TOSCA, OF MICE AND MEN, And KING ROGER Casting Revealed for Des Moines Metro Opera 2026 Festival Season
OF MICE AND MEN, a co-production with Houston Grand Opera, joins TOSCA and KING ROGER at Indianola's DMMO festival.
Des Moines Metro Opera has announced complete casting for its 2026 Festival Season, running June 26 through July 19, featuring new productions of Tosca, Of Mice and Men, and King Roger. The three works will be presented in rotating repertory at the 467-seat Pote Theatre at the Blank Performing Arts Center in Indianola, Iowa.
“We are thrilled to unveil complete casting for our highly anticipated 2026 Festival Season, featuring three all-new productions brought to life by a roster of world-class artists drawn from across the globe,” said General and Artistic Director Michael Egel. “Once again, our commitment to showcasing extraordinary talent at pivotal moments in their international careers takes center stage.”
The season will open with TOSCA, not seen at the company since 2009, featuring Laura Wilde as Floria Tosca, Brian Michael Moore as Mario Cavaradossi, and Norman Garrett as Baron Scarpia, with additional performances by Wei Wu, Alan Williams, and Lucas van Lierop.
OF MICE AND MEN, presented as part of the Carlisle Floyd centennial, will feature John Findon as Lennie Small, John Moore as George Milton, Cadie J. Bryan as Curley’s Wife, Adrian Kramer as Curley, Kevin Deas as Candy, and Dean Murphy as Slim. The production is a co-production with Houston Grand Opera, Florida State University, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City.
The company will also present its first production of KING ROGER, marking the 100th anniversary of the work. The cast will include Alexander Birch Elliott as King Roger II, Lydia Katarina as Roxana, Christopher Sokolowski as the Shepherd, and Lucas van Lierop as Edrisi.
David Neely will conduct TOSCA and KING ROGER, while Christopher James Ray will make his mainstage debut conducting OF MICE AND MEN. Stage directors include Joshua Borths (TOSCA), Kristine McIntyre (OF MICE AND MEN), and Chas Rader-Shieber (KING ROGER), with Lisa Hasson returning as chorus director for all three productions.
“Spanning a rich and diverse musical landscape, the 2026 season offers audiences an expansive musical tapestry and a storytelling journey with something to captivate every listener,” Egel added.
All performances will be sung in their original languages with projected English supertitles. Subscription packages and single tickets are available now through the company’s box office.
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