Celebrating 18 seasons of outdoor opera!

The wild adventures of a traveling poet and the dark spirits who pursue him.

RESERVATIONS OPEN JUNE 15th

WHEN: Performances August 8th – September 13th, 2026

WHERE: Performances throughout the metro and greater Minnesota, including Ely, Grand Marais, Finland, North Branch, Spring Valley, Rochester, and Faribault 

HOW: Reserve your spot in advance! All performances are offered for a suggested donation ($5 – $50). This performance is free for youth, teens, and children under 18. Reservations open June 15th.

Follow the wild adventures of traveling poet, Hoffmann, as he seeks love and creative inspiration in a world overrun by technology. He meets ghosts, robots, magicians, and shape-shifting demons in this lively fantasy. With a mix of 1990s grunge and R&B, the Pickup Truck Opera is a one-of-a-kind mix of classical opera and pop tunes you’ll love. Full for all ages.  

Mixed Precipitation celebrates 18 years of outdoor summer fun with our futuristic version of Jacques Offenbach’s 1881 opera Tales of Hoffmann (Les Contes d’Hoffmann) 

Offenbach and librettist Jules Barbier based the opera on the short stories of German writer E.T.A. Hoffmann.  Hoffmann’s dark romantic style is often compared to Edgar Allen Poe for his haunting and fantastical tales.  He’s known as the godfather of horror, fantasy, and the uncanny.  His work has been adapted for the stage as The Nutcracker and Coppelia, and he’s influenced the work of filmmakers Tim Burton and David Lynch.  

Offenbach is known for his infectious tunes and his hundreds of comical light operas, including La Belle Hélène and Orphée aux Enfers (“Orpheus in the Underworld”). In our version of Tales of Hoffmann, timeless melodies like “The Barcarolle” and “The Doll Song” are featured alongside clever covers of 1990s grunge tunes by Courtney Love, Tori Amos, Offspring, and Deadeye Dick.  

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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. 

Music Director Gary Ruschman leads the musical forces, with choreography by Antonia Perez. 

Tenor Felix Aguilar Tomlinson leads the cast and makes his Mixed Precipitation debut in the role of the poet Hoffmann.  Bass-Baritone Rodolfo Nieto and Andrew Wilkowski split the role of Lindorf, the shapeshifting demon who follows Hoffmann and sabotages his romantic affairs. As Hoffmann hops from city to city, he falls in love with three different women, Olympia, Antonia, and Giulietta.  The robot Olympia is played by Madison Holtze and Lizz Windnagel.  Lexi Reed plays the musical prodigy, Antonia. Joni Griffith performs the role of Giulietta, the gambler. 

At select performances, the role of Hoffmann will be played by Phill Takemura Sears, and Elena Stabile will play Antonia. The cast features many performers who are double-cast for these demanding roles. Check our website for information about who is playing roles at select performances.  

Playing multiple roles and multiple instruments are Beth Gusenius, Joel Mathias, KayJay Olson, Nick Miller, Gary Ruschman, Trevor Woggon, and Alex Yang. Designers on the team include puppeteers Ches Cipreano and Jake Quatt, scenic designer Lisa Kudas, and costume designer K Marie Mielke. 

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MEDIA KIT

Need our press release, graphics, and archival photos? Click below for our 2026 media kit.

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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, sunscreen, bug spray, and beverages for comfort and hydration. The performance lasts approximately 75-90 minutes. All shows are outdoors. (Weather permitting)

All performances are rain or shine. Watch our website and social media for weather delays and other updates.

Mixed Precipitation cancels shows when temperatures are above 98 degrees Fahrenheit, when winds are greater than 45 mph, when there is thunder & lightning, and when the air quality index is 180 or above.

 Decisions to cancel are often not made until 1-2 hours before showtime, or after a weather delay. All CDC protocols and local guidelines are carefully followed and may also result in a cancellation.

ACCESS SERVICES

All reservation links will include access and parking info for each outdoor venue.  Large-print programs are available at all performances. Please ask volunteer or Mixed Precipitation staff member at the front of house table for a large print program.

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2026 SUMMER TOUR

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).