Nashville Opera’s Cinderella

Nashville Opera returns to live performance this weekend with its much-anticipated open-air production of Cinderella at Ascend Amphitheater. John Hoomes’ original staging crosses the gorgeous music of Gioachino Rossini (The Barber of Seville) with “the madcap beach-party movies” of the 1960s, offering a playful and comedic retelling of this beloved tale. It’s interesting to note that this variation of the fairy tale is rather different than the familiar Disney take, with a wicked stepfather named Don Magnifico replacing the stepmother, and a kindly philosopher-tutor replacing the Fairy Godmother. This production also features a number of notable company debuts, including the acclaimed mezzo-soprano Emily Fons in the title role and tenor Matthew Grills as the dashing prince, Don Ramiro. The piece has been edited down to a 90-minute, one-act format with no intermission. Chairs will be placed in pods both in the floor and lawn sections of the venue. To learn more, visit nashvilleopera.org. 7:30 p.m. at Ascend, 310 First Ave. S. AMY STUMPFL