Station Hope, Cleveland Public Theatre's annual event celebrating social justice and the city's heritage as an vital stop on the Underground Railroad, is postponed due to "structural issues" at St. John's Episcopal Church.

CPT announced the news on social media Saturday morning, sharing that the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio is working on a plan to complete necessary structural repairs and make the historic church ready for safe use.

The nearly 200-year-old church is Cleveland’s first authenticated Underground Railroad site. CPT's event takes its name from the fact that Cleveland's was known as “Station Hope” by freedom-seekers on the Underground Railroad in the years leading up to the Civil War. St. John’s, built during the 1830s on the city's west side, was one of the last stops for enslaved people heading north to Canada and its steeple stood as a beacon of freedom.

"The building has some structural issues that need repairing for safe use; and the Episcopal Diocese is working to create a plan to address these issues. We look forward to presenting Station Hope along with the diocese in the future," CPT said. "Thanks to all who have attended or performed at the event these past 10 years."

The family-friendly event, a mix of theatre, dance, music and storytelling that blends history with contemporary events, returned to St. John’s as an in-person event in 2022 after two years of virtual programming

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