The Washington National Opera Presents M&M'S Opera in the Outfield with Performance of THE MAGIC FLUTE, 5/3

Washington National Opera (WNO) celebrates its sixth season of free opera simulcasts at Nationals Park with title sponsor Mars, Incorporated for the M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield performance of Mozart's beloved classic The Magic Flute on Saturday, May 3, 2014. Sung in English and featuring a colorful kaleidoscope of sets and costumes by Japanese- American artist Jun Kaneko, The Magic Flute is a perfect opera for the entire family. Gates open at 5 p.m. for "pregame" activities, and the opera will be broadcast live from the Kennedy Center Opera House to the high-definition NatsHD scoreboard at the ballpark at 7 p.m. Free seating will be available in the stands, while access to the outfield will be limited on a first-come, first-served basis when gates open at 5 p.m. More information, including a chance to RSVP to win prizes, is available at OperaintheOutfield.org.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy the festive ballpark atmosphere. Beginning at 5 p.m., the special pre-show entertainment will include:

Taiko drumming demonstrations and other performances on Center Field Plaza.

A coloring station featuring designs by set and costume designer Jun Kaneko.

Photo opportunities for kids of all ages with the living statue of Babe Ruth and cut-outs of

characters from The Magic Flute.

A meet-and-greet with M&M'S® Ms. Brown.

A special costume trunk where kids of all ages can play dress-up.

Face painting by theatrical makeup artists.

American Heritage Chocolate demonstrations and lessons in chocolate history.

A screening of the Warner Bros. cartoon "What's Opera Doc?" starring Bugs Bunny. Set

to Wagner's iconic "Ride of the Valkyries," this parody of opera is best known for Elmer

Fudd's proclamation "Kill the wabbit!"

Chances to win prizes, including tickets to Kennedy Center events, a year's supply of

M&M'S® Brand Chocolate Candies, and more.

Hosted by Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Soloman Howard and WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, this event will include a live broadcast of The Magic Flute to the Nationals' state-of-the-art NatsHD scoreboard. The Magic Flute is a classic tale about a young prince's quest for love and redemption; the opera is performed in English with projected English titles, making it easy to follow along with the story and music. M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield will take place rain or shine-in case of inclement weather, some covered seating is available. Regular concessions will be available throughout the ballpark, and special picnic baskets can be ordered in advance. Menus and order forms are available at OperaintheOutfield.org.

More information about the free M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield simulcast of The Magic Flute at Nationals Park is available at OperaintheOutfield.org. Patrons who RSVP on the website will be entered into a prize drawing. (RSVP's are not required for admission into Nationals Park; walk-ins are welcome.) Groups of 10 or more can call the Kennedy Center's Group Sales Office at (202) 416-8400 to arrange for a reserved seating section at Nationals Park.

Due to the popularity of M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield, patrons wishing to sit on the outfield grass will need to pick up a free wristband when they enter Nationals Park. The wristbands (one per person) will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be distributed at a table to the left of Center Field Plaza near the Family Picnic Area (at sections 141- 2143) beginning at 5 p.m. Once all of the available wristbands have been claimed, an announcement will be made over the stadium sound system and field access will be closed to those without a wristband. Ample free seating will be available in the stands throughout the evening. For more information on seating options, patrons can visit OperaintheOutfield.org.

Accessible seating is available throughout Nationals Park, and assistive listening devices are also available. For additional information about accessibility or to request an accommodation, patrons can visit the Nationals' website or contact the Kennedy Center's Accessibility Office at (202) 416-8727 or access@kennedy-center.org.

ABOUT THE MAGIC FLUTE
A prince's quest leads to love at first sight-but to prove his worth in marriage, he must first survive trials of wisdom and devotion. Lost in a faraway land, young Tamino is enlisted by the Queen of the Night to rescue her lovely daughter Pamina from the hands of Sarastro, an evil sorcerer. With the aid of a magic flute and the bumbling, lovelorn Papageno by his side, Tamino sets out on a fantastic adventure filled with danger and temptation. Mozart's final opera, The Magic Flute is both a delightful fairy tale for the whole family and a profound reflection on spiritual enlightenment.

The Magic Flute features a cast of exciting artists, many of whom are making their WNO debuts, including Maureen McKay as Pamina, Kathryn Lewek as the Queen of the Night, Joseph Kaiser as Tamino, Joshua Hopkins as Papageno, and Jordan Bisch as Sarastro. Current members and alumni of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program also appear in several key roles, including Jacqueline Echols as First Lady, Sarah Mesko as Second Lady, Deborah Nansteel as Third Lady, Yi Li (recent winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions) as First Armored Man, and Wei Wu as Second Amored Man.

The Magic Flute is directed by Harry Silverstein and conducted by WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin. The running time is 3 hours, including one 20-minute intermission.

GETTING TO NATIONALS PARK

Nationals Park is located at 1500 South Capitol Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003. Metro is the quickest and easiest way to get to Nationals Park. Take Metro's Green Line to the Navy Yard- Ballpark station-it's just a half block from Nationals Park. On Saturdays, parking is free at Metro Park-and-Ride lots. Buses that serve Nationals Park are the 74, P1, P2, V7, V8, V9, and the D.C. Circulator (Union Station-Navy Yard route). $10 parking is also available at Nationals Park in Lots B and C. For more information, go to www.nationals.com/waytogo.

NATIONALS PARK HOUSE RULES

Guests who plan to sit on the outfield grass may bring blankets, however chairs are not permitted on the grass. Nationals Park concessions will be open for the simulcast and during the pregame activities. No alcoholic beverages may be brought into Nationals Park. No bags larger than 16 inches x 16 inches x 8 inches are allowed into the ballpark and all bags are subject to inspection. Guests are prohibited from bringing hard containers into Nationals Park. See a complete list of prohibited items in Nationals Park. For complete information about visiting Nationals Park, go to nationals.com.

ABOUT M&M'S® OPERA IN THE OUTFIELD
M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield is WNO's signature community event. Nine previous simulcasts have welcomed more than 150,000 people to experience free opera broadcasts from the Kennedy Center Opera House to Nationals Park; to screens on the National Mall; and to 31 colleges, universities, and high schools throughout the nation. In September 2008, the simulcasts moved to the newly opened Nationals Park, forging a unique relationship between Washington's hometown ballclub and its hometown opera company. Previous simulcasts have included productions of Show Boat, Don Giovanni, Tosca, Un ballo in maschera, The Barber of Seville, La traviata, La bohe?me, Madama Butterfly, and Porgy and Bess.

ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders"-this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience; and more than 72,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare-PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital and NUTRO®; Chocolate-M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley-DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5TM chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® and LIFESAVERS® mints; Food-UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks-ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERSTM, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANYTM, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience- COCOAVIATM and WISDOM PANELTM.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com. Follow Mars at www.facebook.com/mars, www.twitter.com/marsglobal, www.youtube.com/mars, and www.linkedin.com/company/mars.

ABOUT AMERICAN HERITAGE CHOCOLATE

Chocolate has been woven through the fabric of American culture for centuries. Its rich history is intertwined in the stories of our founding fathers, and ultimately, the history of the Americas. American Heritage Chocolate was created by Mars, Incorporated to help educate consumers about the history of our nation through the engaging story of one of our most beloved foods.

Made with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives, American Heritage Chocolate is an authentic recipe that shares the same characteristics as chocolate made during colonial times. Rich in cocoa, mildly spicy, and slightly sweet, American Heritage Chocolate is flavored with a blend of spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, chili pepper, orange, and vanilla.

American Heritage Chocolate is sold nationally at fine gift shops at historic sites and museums such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, Fort Ticonderoga, Monticello, and the Smithsonian. For a complete listing or to purchase online, visit www.americanheritagechocolate.com. Learn more about American Heritage Chocolate at www.facebook.com/AmericanHeritageChocolate, on Twitter @Choc_History, or at www.Pinterest.com/ChocHistory.

For more information about M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield, visit OperaintheOutfield.org

ABOUT WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA

Washington National Opera (WNO) is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. Founded in 1956 and now an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the company boasts numerous artistic highlights, including world premieres, commissioning of new works and new productions, international tours, and performances by some of opera's most admired artists. WNO productions have been heard around the world, through radio and television broadcasts on WETA-FM, NPR, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and PBS, as well as through audio and video recordings.

WNO recently launched the American Opera Initiative, a comprehensive new commissioning program that brings contemporary American stories to the stage while fostering and developing the talents of new American composers and librettists. WNO contributes to the future of opera through two other signature artist-development programs: the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is a leading resident-training program for artists on the verge of international careers, and the WNO Opera Institute nurtures the ambitions of high-school-age singers and pianists from across the nation during an intensive three-week summer program.

WNO's education and access initiatives include year-round programs in public schools throughout the region; Generation O, a popular discount-ticket initiative for young people; and a variety of lectures and discussions for every production on the season calendar. Among the most popular of WNO's community programs is M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield, which brings free, live simulcasts of opera to Nationals Park for thousands of opera fans as well as new audiences.

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