DMMO Announces 2026 Festival Season Repetory

Music and libretto by Carlisle Floyd

Premiered: January 22, 1970, at the Seattle Opera

Five performances: June 27, July 5, 10, 15, and 18

Sung in English with projected English text

Previous DMMO production: 1985

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

Lennie Small: John Findon

George Milton: John Moore

Conductor: Christopher James Ray

Director: Kristine McIntyre

Scenic and Projections Designer: Luke Cantarella

Costume Designer: Kara Harmon

Lighting Designer: Kate Ashton

Chorus Director: Lisa Hasson

Of Mice and Men is a Co-Production of Des Moines Metro Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Florida State University, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

John Steinbeck's great American novella Of Mice and Men tells the tale of two migrant ranch workers, George and Lennie. They hustle for work when they can, living hand-to-mouth, and dream of owning an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. But George cannot guard Lennie-a childlike giant of a man with a love for soft things-from the bullying of the ranch boss and his flirtatious yet unhappy young wife. Steinbeck's timeless story-in the hands of the Dean of American Opera, Carlisle Floyd-becomes a superbly crafted opera of great beauty and power. Celebrating the centennial year of one of American opera's most important composers, this new co-production features the company debut of John Findon as Lennie, the return of Iowa baritone John Moore as George, Artistic Partner Kristine McIntyre as stage director, and the debut of conductor and leading Floyd interpreter, Christopher James Ray.