Summer 2024 FAUST

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 7:00pmWhiteside Park
721 East Sheridan Street, Ely, MN 55731
Friday August 9th at 6:30pmHovland 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 3:00pmSweetheart’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 2:00pmFinland Heritage Site
5653 Little Marais Rd, Finland, MN 55603

Presented by Lovin’ Lake County
Thursday August 15th at 7:00pmLoring Park
1382 Willow Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Friday August 16th at 6:30pmCaponi Art Park, Eagan
1220 Diffley Road, Eagan, MN 55123
Saturday August 17th at 6:00pmChateau Winery
1998 Highway 87, St Croix Falls, WI 54024
Sunday August 18th at 3:00pmFranconia Sculpture Park
29836 St Croix Trail N, Shafer, MN 55074
Thursday August 22nd at 7:00pmDodge Nature Center
1701 Charlton Street, West St. Paul, MN 55118
Friday August 23rd at 6:30 pmDream 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 3:00pmPatton Park
112-114 South High Street, Lake City, MN 55041

Presented by the Lake City Area Arts
Sunday August 25th at 3:00pmCedar Lake East Beach
2000 S Upton Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405

Presented by the Kenwood Neighborhood Organization, Hidden Acoustics
Wedneday August 28th at 6:30pmSilverwood Park
2500 County Road E, St. Anthony, MN 55421
Saturday August 31st at 2:00pmAlexis Bailly Vineyard
18200 Kirby Ave. Hastings, MN 55033
Sunday September 1st at 2:00pmAlexis Bailly Vineyard
18200 Kirby Ave. Hastings, MN 55033
Thursday September 5th at 6:30pmBronx Park Community Garden
2500 Georgia Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Friday September 6th at 6:30pmOjibway Park
2695 Ojibway Dr, Woodbury, MN 55125

Presented by Merrill Arts Center
Saturday September 7th at 2:00pmNorth 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 5:00pmHarriet Island Regional Park
110 Harriet Island Road, St Paul, MN 55107
Thursday September 12th at 6:00pmRiver Bend Nature Center
1000 Rustad Road, Faribault, MN 55021

Presented by the Paradise Center for the Arts
Saturday September 14th at 3:00pmSwede Hollow Park, St. Paul
657 East Beaumont St, St. Paul, MN 55106
Sunday September 15th at 3:00pmJD 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.