Ragdale Ring Summer Performance Series Kick-Off

The 2026 Ragdale Ring Summer Performance Series kicks off Saturday June 20-21 with the world premiere of Circle of Apathy, the new dance project from House of DOV with live music from Family Junket.

We are also excited to celebrate Front of House, the 2026 Ragdale Ring winning design by Virgina-based studio Gluten.

Both dates include a full outdoor performance of Circle of Apathy using Front of House as performance stage and audience seating. Sunday, June 21 is Ragdale Family Day with additional activities and a special presentation by the theater duo Well-Balanced Dads.

We invite attendees to arrive early with their own blankets, folding chairs and food and enjoy a picnic along the prairie. There will be a limited number of additional chairs provided by Ragdale.

The Ragdale Ring Summer Performance Series is part of Ragdale’s 50th anniversary programming.

SCHEDULE

Saturday, June 20, 2026 – Opening Night World Premiere

4:00 PM Campus open: bring a picnic and tour the Ragdale grounds and gardens

6-7:30 PM Circle of Apathy by House of DOV, with Family Junket

7:30-8:00 PM closing musical set by Family Junket

Sunday, June 21, 2026 – Ragdale Family Day

Additional programming on this date includes facepainting, arts and crafts, and a special appearance from the Well-Balanced Dads

12:30 PM Campus open: bring a picnic and tour the Ragdale grounds and gardens

1:30-2 PM Well-Balanced Dads

2:30-4 PM Circle of Apathy by House of DOV, with Family Junket

4-4:30 PM closing musical set by Family Junket

Additional programs will be announced in May 2026 on www.ragdale.org.

About Circle of Apathy

In Circle of Apathy the ensemble explores the cycles of growth and disintegration intrinsic to nature. Over the course of two acts with dance and music, performers work together to build physical structures which increase in precarity as the group strives toward expansion.

“Through creative process, we’ve sought to understand our own place within the greater ecology of our landscape, and to experience the human body as a metaphor and microcosm of the natural world,” says Drew Lewis, creative director of House of DOV.

Read more about the performances and weekend activities on Ragdale's website: www.ragdale.org.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Ragdale?

Ragdale is an artist residency program located in Lake Forest, Illinois, that provides time and space for writers, dancers, architects, musicians, composers, and visual artists to work, uninterrupted. Individuals apply through a competitive review process, and over 200 residencies are awarded annually, making Ragdale one of the largest residency programs in the United States. Each year artists are welcomed at various stages of their careers and spend up to 18 days living and working on campus alongside a supportive and diverse cohort of their peers. We also provide ways for people from broad backgrounds to engage with the organization through themed residencies, creative sabbaticals, arts education programs for teens and events that connect Ragdale with the public.

To stay connected to our programs and learn more about our work, visit www.ragdale.org and sign up for our newsletters online.

What is the venue like?

The Ragdale Ring Summer Performance Series will be outdoors and located behind Ragdale House, designed in 1897 by renowned Chicago architect Howard Van Doren Shaw. The area of the Ragdale Ring is mowed lawn and includes some uneven terrain.

Additional activities may take place at other locations on campus, and Ragdale staff and volunteers can help direct you when you arrive. Pathways between buildings include paved, crushed limestone, and stone. Ramps are installed at building points of entry and exit. Building restrooms are available.

Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the Ragdale campus, including all buildings and outdoor spaces.

To request accessibility services please email [email protected] a minimum of 72 hours before the event.

What are transit and parking options?

Parking in downtown Lake Forest or taking Metra is highly recommended and convenient.

Ragdale provides a complimentary shuttle service between downtown Lake Forest and Ragdale’s campus (1230 N Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, Illinois). Parking on Ragdale’s campus is limited.

Details on central shuttle location will be emailed to ticket holders and posted online by May 1. The free shuttle will operate between downtown Lake Forest and Ragdale during these times:

• Saturday, June 20, the shuttle will run every 15 minutes from 4-9pm.
• Sunday, June 21, the shuttle runs every 15 minutes from 12:30-5:30pm.

Shuttle service will also be available to Metra riders and local residents.

Metra riders should use the Union Pacific North service (UP-N) between Chicago and Kenosha and ride to the Lake Forest stop (691 N. Western Ave., Lake Forest). Visit Metra.com for current schedule.

Metra riders are welcome to use the free shuttle that will be near the train station.

Walking to Ragdale (1230 N Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, Illinois) from the Metra station takes about 25 minutes.

Can I bring my own food or alcohol to Ragdale Ring events?

We encourage guests to arrive early with a picnic of their own creation, as well as a blanket and or folding chairs. Alcohol for those 21+ is allowed.

What options are there for purchasing food on site?

Food will be available for purchase from an on-site food truck. Food truck sales end 30-minutes prior to the House of DOV performance.

Do I need to bring my own chairs?

For those planning to picnic, we encourage you to bring chairs and/or blankets, which can also be used for your seating at performances, as space allows.

Ragdale will also have folding chairs set-up in the performance area for event attendees. The event is general admission, and chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Are there restrooms?

Yes.

Is the event family friendly?

Yes.

Will there be additional performances of Circle of Apathy?

Ragdale is thrilled to present the world premiere performances of Circle of Apathy in an outdoor context for which the work has been originally designed. The June 20-21 performances at Ragdale are the start of a House of DOV tour that also includes theatrical (proscenium stage) performances. The Gorton Center (400 East Illinois Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045) will host the first theatrical performances June 27-28, 2026. Attendees of the Ragdale Ring’s presentation of Circle of Apathy performances can receive a discount to see the performance again on the proscenium stage at Gorton Center. If you are interested in seeing both shows, please email [email protected] for information.

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