Unexpected Partnership: Des Moines Metro Opera, Maytag Dairy Farms to present outdoor production

Des Moines Metro Opera and the Maytag Dairy Farms are offering a unique opportunity to residents of Jasper County this July. At sunset July 5 and July 8, the two organizations will present an outdoor production of “The Tender Land,” a one-act opera written by beloved American composer Aaron Copland, performed onsite at the Maytag Dairy Farms in Newton.

Set on a Midwest farm during the Great Depression, the production will be presented outdoors against the backdrop of the rolling hills of Jasper County at sunset. A vivid portrait of the rural Midwest, youthful spirit and the American dream come to life, the opera depicts the lives of Laurie, her family and two migrant workers in this quintessential coming-of-age story.

“The Tender Land” will be presented as part of DMMO’s popular 2nd Stages Series, an initiative committed to creating collaborative performances designed to engage new audiences in unique spaces. By working with the Maytag Dairy Farms, a staple in Iowa’s rich farming history, DMMO is able to present the opera to an audience that, while maybe not familiar with opera, is familiar with the themes of rural living and the vital role agriculture plays in the state.

Over the company’s 46-year history, this production marks the farthest DMMO has ever traveled to produce one of its summer festival productions. Michael Egel, General and Artistic Director of DMMO, is thrilled to take the company out of Indianola and to new areas across the state.

“This experience will be a unique way to link an unconventional rural backdrop with live performance through a coming-of-age story told with distinctly American music,” he said.

Previous 2nd Stages productions have been presented at Camp Dodge, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens, the Science Center of Iowa, the Des Moines Art Center, the Des Moines Social Club, Stoner Theater, Hoyt Sherman Place and the Temple Theater.

Another organization that is providing significant assistance for this project is the Newton Chapter of the Des Moines Metro Opera Guild. Comprised of more than 30 opera enthusiasts, the Newton Chapter has provided invaluable volunteer and financial support in addition to taking the lead in helping publicize these special performances. To learn more about the Newton Chapter of the DMMO Guild and its slate of events for the season, please contact guild president Joan Tyler.

Tickets for “The Tender Land” are $40. Though both performances are officially sold out, a few tickets for each performance have been held exclusively for residents of Jasper County. To reserve one of these Jasper County tickets, please call the DMMO Box Office at 515-961-6221.

Along with the performance, several unique pre-show events are being offered to enhance the audience’s experience. Before the performance, soak up Jasper County’s picturesque landscape on an exclusive behind-the-scenes walking tour of the Maytag Dairy Farms. Sample cheese and sip wine while learning the history of the farm, the origins of the famous Maytag Blue, and how all five generations of the Maytag Family continue to innovate and impact their communities.

The tour costs $50 per person and will begin at 5 p.m. After the tour, guests may enjoy a delicious, family-style dinner prepared by Table 128 Bistro & Bar in the air-conditioned Maytag Dairy Farms headquarters, which overlook the fields, dairy barns and the set of “The Tender Land.” Dinner begins at 6:15 p.m. and tickets cost $60 per person.

Tickets for both pre-show events can be purchased on DMMO’s website or by calling 515-961-6221. For more information about these special performances or pre-show events, contact Scott Arens at 515-961-6221 or sarens@dmmo.org.