Folks in Watford City can put on their best boots and cowboy hats and head to the opera Tuesday evening.

The city is hosting the western-most North Dakota performance of the Corps of Discovery in opera, performed by the Fargo-Moorhead Opera Co.

It'll be something different, for sure, maybe the first time there's been an opera in the McKenzie County community.

The performance is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Watford City High School gym rather than the school theater, because the grand piano can't fit through the theater door.

The opera will tell the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition, through music and song, mainly male voices, as well as Sakakawea's.

Jody Renbarger is helping organize the event, and she said she expects the music to be more rhythmic and fun than a traditional operatic score.

The opera composer, Michael Ching, will be on tour with the opera company and play the grand piano, which is accompanied, in parts, by violin.

The show features singers David Hamilton as Captain Lewis; Mark Walters as Captain Clark; and Shana Blake Hill as Sakakawea.

Renbarger said Watford City is excited to host the opera, which has been performed by other opera companies in university and city theaters.

The opera has a main cast of eight, plus a few extras.

Tickets are $20 and will be available at the door on the evening of the performance and at the Long X Visitor Center and Watford City banks before then.

Renbarger said local ticket sales are starting to roll "pretty good," and organizers are hoping for an audience of at least 300.

The Corps of Discovery opera also will be previewed at 7 p.m. May 24 at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn and performed in full at 7 p.m. May 25 at Mandan High School.

The production is supported by the North Dakota Council on the Arts.