GRAND MARAIS, Minn. — What happens when you combine a 145-year-old opera, songs by Nirvana and Hole, and the back of a pickup truck?
You get Pickup Truck Opera.
Returning to the North Shore for two outdoor performances this August, Mixed Precipitation’s Pickup Truck Opera is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Now in its 18th season, the Minnesota company transforms Jacques Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann into an irreverent, family-friendly spectacle filled with soaring opera, ‘90s grunge, unexpected comedy, and plenty of audience delight.
The North Shore Music Association and the Opp-Hvidston Foundation will present two performances:
- Friday, August 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Hovland Town Hall, benefiting the Hovland Volunteer Fire Department.
- Saturday, August 15 at 3:00 p.m. at Sweethearts Bluff in Grand Marais, overlooking Lake Superior.
Performed entirely outdoors from a pickup truck, the production follows the fantastical adventures of a traveling poet pursued by mysterious spirits, weaving together classical opera with the music of Nirvana, Hole, and The Offspring into an experience that’s equal parts concert, theater, and community celebration.
“One of the things we love most about Pickup Truck Opera is that it completely shatters people’s expectations,” said Barbara Jean Meyers, Executive Director of the North Shore Music Association. “People come because they’re curious. They leave laughing, singing, and wondering why they haven’t been going to opera all along.”
Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. The performances are appropriate for all ages, with free admission for youth and teens. Admission for adults is by suggested donation ($5–$50), and reservations are encouraged at www.mixedprecipitation.org.
Whether you’re an opera devotee, a grunge fan, or simply looking for one of the most memorable afternoons of the summer, Pickup Truck Opera promises an experience that’s impossible to forget.
Event Details
Pickup Truck Opera: The Tales of Hoffmann
Fri., August 14 | 6:30 p.m.
Hovland Town Hall
4957 East Highway 61 Hovland, MN
Benefit for the Hovland Volunteer Fire Department
Sat., August 15 | 3:00 p.m.
Sweethearts Bluff
114 South 8th Avenue West Grand Marais, MN
On the west edge of the Grand Marais Campground and Marina
For more information, visit www.northshoremusicassociation.org or www.mixedprecipitation.org
