Boa Constrictor Princess Wins Role in Met Opera's 'Così fan tutte'

At the Metropolitan Opera in New York, even reptiles have to go through auditions. Princess, a yellow-peach boa constrictor, has been cast as the snake in the forthcoming rendition of Mozart's 'Così fan tutte,' which will take place in a carnival setting reminiscent of 1950s Coney Island. The auditions occurred on August 28, 2026, under the supervision of Zoe Ziegfeld, a former carnival performer who now acts as the snake charmer. She assessed each snake's ability to interact with people, ultimately selecting Princess for her impressive size and striking appearance. Nala, a smaller brown boa constrictor, will be Princess's understudy. The snakes were provided by Nancy Novograd's All Tame Animals, a company that has collaborated with the Met since her horse's appearance in 'Carmen.' This production marks Ziegfeld's third portrayal of the snake charmer in this adaptation, while the opera's storyline remains largely unchanged, set against the backdrop of a lively 1950s carnival with sideshow acts.