"The Mikado" — The second musical offered this season, stars Vanessa and her father. "We were hoping to do a Frank Loesser work, but the negotiations take time," he said, "so somebody said ,why don't you do the most popular stage show of all time?' So we're doing the 'Mikado.' " And, he is "delighted" to be sharing the stage with Vanessa.

"Carmen" — "Ever since Audrey Babcock played here in 'Man of La Mancha,' I knew we just had to design a production of 'Carmen' for her," Ballam said of the leading lady. He also said it's a great opportunity to see her now as "this is a role she will sing all over the world."

"I Pagliacci" and "Cavalleria Rusticana" — " 'Rusticana' requires a very large chorus," Ballam explained, "when Craig Jessop moved back to Logan, we inherited a 300 voice chorus in Cache County." This is a production that UFO has wanted to do since the beginning but were unable to hire a chorus of that magnitude. "But Craig brings the cream of the crop," he said, "and these people are willing to volunteer and invest 12 weeks of their time. We're thrilled.

"Our tickets sales are up," Ballam said, "and we're going to have a great season. We attract top professionals, and Logan is a bargain," he said of people trying to plan more affordable vacations. "We have world-class talent, world-class acoustics and we have the world's best ice cream." Ballam said, quickly adding, "and Aggie ice cream is sold at intermission."

If you go …

What: Utah Festival Opera

Where: Ellen Eccles Theatre, 43 S. Main, Logan

When: July 8-Aug. 8

How much: $12-$74

Phone: 801-355-2787, 888-451-2787

Web: www.ufoc.org or www.arttix.org

E-mail: ehansen@desnews.com