Indianola, IA—Des Moines Metro Opera and the Indianola Chapter of the DMMO Guild invite families, children, and opera lovers of all ages to experience Picnic & Puccini, a one-of-a-kind opera adventure. The event begins with a performance of The Billy Goats Gruff, a charming opera designed especially for young audiences, followed by a picnic lunch and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Blank Performing Arts Center.   

 

About Picnic & Puccini 
More than just a performance, Picnic & Puccini is an immersive opera adventure showcasing DMMO’s apprentice artists while inviting guests behind the curtain. Explore the costume shop, meet wig and make-up designers, step into the orchestra pit and experience theatre magic around every corner!    
 

Picnic & Puccini is perfect for families, childcare centers and daycares. Performances take place Friday, June 5 at 10am and Saturday, June 6 at 10am. Tickets are $15 per person or $12 per person for groups of 10 or more using code “Picnic2026”. Purchase online at dmmo.org/picnic or call 515-209-3257. 

About The Billy Goats Gruff 

Arranged by John Davies and directed by Matthew J. Schulz, The Billy Goats Gruff takes a familiar tale and adds a fun operatic twist with a strong anti-bullying message. On the way home from school, three little billy goats encounter a steep bridge, a mean troll and a sticky situation that they must try to solve—and all set to some of the greatest classic music by Mozart, Rossini and Donizetti!   
  

Many in the community may remember The Billy Goats Gruff from our 2026 OPERA Iowa tour. Over nine weeks, the OPERA Iowa troupe performed this delightful production 60 times, reaching more than 25,000 students across Iowa. 

 

About the Cast 

The featured artists of The Billy Goats Gruff include members of Des Moines Metro Opera’s acclaimed Apprentice Artist Program. We are thrilled to welcome tenor Ethan E. Burck as Dandini Goat, soprano Emily Finke as Lucy Goat, baritone Harrison Hancock as Osmin the Troll, mezzo-soprano Anya Newsome Hill as Ernesto Goat, and Music Director Alissa Cox.  
 

Now in its 52nd year, Des Moines Metro Opera’s Frank R. Brownell III Apprentice Artist Program is one of the oldest, largest and most respected programs of its kind in the United States. This comprehensive career training program takes the best and brightest opera talents in America on a seven-week program designed to provide the skills necessary to bridge the gap between academic study and a professional career. 

About Des Moines Metro Opera 
Lauded by The New York Times in 2025 as “one of the country’s most ambitious and successful smaller companies,” Des Moines Metro Opera is a professional opera company located in the heart of Iowa that has taken its place among America’s leading opera festivals. Founded in 1973, DMMO is one of the largest performing arts organizations in the region, presenting over 100 performances across Iowa every year. Learn more about Des Moines Metro Opera. 

The 2026 Festival Season runs June 26–July 19 and includes the return of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, a centennial celebration of composer Carlisle Floyd with Of Mice and Men and a company premiere of Karol Szymanowski’s rarely performed Polish masterpiece, King Roger. 

 

The Lauridsen Family Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 Festival Season 

 

Media Resources 

High-resolution imagery and additional press materials are available in the PRESS KIT

 

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