Mozart’s musical myth of humanity in peril!
When: Performances July 26 - September 14, 2025
Where: Performances throughout the metro and greater Minnesota, including the 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.
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, Deb Kilde, Jason Kornelis, Nick Miller, Anna Pladsen, Trevor Woggen, and Alex Yang.
This touring spectacle features the work of set designer Abby Palen, Rabbit Food Puppetry costume designer Rhiannon Fiskradatz, and stage manager Ches Cipriano.
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.
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).
2025 SUMMER TOUR DATES
Additional dates announced by April 1st
Saturday, July 26th at 7:00 pm (Preview)
Caponi Art Park
1220 Diffley Road, Eagan, MN 55123
Friday, August 1st at 7:00 pm (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, 6:00 pm (Preview)
Organic Compound Farm, Faribault
18125 Eiler Ave, Faribault, MN 55021
Sunday, August 3rd at 2:00 pm (Preview)
Franconia Sculpture Park
29836 St Croix Trail N, Shafer, MN 55074
Wednesday, August 13th 7:00 pm
Whiteside Park
721 East Sheridan Street, Ely, MN 55731
Friday, August 15th at 6:30 pm
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 3:00 pm
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 3:00 pm
Finland Heritage Site
5653 Little Marais Rd, Finland, MN 55603
Thursday, August 21st 6:30 pm (Metro Opening)
Harriet Island Regional Park
110 Harriet Island Road, St Paul, MN 55107
Friday, August 22nd at 6:30 pm
DreamAcres Farm
17289 County Road 8, Wykoff, MN 55990
Saturday, August 23rd at 4:00 pm
Minnesota 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 3:00 pm
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 6:30 pm
Silverwood Park
2500 County Road E, St. Anthony, MN 55421
Thursday, August 28th at 7:00 pm
Dodge Nature Center, Farm Education Center
1701 Charlton Street, West St. Paul, MN 55118
Saturday, August 30th at 2:00 pm
Alexis Bailly Vineyard
18200 Kirby Ave. Hastings, MN 55033
Sunday, August 31st at 2:00 pm
Alexis Bailly Vineyard
18200 Kirby Ave. Hastings, MN 55033
Thursday, September 4th at 6:30 pm
Loring Park Garden of the Seasons
1382 Willow Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Friday, September 5th at 6:30
Bronx Park Community Garden
2500 Georgia Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Saturday, September 6th at 3:00 pm
Swede Hollow Park
657 East Beaumont St, St. Paul, MN 55106
Sunday, September 7th at 3:00 pm
JD Rivers’ Children’s Garden
2900 Glenwood Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Saturday, September 13th at 3:00 pm
Mask and Rose Theatre
24011 Highway 89 NW Puposky