• "Manon Lescaut" by Puccini — a rare opportunity to see Puccini's first true masterwork performed.

• "Aida" by Verdi. This is not the popular Broadway musical by Elton John and Tim Rice, though it was that version that inspired Ballam to produce the heartbreaking love story. "After seeing Aida maybe 12 times, seeing it on Broadway was the first time I finally got it."

Though he says he relates more to the great compositions of Verdi, "I had always seen the opera in massive arena venues with chariots, elephants and camels. It was a spectacle." Without all the extras, "the story of these three people becomes so clear."

Along with the two full operas, UFO also will produce musicals:

• "1776," a Broadway musical by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone, about the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Of 58 productions over the years, this is the only musical the festival has ever repeated, "because of the election happening in November," Ballam said.

"I feel like we have lost touch with what those 26 brave men did in Philadelphia," Ballam said. "I think we are living the fear that John Adams voiced on his deathbed. When asked if he was afraid that a foreign nation will take away our government, he said he was more afraid of: one, apathy and two, divisiveness from within."

Ballam will star in the musical as John Adams, a man for whom Ballam has "a great respect." The festival also has hired an historian to ensure the production is historically correct. In reference to the profanity in the musical, Ballam said, "Those men used colorful language but were never profane." With permission from the author, they've altered the script and used actual speeches given in Congress.

• "Into the Woods" by Stephen Sondheim. Ballam carefully points out this is the original version of the classic that he describes as "charming, light, gracious and happy," rather than the reworked version, which is darker. "I love the message: Careful the things you say, children will listen. That message speaks to me very deeply."

• "Gypsy." The festival also will feature an old-fashioned, radio-show version of "Gypsy" for two performances only. "People need to get their tickets now because they're going to go fast." Since the festival already has a symphony on staff, it employs the full orchestra to play "Gypsy" too, "it will be a rare treat to hear Sondheim's classic score with a full orchestra."