Washington National Opera to Present M&M's OPERA IN THE OUTFIELD, Today

(WASHINGTON)-Washington National Opera (WNO) celebrates its seventh season of free opera simulcasts at Nationals Park with title sponsor Mars Chocolate North America for the M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield performance of Rossini's charming romantic comedy Cinderella on Saturday, May 16, 2015. This dazzling production has been acclaimed worldwide for its witty characterizations, rainbow-bright sets and costumes, and easy-to-follow English translation, making it a perfect opera for the entire family. Gates open at 5 p.m. for "pre-ball" activities, and the opera will be broadcast live from the Kennedy Center Opera House to the high-definition NatsHD scoreboard at the ballpark at 7 p.m. Free seating will be available in the stands, while access to the outfield grass will be limited on a first-come, first-served basis when gates open at 5 p.m. More information, including a chance to RSVP to win prizes, is available at OperaintheOutfield.org.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy the festive ballpark atmosphere. Beginning at 5 p.m., the special pre-show entertainment will include:

• ? A Royal Parade in which kids of all ages are invited to arrive in costume and march around the lower concourse (begins at 6 p.m.; meet at sections 131-132 at 5:45 p.m.).

• ? Photo opportunities for kids of all ages with the living statue of Babe Ruth and characters from Cinderella.

• ? Performances by local artists, including students from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Opera Program and the Watkins Elementary Choir.

• ? A meet-and-greet with M&M'S® Brand Chief Chocolate Officer, Ms. Brown.

• ? Kids can also play in the open playground, dress up with items from the Washington

  National Opera costume trunk, visit the craft table, and have their faces painted by expert

  makeup artists.

• ? American Heritage Chocolate demonstrations and lessons in chocolate history.

• ? A screening of the Warner Bros. cartoon "What's Opera Doc?" starring Bugs Bunny. Set

  to Wagner's iconic "Ride of the Valkyries," this parody of opera is best known for Elmer

  Fudd's proclamation "Kill the wabbit!"

• ? Chances to win prizes, including a family fun pack of four tickets to Matilda the Musical

  at the Kennedy Center, the opportunity to attend the Kennedy Center's Fourth of July Celebration, two tickets to the Kennedy Center's 18th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor honoring Eddie Murphy, a year's supply of M&M'S® Brand Chocolate Candies, and more.

  Hosted by Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter, this event will feature a live broadcast of Cinderella to the Nationals' state-of-the-art NatsHD scoreboard. Cinderella is Rossini's popular retelling of the beloved fairy tale, with a few fabulous twists. The opera is performed in Italian with English captions, making it easy to follow along with the story and music. M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield will take place rain or shine-in case of inclement

  weather, some covered seating is available. Regular concessions will be available throughout the 2

ballpark, and special picnic baskets can be ordered in advance. Menus and order forms are available at OperaintheOutfield.org.

More information about the free M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield simulcast of Cinderella at Nationals Park is available at OperaintheOutfield.org. Patrons who RSVP on the website will be entered into a prize drawing. (RSVP's are not required for admission into Nationals Park; walk-ins are welcome.) Groups of 10 or more can call the Kennedy Center's Group Sales Office at (202) 416-8400 to arrange for a reserved seating section at Nationals Park.

Due to the popularity of M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield, patrons wishing to sit on the outfield grass will need to pick up a free wristband when they enter Nationals Park. The wristbands (one per person) will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be distributed at a table to the left of Center Field Plaza near the Family Picnic Area (at sections 141- 143) beginning at 5 p.m. Once all of the available wristbands have been claimed, an announcement will be made over the stadium sound system and field access will be closed to those without a wristband. Ample free seating will be available in the stands throughout the evening. For more information on seating options, patrons can visit OperaintheOutfield.org.

Accessible seating is available throughout Nationals Park, and assistive listening devices are also available. The event will be fully captioned. For additional information about accessibility or to request an accommodation, patrons can visit the Nationals' website or contact the Kennedy Center's Accessibility Office at (202) 416-8727 or access@kennedy-center.org.

"We are proud to partner with the Kennedy Center and Washington National Opera to provide thousands of adults, children, and families with access to such a unique art form," said Geoffrey Galant, Director, Mars Properties. "This signature community outreach event truly embodies the Mars Principles, which are at the heart of the company's day-to-day activities and aligns Mars perfectly to M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield-an event that brings families together to experience a magnificent performance. Our hope is that this will be a family event that will be remembered and talked about at family events for years to come."

ABOUT CINDERELLA
Rossini's popular retelling of the beloved Cinderella story adds a few fabulous twists to the traditional fairy tale. A kindhearted girl named Angelina dreams of one day escaping her impoverished stepfather's castle. When a prince announces he will choose his bride at a glamorous ball, she seizes the opportunity to escape the tyranny of her vain stepsisters and take control of her own destiny. Audiences of all ages will delight in this clever romantic comedy that features bracelets instead of glass slippers, a philosophical tutor in place of a fairy godmother, and six adorable dancing rats that serve as a makeshift Greek chorus. Considered one of his finest vocal works, Rossini's opera glows with captivating bel canto singing and ornate ensemble passages performed by a thrilling cast of young talents.

The stellar cast is led by the American star Isabel Leonard, who makes her WNO debut in the title role. The cast also features Maxim Mironov as the prince Don Ramiro, Simone Alberghini as the prince's valet Dandini, Paolo Bordogna as Cinderella's stepfather Don Magnifico, and Shenyang as the prince's wise tutor Alidoro. Current members of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program also appear in key roles in the opera: Jacqueline Echols is Clorinda and Deborah Nansteel is Tisbe, Cinderella's wicked (and wickedly funny) stepsisters.

Cinderella is staged by Spanish director Joan Font and the WNO Orchestra is led by Italian conductor Speranza Scappucci, both in their WNO debuts. The running time is 3 hours, including one 20-minute intermission.

GETTING TO NATIONALS PARK

Nationals Park is located at 1500 South Capitol Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003. Metro is the quickest and easiest way to get to Nationals Park. Take Metro's Green Line to the Navy Yard- Ballpark station-it's just a half block from Nationals Park. On Saturdays, parking is free at Metro Park-and-Ride lots. Buses that serve Nationals Park are the 74, P1, P2, V7, V8, V9, and the D.C. Circulator (Union Station-Navy Yard route). $10 parking is also available at Nationals Park in Lots B and C. For more information, go to www.nationals.com/waytogo.

NATIONALS PARK HOUSE RULES

Guests who plan to sit on the outfield grass may bring blankets, however chairs are not permitted on the grass. Nationals Park concessions will be open for the simulcast and during the pregame activities. No alcoholic beverages may be brought into Nationals Park. No bags larger than 16 inches x 16 inches x 8 inches are allowed into the ballpark and all bags are subject to inspection. Guests are prohibited from bringing hard containers into Nationals Park. See a complete list of prohibited items in Nationals Park. For complete information about visiting Nationals Park, go to nationals.com.

ABOUT M&M'S® OPERA IN THE OUTFIELD
M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield is WNO's signature community event. Ten previous simulcasts have welcomed more than 160,000 people to experience free opera broadcasts from the Kennedy Center Opera House to Nationals Park; to screens on the National Mall; and to 31 colleges, universities, and high schools throughout the nation. In September 2008, the simulcasts moved to the newly opened Nationals Park, forging a unique relationship between Washington's hometown ballclub and its hometown opera company. Previous simulcasts have included productions of The Magic Flute, Show Boat, Don Giovanni, Tosca, Un ballo in maschera, The Barber of Seville,
La traviata, La bohème, Madama Butterfly, and Porgy and Bess.

ABOUT MARS, INCORPORTED

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders"-this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion; six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience; and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare-PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, CESAR®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and NUTRO®; Chocolate- M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY®, and TWIX®;Wrigley-DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5TM chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® and LIFESAVERS® mints; Food-UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE®, and ROYCO®; Drinks- ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERSTM, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANYTM, KLIX®, and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience-COCOAVIA® and WISDOM PANEL®.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com. Follow facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, and linkedin.com/company/mars.

ABOUT AMERICAN HERITAGETM CHOCOLATE

In 2003, Mars Incorporated undertook an extensive global research initiative to uncover the true history of chocolate. A group from Mars led a multi-disciplinary team of more than 115 experts from around the globe who accessed over 200 archives, libraries, museums, and private collections to reveal chocolate's origin and history in the Americas. CHOCOLATE: History, Culture, and Heritage has contributions from 45 authors, including researchers, culinary chefs, food scientists, and historians from leading historic institutions and was published in 2009 by Wiley.

Out of this research project, the American Heritage Chocolate brand was developed in 2006 by Mars Chocolate North America to help educate consumers about the history of our nation through the engaging story of one of our most beloved foods...chocolate! Fashioned off an ingredient list from 1750, American Heritage Chocolate is an authentic historic chocolate made from ingredients available in the 18th century. The recipe represents a true taste of chocolate the way our ancestors would have enjoyed it. The product line celebrates chocolate's important role in the lives of Americans during the 18th century. Made with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives, American Heritage Chocolate comes in four unique formats: chocolate sticks, chocolate bites, chocolate baking/grating blocks, and finely grated chocolate drink mix. American Heritage Chocolate is sold exclusively at over 130 fine gift shops at historic sites, museums, and historic inns across the USA and Canada.

For a complete listing or to purchase online, please visit www.americanheritagechocolate.com. Learn more about American Heritage Chocolate at Facebook.com/AmericanHeritageChocolate, on Twitter @Choc_History, and NOW on www.Pinterest.com/ChocHistory.

ABOUT WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA

Washington National Opera (WNO) is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, the company presents a diverse season of grand opera-including both classics from the repertory and more contemporary pieces-plus an annual holiday family opera, several newly commissioned American works, and a variety of special concerts and events. The WNO Orchestra is led by Music Director Philippe Auguin. Founded in 1956 and an affiliate of the Kennedy Center since 2011, WNO has a storied legacy of world premieres, new productions, international tours, live recordings and radio broadcasts, and innovative education and community-engagement programs. Throughout its history WNO has been led by titans in the opera field, including the legendary Plácido Domingo, who headed the company from 1996 to 2011.

WNO contributes to the future of opera through two signature artist-development programs. The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, now in its 13th season, has become one of the nation's most competitive and comprehensive professional training programs for young singers and collaborative pianists. Alumni of the program have won major competitions and gone on to successful careers at major operas houses in the U.S. and abroad. The WNO Opera Institute nurtures the ambitions of high-school-age singers from across the nation during an intensive three-week summer program held at American University in Washington.

Among the company's most successful recent programs is the 2012 launch of the American Opera Initiative, a comprehensive commissioning program that works to expand the American operatic repertory, to give WNO's young artists the chance to collaborate with living composers and librettists on new works, and to make American opera more relevant to 21st century audiences. The most popular of WNO's community-engagement programs is M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield, during which an opera is broadcast live from the Kennedy Center Opera House stage to the high-definition scoreboard at Nationals Park. Last season's simulcast drew more than 10,000 spectators to the ballpark. The company's other education programs include the Kids Create Opera program at local elementary schools, Look-In performances for students in grades 4-8, and the Student Dress Rehearsal Program for middle and high school students. The company also offers free Opera Insights programs before every performance in the Opera House.

To celebrate the company's 60th anniversary, Washington National Opera will present three complete cycles of Wagner's Ring in spring 2016. These performances, featuring an acclaimed production by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and conducted by Music Director Philippe Auguin, will be the first time the company has presented The Ring in complete cycles in its history.

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