The U of A Opera Theatre will present Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell and Nahum Tate this weekend in the Faulkner Performing Arts Center.

Dido and Aeneas is based on Book IV of Virgil's The Aeneid. Set in 12th century BCE, the opera follows the hero Aeneas, having recently escaped the fall of Troy. On his way toward the Italian coast, he stops in Carthage, (which is now modern-day Tunisia). There, he meets Dido, Queen of Carthage, only to find that her kingdom is on the verge of collapse. Though their love has the potential to restore both Carthage and Troy to their former glory, the evil Sorceress and her band of witches take on the role of fate, conjuring up several magical obstacles, ensuring the fall of Carthage will continue unimpeded.

The opera is directed by Jonathan Stinson and features nine ballet students from the Arkansas Arts Academy.

"We are very excited to welcome these incredibly talented dancers to our stage," Stinson said. "This production is unique when compared to traditional interpretations of the opera because the dancing is fully incorporated into the storytelling. Dido suffers from depression and manic mood swings as her empire crumbles. As the hero Aeneas seeks her love, and the Sorceress takes pleasure in her downfall, a war wages within her mind. In our production, the dancers represent the noble and evil forces in Dido's head — ghostly apparitions unseen by those around her but tormenting Dido in plain sight. Rebecca Cannan's choreography is both beautiful and haunting as Dido slips further into psychosis. It has been thrilling to watch."    

The production runs from April 4-7, with performances at the Faulkner Center on Saturday at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.