Contacts
Amy Danielson: 612.245.2020 | danielson.amy@gmail.com
Scotty Reynolds: 612.619.2112 | sreynolds@mixedprecipitation.
Mixed Precipitation announces “Donald Giovanni in Cornlandia: A Picnic Operetta”
Celebrating its 8th season, the company brings opera, food, and outdoor fun to parks and gardens throughout MN in August and September
Mixed Precipitation Theater announces Donald Giovanni in Cornlandia: A Picnic Operetta, an ’80s pop retelling of the 1787 Mozart opera, Don Giovanni, performed throughout Minnesota in August and September. An edible opera adventure for the whole family, A Picnic Operetta marks an eight-year tradition of celebrating the harvest with a unique blend of music, horticulture, food, and storytelling. A Picnic Operetta will tour the state for the second year in a row, moving beyond the metro area to farms, vineyards, orchards, and community gardens throughout Minnesota, including Virginia, Babbitt, and the Rochester area.
Republican candidates converge on a small agrarian town in Middle America. Real Estate tycoon Donald Giovanni and his campaign staff have left a trail of broken hearts and broken promises in their attempt to woo voters. Now a strange supernatural force has been ignited to bring him down. It’s a mix of Mozart and ’80s pop! Tasty, garden fresh bites will be served throughout the show to celebrate harvest and campaign fever.
This one-of-a-kind show is directed by Kym Longhi, with a new script by music director Jerrod Wendland. The classic Italian comedic opera meets a jukebox of ’80s pop hits and modern day political drama. Along with music by Mozart and Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, the cast sinks their teeth into the songs of Bon Jovi, AC/DC, a-Ha, Bruce Hornsby and Tears for Fears.
Fun for all ages, this mix of theater, food, and music runs approximately one hour and 10 minutes.
Cast
A cast of fourteen, a live band, and a lively team of chefs travel with the Picnic Operetta crew. This years cast includes returning sopranos Carrie Cavadini as Donna Elvira and Soprano Naomi Karstad as Donna Anna reinterpreted as Carly “Fiorina” Davidson. Baritones Nick Miller will sing the role of Leporello based on Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. Actor, singer and instrumentalist Michael Liebhauser will sing the role of “Donald” Giovanni while rocking out on guitar.
Performance Dates & Reservations
Sunday, August 14, 2pm (preview)
Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Road, North Branch, MN 55056
Thursday, August 18, 7pm
Dodge Nature Center, 1701 Charlton Avenue, West St. Paul, MN 55118
Friday, August 19, 7pm
Bronx Park Community Garden, 2500 Georgia Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Saturday, August 20, 2pm
Northern Delicious, 3298 Lenont Road, Babbitt MN, 55706
Sunday, August 21, 6:30pm
Caponi Art Park, 1220 Diffley Road, Eagan, MN 55123
Friday, August 26, 7pm
Loring Park Garden of the Seasons, 1382 Willow Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Saturday, August 27, 2pm
Olcott Park and Greenhouse 711 9th Avenue West, Virginia MN, 55792
Presented by the Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability and the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency, Lyric Center for the Arts and Friend of the Olcott Park Greenhouse.
Sunday, August 28, 4pm
JD Rivers Children’s Garden, 2900 Glenwood Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Saturday, September 3, 2pm
Alexis Bailly Vineyard, 18200 Kirby Avenue. Hastings, MN 55033
Sunday, September 4, 2pm
Alexis Bailly Vineyard, 18200 Kirby Avenue, Hastings, MN 55033
Saturday, September 10, 3pm
Dream Acres Farm, 17289 County Road 8, Wykoff, MN 55990
Sunday, September 11, 3pm
Squash Blossom Farm, 7499 60th Avenue NW, Oronoco, MN 55960
Saturday, September 17, 2pm
Frogtown Farm, 946 Minnehaha Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55104
Sunday, September 18, 2pm
Skidmore Park Community Garden, 1085 4th Street East, Saint Paul, MN 55106
Reservations
Please call 1-800-838-3006 or visit mixedprecipitation.org for reservations. Reservations will be available on June 1 on brownpapertickets.com. Seating is limited and reservations are strongly encouraged. The suggested donation is $10 – 20 per person. Donations are a critical source of funding for The Picnic Operetta and can be made with your reservation or collected at the end of the performance. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs. Some blankets are provided.
Access
We are prepared to provide reasonable accommodation to patrons with physical disabilities and those using access services. Our performance is designed for an outdoor garden venue. A sighted guide is suggested for visually impaired patrons. Find additional info about access services, ASL, and audio description at this link.
We’re offering ASL interpretation at the following performances:
Friday August 26th at 7pm at Loring Park Garden of the Seasons and Saturday September 10th at 3pm at DreamAcres Farm in Wykoff, MN.
Please call Audience Services Lead Alia Jeraj (651-485-2283) for parking suggestions and access to each unique venue.
About Mixed Precipitation and A Picnic Operetta
Mixed Precipitation’s mission is to create unexpected theatrical experiences through unique partnerships and festive events that inspire social engagement. More info at mixedprecipitation.org.
Each summer we present our signature event, A Picnic Operetta, a lively theater experience touring community gardens and other green spaces throughout the Twin Cities Metro and Greater Minnesota. A five-course tasting menu of locally grown, performance-inspired delicacies is served during the show. We bring together classical music, horticulture, food, and storytelling into a celebration of the urban eco-system.
This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and VSA Minnesota, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
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