Baileys Harbor, Wis. (July 20, 2026) – The Door Kinetic Arts Festival (DKAF) announces its milestone 10th Anniversary Season, bringing together nationally recognized artists in theater, dance, music, film, journalism, and interdisciplinary performance for a week of creativity, collaboration, and discovery in Door County.
Taking place September 20–26, 2026, the festival will feature performances, readings, screenings, workshops, panel discussions, and artist residencies that reflect DKAF’s decade-long commitment to developing new work and fostering meaningful artistic exchange.
Leading this year’s lineup is the internationally acclaimed Chicago-based collective Manual Cinema. Known for its extraordinary fusion of live music, puppetry, shadow theater, film, and performance, the company has earned worldwide recognition for creating visually stunning works that redefine theatrical storytelling, most recently demonstrated in its immersive exhibit, “10 Letters a Day,” at the Obama Presidential Center Museum. During its residency at DKAF, Manual Cinema will develop and present excerpts from a new work, The Daemon, offering audiences a rare opportunity to witness one of America’s most innovative arts organizations at work.
The festival will also welcome independent journalist and former ABC News Senior National Correspondent Terry Moran for a special presentation of his new play, The Baghdad Gentleman’s Club, and a public conversation examining the role of journalism in an era of political polarization, technological disruption, and rapidly changing media landscapes.
Door County songwriter and playwright Katie Dahl will develop and present her new musical, The Northeast Corner, exploring the extraordinary relationship between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and pioneering journalist Lorena Hickok. The project will be developed in collaboration with award-winning director Lisa Peterson, whose acclaimed productions have been seen at major theaters throughout the United States and abroad. Together, Dahl and Peterson will continue shaping the musical during a residency process that exemplifies DKAF’s commitment to nurturing ambitious new works at critical stages of development.
Chicago-based dancer and choreographer Sophie Minouche Allen will present This Is Not a Lifesaving Device, a new dance-theater work blending movement, text, and visual imagery in a deeply personal exploration of resilience, vulnerability, and connection.
Returning to the festival will be James Beard Award-nominated writer and mixologist Robert Simonson, whose appearances have become a favorite among DKAF audiences. Simonson will participate in demonstrations, workshops, and conversations celebrating the art of the cocktail.
The festival’s annual film program will once again showcase a curated selection of independent films, filmmaker discussions, and special screenings, while additional workshops, panel discussions, performances, and community engagement activities will be announced throughout the summer.
“Ten years ago, we set out to create a place where artists from different disciplines could come together, take risks, and develop new work in a supportive environment,” said DKAF Creative Director Eric Simonson. “What has emerged is a vibrant, creative community that continues to surprise and inspire us. This anniversary season celebrates that spirit of exploration while bringing some extraordinary artists to Door County.”
Since its founding in 2016, the Door Kinetic Arts Festival has grown into one of the Midwest’s most distinctive multidisciplinary arts incubators, attracting artists and audiences from across the country while maintaining a deep connection to the Door County community. Over the past decade, DKAF has welcomed hundreds of artists working across disciplines, creating a space where new ideas can be tested, collaborations can flourish, and audiences can engage directly with the creative process.
Past participants include Lydia Diamond, Harry Lennix, Stephen Belber, Rainn Wilson, Dan Lauria, Rick Cleveland, Lucky Plush Productions, The Seldoms, Rick Ian Gordon, Jumaane Taylor, and Campbell Scott. National and internationally recognized artists have created and developed new works, including Diamond’s Toni Stone (Broadway), Gordon’s and Lynne Nottage’s opera This House, Belber’s play What Do We Do With The Dead?, and Cleveland’s Lulu.
Additional artists, events, and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information, visit www.doorkinetic.com
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