformation that has been taking place over the past nine months.

This year’s Pandemonium took place across 12 stages with live music, dance, acrobatics, rappellers, theatrical performances, spoken word, and poetry readings. Guests enjoyed food, beverages, and a dessert display from 12 local establishments. The evening’s dance party was hosted by Purplex DJs, which provided entertainment that included live drumming by Neil Chastain, DJ Square Biz, and vocals by Viktoriia Winstone.

CPT celebrates unique, innovative art that transcends mainstream theatre. Pandemonium proceeds benefit its groundbreaking artistic work and life-changing education programs to raise consciousness and nurture compassion.

The awards ceremony kicked off early under the big tent—aptly named “Architect’s Arena” for the evening. The campus is undergoing a significant renovation project led by Marous Brothers Construction, in part due to a $6 million gift from the estate of Joan Yellen Horvitz, a set and costumer designer who spent decades working on CPT productions.

Pandemonium 2026: Under Construction.Yellen Horvitz’s work can be viewed in the permanent collections of Kent State University Museum and the Western Reserve Historical Society.

The Yellen Horvitz trust bequeathed $2 million of the $6 million toward refurbishing areas of the theater, including construction of an addition to the original 1904 Saint Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Cathedral on Detroit Avenue, now named the Joan Yellen Horvitz Performance Gallery. Renovation work on the gallery included additional performance and seating areas, and ADA-accessible restrooms.

The remaining $4 million has been dedicated to a director fellowship program to cultivate emerging female theater directors at any stage of their careers.

“More than 300 artists are here volunteering their time to break ground on a new era,” says CPT board president Tiffany Wright.

CPT executive artistic director and CEO Raymond Bobgan presented the 2026 PAN Award to Deb Janik. Established in 2004, the PAN Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the arts and community—dual aspects of CPT’s mission.

Janik dedicated 35 years in Northeast Ohio’s public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Her career is marked by a range of leadership roles that have shaped the region’s growth and development.
Pandemonium 2026: Under Construction.
Janik’s resume includes positions such as chief of staff and development officer for Cleveland Mayor Jane L. Campbell; executive team member for Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White; Greater Cleveland Partnership senior vice president of real estate and business development; and Bedrock senior vice president of business development.

She recently launched CivicPoint Development Partners, where she continues her commitment to advancing real estate, business, and workforce development investments within Ohio and across the country.

“I’m not done yet,” Janik said in her acceptance speech. “I’m committed to this community until I’m not breathing.”

In thanking CPT for the honor, she added, “I believe the smallest of actions makes the largest of impact. CPT is the heart of this neighborhood and it’s the cocoon that holds this community together.”