The Auction: A Canadian Folk Opera premieres on June 30 at the Westben Arts Festival Theatre in Campbellford, Ontario – a theatre in the midst of farming country. A second performance takes place on July 1. Based on the picture book, The Auction, written by Jan Andrews and illustrated by Karen Reczuch, the concert opera was composed by John Burge with a libretto by Eugene Benson. The composer first contacted Jan Andrews in 2002, having read the book to his sons.

For more information, visit www.westben.ca.