Mozart’s musical myth of humanity in peril!
When: Performances July 26 – September 14, 2025
Where: Performances throughout the metro and greater Minnesota, including Ely, Grand Marais, Spring Valley, Winona, and Bemidji
RESERVATIONS OPEN JUNE 15th
All performances are offered for a suggested donation ($5 – $45).
This performance is fun for all ages.
Mixed Precipitation celebrates 17 years of outdoor summer fun. This year we’re revisiting one of our favorite productions, The Return of King Idomeneo. First created in 2012, this adaptation of Mozart’s 1781 opera Idomeneo, re di Creta (Idomeneo, King of Crete), was a breakout production for Mixed Precipitation and exemplified our playful and passionate outdoor performance style.
CAST, CREW & CREATIVE
Artistic Director Scotty Reynolds has brought together a team of artists, featuring many longtime company members and those performing in their first Mixed Precipitation production.
This new production is directed by Paul Coate, with choreography by Antonia Perez. Music Director Gary Ruschman leads the musical forces.
Mozart’s epic music comes to a 1950s street corner with a unique mash-up of passionate arias, exciting choruses, 50s doo-wop, and 60s girl groups. This mythical show is family-friendly and full of adventure.
Our adaptation, The Return of King Idomeneo, brings the action to mid-century America, as the town of Crete celebrates the return of its victorious hometown heroes from the long and bloody Trojan War. General Idomeneo has taken hostages from Troy: three brilliant scientists, Hecuba and her daughters Ilia and Cassandra. And Neptune, the vengeful god of the sea, prepares to unleash his sewage monsters.
Mozart and Librettist Giambattista Varesco based their opera on a version of the Greek story of General Idomeneus, inspired by the Greek Pantheon and Homer’s Odyssey. Idomeneo, ré di Creta is considered an early Mozart masterpiece and his first “great opera”. The score contains several majestic choruses, Placido e il mar, Nettuno s’onori and the famous quartet Andrò ramingo e solo.
Tenor Roland Hawkins and Phil Takemura Sears lead the cast, sharing the role of Idomeneo. Also featured in the cast are Sopranos Jill Morgan and Alexis Reed, who share the role of Electra, Joni Griffith as Idamante, and Kaoru Shoji as Ilia. Playing multiple roles and multiple instruments are Galina Đorđević, Marc Haroo, Debi Kilde, Jason Kornelis, Nick Miller, Anna Pladson, Trevor Woggon, and Alex Yang.
This touring spectacle features the work of set designer Abby Palen, Rabbit Food Puppetry costume designer Rhiannon Fiskradatz. Our evening performances feature lighting design by Trevor Zapieki. Ches Cipriano returns as the stage manager for our summer tour.
RESERVATIONS OPEN JUNE 15th
OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES GUIDELINES
Our summer tour includes performances in sprawling parks, nature centers, wineries, 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.
ACCESS SERVICES
ASL interpretation and audio description are offered at select performances. Watch our social media for updates.
The reservation listing will include access and parking info for each outdoor venue. Large-print programs are available at all performances.
2025 SUMMER TOUR
| DATE | LOCATION |
| Saturday, July 26th at 7pm (Preview) | Caponi Art Park, 1220 Diffley Road, Eagan, MN 55123 |
| Sunday, July 27th at 4pm (Preview) | Loppet Trailhead, 1221 Theodore Wirth Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55422 |
| Friday, August 1st at 7pm (Preview) | Lakefront Park, Prior Lake 5000 Kop Parkway, Prior Lake, MN 55372 Presented by the City of Prior Lake, Parks and Recreation |
| Saturday, August 2nd, 6pm (Preview) | Organic Compound Farm, Faribault 18125 Eiler Ave, Faribault, MN 55021 |
| Sunday, August 3rd at 2pm (Preview) | Franconia Sculpture Park 29836 St Croix Trail N, Shafer, MN 55074 |
| Wednesday, August 13th at 7pm | Whiteside Park 721 East Sheridan Street, Ely, MN 55731 |
| Friday, August 15th 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 16th at 3pm | Sweethearts Bluff in the Grand Marais Recreation Area 114 South 8th Avenue West, Grand Marais, MN 55604 Presented by the North Shore Music Association and Opp-Hvidston Foundation |
| Sunday, August 17th at 3pm | Finland Heritage Site 5653 Little Marais Rd, Finland, MN 55603 |
| Thursday, August 21st at 6:30pm (Metro Opening) | Harriet Island Regional Park 110 Harriet Island Road, St Paul, MN 55107 |
| Friday, August 22nd at 6:30pm | DreamAcres Farm 17289 County Road 8, Wykoff, MN 55990 |
| Saturday, August 23rd at 4pm | MN Conservatory for the Arts 1164 West Howard Street, Winona, MN 55987 Presented by Winona Arts Center and Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts |
| Sunday, August 24th at 3pm | Cedar Lake East Beach, “Hidden Beach” 2000 S Upton Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405 Presented by the Kenwood Neighborhood Organization, Hidden Acoustics |
| Wednesday, August 27th at 6:30pm | Silverwood Park 2500 County Road E, St. Anthony, MN 55421 |
| Thursday, August 28th at 7pm | Dodge Nature Center, Farm Education Center 1701 Charlton Street, West St. Paul, MN 55118 |
| Saturday, August 30th at 2pm | Alexis Bailly Vineyard 18200 Kirby Ave. Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Sunday, August 31st at 2pm | Alexis Bailly Vineyard 18200 Kirby Ave. Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Thursday, September 4th at 6:30pm | Loring Park Garden of the Seasons 1382 Willow Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403 |
| Friday, September 5th at 6:30pm | Bronx Park Community Garden 2500 Georgia Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN 55426 |
| Saturday, September 6th at 3pm | Swede Hollow Park 657 East Beaumont St, St. Paul, MN 55106 |
| Sunday, September 7th at 3pm | JD Rivers’ Children’s Garden 2900 Glenwood Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55405 |
| Wednesday, September 10th at 7pm | Ojibway Park 2695 Ojibway Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125 Presented by the Merrill Arts Center |
| Saturday, September 13th at 3pm | Mask and Rose Theatre 24011 Highway 89 NW Puposky, MN 56667 |
This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
About Mixed Precipitation
Mixed Precipitation’s mission is to create festive theatrical events that inspire social engagement. Since 2009, they have presented their signature events, A Picnic Operetta and Pickup Truck Opera, at community gardens, urban farms, parks, orchards, and vineyards throughout Minnesota. The company showcases musicians and theater artists with fun adaptations of operas by Mozart, Handel, Beethoven, Purcell, and many others. Their work has been presented by St. Mary’s University, Carleton College, The Sheldon Theatre of Red Wing, Historic Holmes Theater of Detroit Lakes, and community groups all over Minnesota. Their site-responsive outdoor performances have become a Minnesota summer tradition. Previous projects include the Mpls Pinter Studies and the Winter Olympic Quadrennial Salon, Tonya and Nancy: The Opera (2010, 2014, 2018).