Media contact: Cynthia Quick, 847/234-1063 x 25, cynthia@ragdale.org Announcing Summer Performances in Open Air Ragdale Ring June 15, July 13, August 10, and September 16 Ragdale, the nationally acclaimed artist retreat in Lake Forest, kicks off the fifth annual Ragdale Ring Performance Series on Thursdays at 7pm – June 15, July 13 and August 10, finishing with an engaging pageant for all the family on Saturday, September 16 at 4pm. These one-of-a-kind programs feature storytelling, music, dance and theater and are curated by Ragdale resident artists in cooperation with their creative colleagues. All events take place in the Ragdale Ring, the open-air performance venue, whose “Living Picture” design by T+E+A+M was recently chosen in an international competition for outstanding, young architects. Guests are encouraged to bring their family, a lawn chair, or picnic for these arts-filled outdoor performances. The summer line-up follows: Thursday, June 15, 7pm Altered Consciousness: Visual Scores/Sonic Landscapes Curated by Renee Baker, composer and musician The face of humanity is revealed in this multidisciplinary program of film, music and poetry. Inspired by artists Cy Twombly and Jean Dubuffet, the poetry of Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou, the performance features score composition by Renee Baker and the Chicago Modern Orchestra Project Chamber Ensemble. Thursday, July 13, 7pm Ziryab, the Songbird of Andalusia Curated by Jamil Khoury and Malik Gillani, Silk Road Rising Take an enchanting musical journey back to 9th century Islamic Spain with musical impresario Ronnie Malley. Arabic music, poetry, and songs breathe life into the story of Ziryab, a former slave whose musical abilities brought him fame throughout Al-Andalus: a land where Christians, Jews and Muslims co-existed for over seven centuries. Thursday, August 10, 7pm Composing the Moment: Danced Improvisation Curated by Ginger Farley, Chicago Dancemakers Forum Improvising dance artists who represent several distinct dance disciplines and lineages take the stage. From post-modern dance to urban street forms, each has their own unique style, drawing deeply on their embodied reservoirs of personal, cultural and danced histories to compose spontaneously in the now. Saturday, September 16, 4pm A Persephone Pageant Curated by Tria Smith, director of performance and community engagement This interactive pageant celebrates the myth of Persephone, the return of spring each year, and also presents a story of climate change and its impact on our earth. A live, moving picture story, featuring music and visual elements, it is performed with Ragdale, the weather and sky playing equal roles in the narrative. All events take place at Ragdale, located at 1230 N. Green Bay Road in Lake Forest. Off-site parking is available at city lots in downtown Lake Forest, a 15 minute walk to Ragdale. Admission is $20/person; $15 Students and seniors, 12 and under free. Tickets are available through the website at ragdale.org and also at the door. For questions, call 847/234-1063 or email: info@ragdale.org # # # Ragdale is a nonprofit artists’ retreat located on architect Howard Van Doren Shaw’s historic estate in Lake Forest. Ragdale hosts over 150 writers and artists each year making it the one of the largest interdisciplinary artist communities in the country. www.ragdale.org