Ghost Quartet
By Dave Malloy
August 19 - 23, 2026
Ghost Quartet is a song cycle about love, death and whiskey from Dave Malloy, the Tony-nominated creator of the Broadway hit “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.” A camera breaks and four friends drink in an interwoven tale spanning seven centuries, with a murderous sister, a treehouse astronomer, a bear, a subway, and the ghost of Thelonious Monk. The story draws from several fairy tales and "ghost stories", including Snow White and Rose Red, Edgar Allen Poe's Fall of the House of Usher, and One Thousand and One Nights (commonly known as Arabian Nights). There may also be some Legend of Zelda references you might recognize. Cast members present the story and music as a "concept album" and accompany themselves on a wide variety of instruments, including keyboard, ukulele, guitar, mandolin, banjo, autoharp, dulcimer and more percussion instruments than you can count.
This year, we have a new twist to for you. Ghost Quartet 2026 will be a free outdoor event, "under the stars" so to speak. Seating will be on concrete step platforms, but you are also welcome to bring camp chairs or a blanket to sit on the grass. The show will be moved to the visitors center in case of rain.
We ask that you to let us know you're coming by signing up for a free ticket for everyone attending in your group. Parking in the adjacent lot will be free for anyone on our ticketing list.
However, we still need to raise funds to cover the cost of the production. We invite you to make a donation to the production here. Suggested donation to help us cover the costs of the production is $30. THANKS!
LOCATION
The Overlook at Historic Ft. Snelling
200 Tower Ave, St Paul, MN 55111
SHOW TIMES
Wednesday, August 19 at 7:30 PM
Thursday, August 20 at 7:30 PM
Friday, August 21 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, August 22 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, August 23 at 5:00 PM
Ghost Quartet is 90 minutes with no intermission.
Featuring Ghost Quartet Alumns
Billy Medina-Gleason
Hawken Paul
Emily Hensley
Christine Wade
Under the Stars FAQ
Q: Is the show free?
A: Ghost Quartet this year is completely donation based! We would love for folks to sign up here to reserve a spot so we can estimate attendance, and we would also love if you would consider leaving a donation at checkout or at the venue. Our productions still have many costs, including fair compensation for all involved, and we'd love your support in upholding those values!
Q: Is parking free?
A: Parking is free for those who have signed up to reserve a spot for the show.
Q: Will there be chairs?
A: There are a series of concrete steps to sit on (seen in the photo above), but we welcome blankets, folding chairs, etc. for you to have the most comfortable experience possible!
Q: Is there weather protocol?
A: Every performance day, we will be monitoring weather and will make a call 2 hours before if we will be utilizing our rain space on the premises. We will send an email out so that if you'd like to switch your reservation to another day, we can accommodate! We will also have weather protocol during the performance that we will outline pre-show.
Q: Is the space wheelchair accessible?
A: Yes! There is a ramp down from the parking lot and plenty of space for wheelchairs to set up in the space with us!
Q: Are there bathrooms?
A: Yes, bathrooms are available in the Ft. Snelling museum, which is about a 5 minute walk away from the performance space. It will be open throughout our performance if you need to step away.
Q: Will there be concessions or merch available?
A: We will only be selling water during our performance, in order to keep the space clean and keep our set-up and tear-down simple!
Q: How can I find the overlook once I park?
A: We will be stationed at the parking lot to help guide you down the path to the overlook. It is adjacent to the parking lot, and only a 30 second walk down a path to arrive at the performance space!
Q: Will alcohol be served, like in past years?
A: Ghost Quartet will be an alcohol-free experience this year. The whiskey will remain in our hearts.
Photos by Jolie Morehouse Olson
Cast and crew
Year 1 - Tim Beekman-Davis, Ryan Lee, Anna Beth Baker, Christine Wade
Year 2 - Tristen Sima, Kellen McMillen, Quinn Shadko, Christine Wade
Year 3 - Tristen Sima, Kellen McMillen, Quinn Shadko, Christine Wade
Year 4 - Abigail Walker, Kellen McMillen, Abilene Olson, Christine Wade,
Anna-Beth Baker, Kay Jay Olson
Year 5 - Maureen O'Malley, Tristen Sima, Abilene Olson, Christine Wade,
Emily Hensley, Hannah Bakke
Year 6 - Maureen O'Malley, Billy Gleason, Emily Hensley, Christine Wade,
Ani Tonoyan, Jeff A. Miller, Hawken Paul
Year 7 - Maureen O'Malley, Jeff A. Miller, Billy Gleason, Emily Hensley, Christine Wade, Ani Tonoyan, Hawken Paul, Abilene Olson, Kellen McMillen, Quinn Shadko, Anna Beth Baker
Year 8 - Billy Medina-Gleason, Hawken Paul, Emily Hensley, Christine Wade