Mixed Precipitation
Mixed Precipitation is a Minnesota nonprofit that produces outdoor touring opera, blending classical works with contemporary music and local food via mobile performances at community gardens, farms, and parks since 2009.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersSaint Paul, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Mixed Precipitation does
Mixed Precipitation is a St. Paul, Minnesota-based nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 2009 by Scotty Reynolds that produces outdoor touring opera combining classical repertoire with contemporary music and locally sourced food. The company operates two interconnected formats: the original Picnic Operetta (2009-2019), which featured 75-90 minute opera adaptations at community gardens, urban farms, orchards, and vineyards with multi-course food tastings, and the Pickup Truck Opera (2020-present), a mobile format using a 2011 Ford Ranger pickup truck and flatbed trailer as a stage enabling pop-up performances in any outdoor space, developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The core technology is the mobile performance platform itself — the truck and trailer system allows Mixed Precipitation to bypass traditional venue constraints and bring opera directly to neighborhoods, parks, farms, and community spaces across the Twin Cities metro and greater Minnesota. Each year the company commissions a new original adaptation blending canonical opera (works by Mozart, Handel, Purcell, Beethoven, Gounod, Bellini, Haydn) with contemporary popular music (Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac, Depeche Mode, Pixies, Queen, 80s pop), producing an annual slate of 16+ performances plus shorter neighborhood pop-ups. Recent productions include Pickup Truck Opera Volume 4: Faust (2024) and Volume 5: Idomeneo (2025).
The organization's revenue model is donation- and grant-based rather than transactional. There is no formal ticketing; audiences contribute suggested donations of $10-$30 per person, with no one turned away for lack of funds. Core funding streams are individual donations (processed through fiscal sponsor Springboard for the Arts), state arts grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and corporate sponsorships from local co-ops, farms, vineyards, and food businesses. The company operates with 1-10 core staff supplemented by seasonal production and touring personnel (stage manager, tour manager, audience services, anti-oppression and wellness facilitators) and a volunteer base.
Mixed Precipitation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mixed Precipitation
- Legal name
- Mixed Precipitation
- Website
- https://mixedprecipitation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Mixed Precipitation is a Minnesota nonprofit that produces outdoor touring opera, blending classical works with contemporary music and local food via mobile performances at community gardens, farms, and parks since 2009.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mixed Precipitation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts - Outdoor Opera
- NAICS
- Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Musical Groups and Artists (711130)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)
Keywords
Where Mixed Precipitation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Paul
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mixed Precipitation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: Individual donations from audience members and supporters, with suggested contributions per performance ranging from $10-$30 depending on the era. Tax-deductible donations processed through fiscal sponsor Springboard for the Arts.
- Government Arts Funding: Grants from Minnesota State Arts Board and Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) through legislative appropriations from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Support from local businesses including co-ops, farms, vineyards, and food-related businesses that sponsor productions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | General admission donation |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | General admission donation |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | General admission donation |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Metro area performances |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Neighborhood performances |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Mixed Precipitation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mixed Precipitation produces and tours mobile outdoor opera performances throughout Minnesota using a pickup truck and trailer as a portable stage. Each summer the company presents a new full-length production that adapts a classical opera (e.g., Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, Gounod) blended with contemporary popular music, performed at community gardens, urban farms, orchards, vineyards, and parks. The organization also offers shorter pop-up neighborhood performances, youth opera workshops, and opportunities for communities to host performances.
Product overview
Mixed Precipitation is a performing arts organization creating unexpected theatrical experiences through unique partnerships and festive events. The company operates two core product lines: the Pickup Truck Opera (a mobile format launched in 2020 using a Ford Ranger pickup and trailer as a stage) and the Picnic Operetta (the original format running since 2009 featuring classical opera adaptations at outdoor venues with food). Both products tour Minnesota performing at community gardens, urban farms, orchards, vineyards, parks, and neighborhoods. Productions feature mash-ups of classical opera with contemporary music (Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac, Depeche Mode, 80s pop) and locally sourced food experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pickup Truck Opera Mobile outdoor opera performance format using a 2011 Ford Ranger pickup truck and trailer as a portable stage, featuring 25-minute pop-up mini-performances and full 75-90 minute touring productions performed at community gardens, parks, farms, orchards, and neighborhoods throughout Minnesota.
- Picnic Operetta Annual summer harvest celebration featuring adaptations of classical operas (Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, Purcell) performed outdoors at community gardens, urban farms, orchards, and vineyards, with five-course tasting menus of locally sourced food prepared by collaborating chefs. The format was rebranded and succeeded by the Pickup Truck Opera in 2020.
- Opera Workshops for Youth
Quantifiable outcome
- Performed at 10+ community garden sites in 2009 first season
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Mixed Precipitation
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mixed Precipitation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Mixed Precipitation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Springboard for the ArtscoreFiscal sponsor that processes tax-deductible donations for Mixed Precipitation
- Twin Cities Opera GuildcoreEducation program sponsor supporting young people programming for Mixed Precipitation productions
- Minnesota Fringe FestivalminorPresenting partner for downtown performances with the Out of the Box Series
- St. Louis Park Friends of the ArtsminorGrant support for bringing live performance to parks and community spaces
- Rochester Art CenterminorPresenting partner for Rochester area performances
- Dodge Nature CentercoreRegular venue partner for performances; hosts education programs and shows
- Alexis Bailly VineyardcoreLong-time venue partner; hosts performances at vineyard in Hastings, MN
- Women's Environmental InstitutecoreRegular venue partner hosting preview performances and ongoing productions
- Open Eye Figure TheatreminorFiscal sponsor and artistic collaborator
- Wedge Co-opminorSponsor providing food, ingredients and serving supplies for productions
- Gardens of EaganminorSponsor providing produce and ingredients for performances
- Iron Range Partnership for SustainabilityminorPresenting partner for Northern Minnesota performances
- Lake Street CouncilminorFunding partner through Lake Street Lift program for 2025 performances
- Community Gardens NetworkcoreNetwork of community gardens throughout Minnesota that host performances, including Eat Street Community Garden, Skidmore Park Community Garden, JD Rivers' Children's Garden, and others
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mixed Precipitation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Minnesota Opera: The largest and most established opera company in the Twin Cities market. Operates a full season of mainstage productions, contrasting with Mixed Precipitation's small-scale outdoor community-touring model, but competes for the same audience, donors, and state arts funding.
- Guthrie Theater: One of the largest regional theaters in the U.S., based in Minneapolis. Competes for the same MSAB/MRAC funding and corporate sponsorships while operating at a vastly larger scale.
Direct peers
- Open Eye Figure Theatre: Small Minneapolis-based innovative theater company and Mixed Precipitation's fiscal sponsor. Comparable scale, similar commitment to non-traditional venues and community-engaged experimental work in the Twin Cities.
- Tiger Lion Arts: Minnesota-based touring theater company where founder Scotty Reynolds previously worked as performer and stage manager. Comparable lean operation producing original touring work in non-traditional venues.
- Heartbeat Opera: NYC-based indie opera company producing contemporary adaptations and mashups of classical works. Closely comparable artistic approach (reimagining canonical opera for new audiences) though geographically distinct.
- On Site Opera: Opera company performing full productions in non-traditional venues such as museums, libraries, and parks. Shares Mixed Precipitation's thesis that opera thrives when taken out of conventional theaters and into community spaces.
- LoftOpera: NYC indie opera company staging productions in non-traditional venues with contemporary, audience-development-focused programming. Comparable mission of making opera accessible outside traditional institutions.
Regional players
- Cantus: Twin Cities-based vocal ensemble where Music Director Gary Ruschman previously performed. Comparable scale and choral/musical focus; operates in the same regional grant and donor pool.
- Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts: St. Paul-based performing arts organization where Scotty Reynolds previously worked. Comparable mission-driven arts work in the Twin Cities focused on ensemble creation and community engagement.
- Barebones Productions: Twin Cities outdoor puppet and theater extravaganza company. Comparable emphasis on outdoor performance, puppetry, and community-engaged spectacle in Minnesota.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mixed Precipitation social profiles
Digital presenceMixed Precipitation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mixed Precipitation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Mixed Precipitation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mixed Precipitation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mixed Precipitation
What does Mixed Precipitation do?
Mixed Precipitation produces and tours mobile outdoor opera performances throughout Minnesota using a pickup truck and trailer as a portable stage. Each summer the company presents a new full-length production that adapts a classical opera (e.g., Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, Gounod) blended with contemporary popular music, performed at community gardens, urban farms, orchards, vineyards, and parks. The organization also offers shorter pop-up neighborhood performances, youth opera workshops, and opportunities for communities to host performances.
Is Mixed Precipitation a public or private company?
Mixed Precipitation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Mixed Precipitation founded?
Mixed Precipitation was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Mixed Precipitation based?
Mixed Precipitation is headquartered in Saint Paul, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mixed Precipitation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are government Arts Funding and corporate Sponsorships.
Who are Mixed Precipitation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Minnesota Opera and Guthrie Theater. Direct peers are Open Eye Figure Theatre, Tiger Lion Arts, Heartbeat Opera, On Site Opera and LoftOpera. Regional players are Cantus, Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts and Barebones Productions.
Does Mixed Precipitation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mixed Precipitation.
What industry is Mixed Precipitation in?
Mixed Precipitation's product category is Performing Arts - Outdoor Opera. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAH, Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama), with a secondary code of MPAGABAG, Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe). Its NAICS code is 7111 and its SIC code is 7900.