Summer Performance Series

The Summer Performance Series is a family-friendly program that features a wide variety of music, theater and dance concerts presented against a backdrop of earthworks and majestic oaks in the Theater in the Woods amphitheater.

The series brings some of the most talented regional and local artists to perform at Caponi Art Park. Come as you are and join us for an exciting season in the Theater in the Woods.

Bring the whole family and lawn chairs or a blanket to spread on the grassy slopes for an enjoyable evening at the Art Park.

Admission to these performances is free. Suggested donation: $4 per person. Your donation is greatly appreciated and helps to make the Summer Performance Series possible.

Parking
In addition to our main parking lot, performance parking is available at the Lexington-Diffley Athletic fields. Banners and signs will be posted. Walking distance to amphitheater is a hilly 5-minute hike from either entrance.

Minnesota Sinfonia
Sunday, June 19, 7:30 p.m.
(Rain date: Sunday, July 17)

The Minnesota Sinfonia’s summer family pops concert celebrates both classical and popular music from the movies to the  romantics with just about anything in between. This summer’s diverse concert program will include music from Harry Potter, one of the great Johann Strauss waltzes, some ragtime, familiar classics, marches and even a polka! Characterized by their elegant strings, this fine-tuned professional chamber orchestra boasts some of the very best musicians in the Twin Cities. The Minnesota Sinfonia is directed by Jay Fishman and is highly committed to providing free access to music.

Dakota Valley Summer Pops Orchestra
Sunday, July 10, 6:30 p.m.
(Rain date: Sunday, July 17)

This year's performance by the Dakota Valley Summer Pops Orchestra will explore infinity and beyond, with a collection of pieces inspired by all things celestial. The repertoire includes something for everyone, featuring Mars from Gustav Holst's Planets Suite as well as a popular suite from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. The performance will also include unforgettable and time-honored tunes such as Moon River, Blue Moon, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and Fly Me to the Moon.

Sumunar Indonesian Music and Dance
Sunday, July 24, 6:30 p.m.
(Rain date: Sunday, August 14)

It is the mission of Sumunar Indonesian Music and Dance to share the rich sounds, stories, and traditions of Indonesian arts and culture in an open and relaxed environment through both performance and education. Artists from Sumunar will perform cultural music on the gamelan - a beautiful set of bronze and teakwood instruments that includes a variety of gongs, metallophones, xylophones, drums, flutes, and bowed strings. The rich combination of instrumental timbres blends with vocals to create a unique and fascinating soundscape. A dance ensemble will accompany the gamelan orchestra with a blend of classical court dances, folk dances incorporating the martial arts, and new choreographics using traditional movements. Beautiful masks and vibrant costumes relate the stories told by the dancers and musicians. Experience the culture of Indonesia, vividly depicted by Sumunar and featuring the artistic talents of Artistic Director: Joko Sutrisno, and Director of Dance Ensemble: Tri Sutrisno.

Voice of Culture Drum and Dance
Sunday, August 7, 6:30 p.m.
(Rain date: Sunday, August 14)

Dedicated to the study of West African arts and culture, Voice of Culture Drum and Dance transcends boundaries of time to present a performance that is both rich in cultural history and relevant to contemporary generations. Voice of Culture's repertoire covers a lengthy timeline, spanning the ancient song and dance from Africa to modern Afro-Hip-Hop in the United States. Joined by Duniya Drum and Dance, the performance will feature special guest artists Fodé Seydou Bangoura and Backa Niang. Fodé Bangoura, born in Conakry, Guinea, is a highly acclaimed drummer who has performed with many world renowned groups, including the national ballet of Guinea, “Les Ballets Africains.” Backa Niang has recorded and performed around the world, sharing the stage with such musical luminaries as Michael Franti, Damian Marley, and The Last Poets. Together with Voice of Culture, directed by Kenna-Camara Cottman, this collection of artists combines a vast knowledge of West African music to create an unforgettable performance.

Bill Evans New Orleans Jazz Band
Sunday, August 21, 6:30 p.m.
(Rain location: Saints Martha and Mary Church, 0.5 mile east of the Art Park on the corner of Diffley Rd and Lexington Ave)

New Orleans Jazz is first and foremost dance music. The appeal for this jazz genre lies in syncopation, emphasis on melody, danceable tempos, and varied repertoire. Directed by Bill Evans, The Bill Evans New Orleans Jazz Band was formed in 1992 and has been dedicated to the New Orleans style of acoustic jazz, performing at both local and international venues and festivals. The band, influenced by the unforgettable sounds of Doc Evans, Bix Beiderbecke, and Louis Armstrong, plays an extensive repertoire including blues spirituals, rags, marches, as well as popular dance songs. Bill Evans New Orleans Jazz Band engages audiences to move their feet to the irresistible sounds of New Orleans Jazz, and to truly experience the revival of this uniquely American form of music. 

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