Dog cast for role in Sarasota Opera's "Of Mice and Men"

Sarasota Opera goes to the dogs, rather, one dog.

Pede, a 13-year-old border collie mix owned by Jean Smith of Arcadia, will appear on stage for a 20-minute scene in “Of Mice and Men,” which runs March 9 through 23.

Pede was one out of about 10 dogs that auditioned for this paid position that had to show their tricks for a panel of judges.

The role called for a good herding dog and one that is old, ragged and slow. The role will put Pede’s acting abilities to the test, as the plot suggests the dog is in its final moment before being killed. In the opera, the dog is owned by the character Candy (played by Andrew Gangestad).

According to the press release, stage manager Francesca MacBeth says Pede is doing a fantastic job so far in the rehearsal process.

Tickets for the show are available online at sarasotaopera.com or by calling 328-1300.

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