It’s French Romantic Opera and New Wave Disco Beats. It’s a deal with the devil as humanity shoots for the Moon. It’s Mixed Precipitation’s 16th Annual Summer Operatic Adventure.
RESERVATIONS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED
ABOUT THE SHOW
When: Performances August 8 – September 15, 2024
Where: Performances throughout the metro and greater Minnesota, including the North Shore, Iron Range, and southeastern MN.
All performances are offered for a suggested donation ($5 – $45). Recommended for all ages.
Mixed Precipitation celebrates 16 years of outdoor summer fun with a new production adapted from composer Charles Gounod’s 1859 opera Faust, with a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michael Carré.
In the not-so-distant future, scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Johann Faust faces a planet in crisis but no motivation to spare humanity its fate. He yearns to find a life of meaning and love. Méphistophélès, a mysterious extraplanar entity with a devilish charm, appears with a bargain: Relocate Earth’s climate refugees to a lunar colony and win the love of the brilliant physicist Marguerite. Together, Faust and his mysterious companion launch a fanatical quest to save humanity and reach beyond the limits of human potential. Dr. Faust finds himself torn between the love of his life and the conditions of his bargain. The music of Depeche Mode is laced into this tale, featuring the work of songwriters Vince Clarke and Martin Gore.
CAST & CREATIVE
Pickup Truck Opera: Volume 4—Faust is created from the combined talents of music director Gary Ruschman (returning for his seventh production with Mixed Precipitation), playwright and theologian Max Yeshaye, stage directors Scotty Reynolds and Jacob Miller, and the Mixed Precipitation ensemble.
Tenor Maurice Fields leads the cast as Faust. Bass Justin Spenner returns to Mixed Precipitation in the role of Méphistophélès, and sopranos Caroline Kouma and Corissa Bussian split the role of Marguerite. Galina Đorđević, Joshua Eidem, Joni Griffith, Jill Morgan, and Nick Miller play multiple roles and multiple instruments under the leadership of Ruschman.
This touring spectacle features the work of set designer Alex Hathaway, costume designer Rhiannon Fiskradatz, props designer Karly Bergmann, and stage manager Ches Cipriano
OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES
Their 2024 summer tour includes performances in sprawling parks, nature centers, and farms all over Minnesota. Audiences are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and beverages for comfort and hydration. The performance lasts approximately 75-90 minutes. All shows are outdoors. Watch our website and social media for weather delays.
Mixed Precipitation began this mobile format in 2020, using a blue 2011 Ford Ranger Pickup Truck and a trailer as the container and platform for the opera’s action. In addition to the performances listed below, the Pickup Truck will bring pop-up performances to audiences on neighborhood streets, public squares, libraries, and care facilities.
ACCESS SERVICES
ASL interpretation is offered at the following performances, interpreters: Sarah Brown and Gilda Houck-Markovitz.
- Thursday, August 15th, 7:00 at the Loring Park Garden of the Seasons in Minneapolis
- Thursday, September 12th, 6:00 at the River Bend Nature Center in Faribault
Audio description is offered at these performances, audio describer: Laurie Pape Hadley.
- Sunday, September 8th, 5:00 at Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul
- Thursday, September 12th, 6:00 at the River Bend Nature Center in Faribault
Please see the reservation links for access and parking info regarding each outdoor venue. Large-print programs are available at all performances.
SUMMER 2024 DATES
| DATE (click for reservations) | LOCATION |
|---|---|
| Thursday August 8th at 7:00pm | Whiteside Park 721 East Sheridan Street, Ely, MN 55731 |
| Friday August 9th at 6:30pm | Hovland Town Hall 4957 East Highway 61, Hovland, MN 55606 Benefit performance for the Hovland Volunteer Fire Department. Presented by the North Shore Music Association and Opp-Hvidston Foundation. |
| Saturday August 10th at 3:00pm | Sweetheart’s Bluff 114 South 8th Avenue West, Grand Marais, MN 55604 Presented by the North Shore Music Association and Opp-Hvidston Foundation |
| Sunday August 11th at 2:00pm | Finland Heritage Site 5653 Little Marais Rd, Finland, MN 55603 Presented by Lovin’ Lake County |
| Thursday August 15th at 7:00pm | Loring Park 1382 Willow Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403 |
| Friday August 16th at 6:30pm | Caponi Art Park, Eagan 1220 Diffley Road, Eagan, MN 55123 |
| Saturday August 17th at 6:00pm | Chateau Winery 1998 Highway 87, St Croix Falls, WI 54024 |
| Sunday August 18th at 3:00pm | Franconia Sculpture Park 29836 St Croix Trail N, Shafer, MN 55074 |
| Thursday August 22nd at 7:00pm | Dodge Nature Center 1701 Charlton Street, West St. Paul, MN 55118 |
| Friday August 23rd at 6:30 pm | Dream Acres, Spring Valley 17289 County Road 8, Wykoff, MN 55990 Pizza service begins at 5:00 pm! Reservations are not required. Contact DreamAcres for additional information: dreamacrespizza@gmail.com, 507-316-3795 |
| Saturday August 24th at 3:00pm | Patton Park 112-114 South High Street, Lake City, MN 55041 Presented by the Lake City Area Arts |
| Sunday August 25th at 3:00pm | Cedar Lake East Beach 2000 S Upton Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405 Presented by the Kenwood Neighborhood Organization, Hidden Acoustics |
| Wedneday August 28th at 6:30pm | Silverwood Park 2500 County Road E, St. Anthony, MN 55421 |
| Saturday August 31st at 2:00pm | Alexis Bailly Vineyard 18200 Kirby Ave. Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Sunday September 1st at 2:00pm | Alexis Bailly Vineyard 18200 Kirby Ave. Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Thursday September 5th at 6:30pm | Bronx Park Community Garden 2500 Georgia Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN 55426 |
| Friday September 6th at 6:30pm | Ojibway Park 2695 Ojibway Dr, Woodbury, MN 55125 Presented by Merrill Arts Center |
| Saturday September 7th at 2:00pm | North Hennepin Community College 7411 85th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN, 55445 Presented by the City of Brooklyn Park, Recreation and Parks |
| Sunday September 8th at 5:00pm | Harriet Island Regional Park 110 Harriet Island Road, St Paul, MN 55107 |
| Thursday September 12th at 6:00pm | River Bend Nature Center 1000 Rustad Road, Faribault, MN 55021 Presented by the Paradise Center for the Arts |
| Saturday September 14th at 3:00pm | Swede Hollow Park, St. Paul 657 East Beaumont St, St. Paul, MN 55106 |
| Sunday September 15th at 3:00pm | JD Rivers’ Children’s Garden, Minneapolis 2900 Glenwood Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55405 |
This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
