The televised Metropolitan Opera series, "HD Live," gave us the opportunity to experience the best opera, live as it happened, on the screens of our local movie theaters.

Now our appetites are whetted for the live opera performances of the Des Moines Metro Opera, in Indianola.

The company is celebrating its 36th season with productions of Giuseppe Verdi's "A Masked Ball," Marc Blitzstein's "Regina," and Gaetano Donizetti's "The Elixir of Love" beginning Friday, June 20, through Sunday, July 13.

Artistic Director Robert Larsen wrote in the season's promotional brochure, "This is a season carefully calibrated to present the widest spectrum possible of what opera is and can be."

Des Moines Metro Opera chose to open its eclectic season with Verdi's riveting drama "A Masked Ball," performed in Italian with English subtitles.

Deception and disguise take place in the court of benevolent King Gustavus III.

Audiences, once again, will enjoy the composer's lush melodies and one of opera's greatest love duets as they did when it was performed in Indianola 15 years ago.

Marc Blitzstein's "Regina" is described by Larsen as "the quintessential American opera, combining jazz, parlor music and musical theater with more traditional operatic power."

The opera based on the play, "The Little Foxes," by Lillian Hellman, premiered on Broadway in 1949.

Set in the Deep South, in the year 1900, Regina Giddens schemes with her brothers for money and power.

The opera will be performed in English with English subtitles.

Donizetti's feather-light comic opera completes the trio of this summer's presentations.

"The Elixir of Love" is a tale of lovers' quarrels, reconciliations and "a snake oil salesman" selling a magic potion.

Director Larsen considers the music to be some of the "happiest" ever written.
      
Long time patrons of metro opera might remember Jan Opalach who debuted the role of the traveling quack Dulcamara with the company in 1982. He returns this year to sing that same part.
      
The opera will be sung in Italian with English subtitles.

There are several special ticketed events planned prior to the season's opening. Among these are:

* Cabaret Night Live at 6 p.m., May 31, at the Temple for the Performing Arts, in Des Moines. It's an evening of musical entertainment accompanied by hors d'oeuvres and drinks.

* The Peanut Butter and Puccini Family Opera Adventure will be presented from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 12 and Saturday, June 14, at the Blank Performing Arts Center, in Indianola. The event features a theater tour, sack lunch and a program of opera scenes appropriate for the entire family.

For more information about the season, special events, dates, times and ticket availability, call (515) 961-6221 or visit www.desmoinesmetroopera.org

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Those of us who have been in Ames forever, like me, will remember theater icon Tom Johnson.

Tom was a member of the ISU Theatre faculty. In 1971, he did something daring. He left a tenure track academic position to start his own theater.

His dream was to bring quality theater arts to rural Iowa. That he did, in Garrison, a town of 300. His theater company, housed in an abandoned creamery, became the Old Creamery Theater Company.

Tom is quoted in a Feb. 13, 2008, article in the Cedar Valley Daily Times, "Over the years, the Old Creamery Theatre experienced its ups and downs, but continued to grow and develop."

The Garrison company produced a season on site, as well as touring throughout the state. Ames' Children's Theater hosted several of Tom's shows.

In 1988, the Old Creamery Theatre began performing in Amana in addition to Garrison. In the fall of 1996, on the company's 25th anniversary, it left Garrison.

What, again? Now partnered with his wife, professional performer Meg Merckens, Tom, who thought he'd retired in 2006, has co-founded a new company.

The Iowa Theatre Artists Company began its operations in January with a mission similar to that of the first company he founded. It's not-for-profit and will reach out to rural audiences whom they feel are geographically deprived of live theatrical performances.

Meg told me, "We're hoping to be an umbrella for other fledgling groups. We'll help guide them to get their shows produced."

For now, Tom and Meg's company does not have a permanent home. Their first production, "Pump Boys and Dinettes," was very well received. It ran for three weekends at the Colony Village Restaurant, off Interstate 80 near Williamsburg.

This location will again serve as the venue for Iowa's brand new professional theater company.

Up next is Tom and Meg's original comedy "Dates with a Nut," at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, June 20, 21, 27 and 28 and at 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, June 21, 22, 28 and 29.

The story follows the efforts of a computer programmer trying to find Ms. Right.

For information and tickets, call (319) 668-1223.

To learn more about the Iowa Theatre Artists Company, call (319) 622-6479.

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And don't miss ...

* Tune into Main Street Summer Concert Series, beginning Thursday, May 29, in Tom Evans Park. Each Thursday from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. through July 31, the Ames Community Arts Council's sponsored event will feature many styles of music, activities for children and food. For more information, call 233-6110.