By ROBERT TRUSSELL
The Kansas City Star

The Lyric Opera of Kansas isn’t exactly going to the dogs.

It just needs dogs. Two dogs, in fact. Dogs that are cute and, presumably, well behaved.

The opera company will hold dog auditions from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 26 on the front steps of the Lyric Theatre, 11th and Central, to cast a miniature poodle or another kind of toy dog to be held by Musetta when she makes her grand entrance.

“We’ll be signing a contract with a dog and one understudy,” said marketing director Jim DeGood.

Dogs or their representatives wishing to audition should submit an application from the Lyric’s Web site (a href="http://www.kcopera.org'>www.kcopera.org) and arrive at the theater no later than 5:15 p.m. on audition day. Judging the auditions will be director Ellen Douglas Schlafer, prop mistress Debbie Morgan and Katrina Thurman, who plays Musetta.

The dogs must be crate-trained and know basic commands. Owners must commit to rehearsal and performance time and will receive complimentary tickets to the production.

This production marks the Lyric’s 50th anniversary. Puccini’s “La Boheme” was the first opera presented by the company on Sept. 29, 1958. The opera will open the company’s 2008-2009 season on Sept. 13.

In other opera news, the Lyric s set a record with its one-day ticket sale on Aug. 15.

The opera company sold $25 tickets to all four of its 2008-2009 productions. Tickets were sold for best available seating on Wednesday night performances, on a first-come, first-served. basis.

The Lyric sold 953 tickets for a total of $23,825. The previous one-day sales record was about $7,000 in the week following the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Also on the 2008-09 calendar are Handel’s “Julius Caesar,” Verdi’s “La Traviata” and “The Pirates of Penzance” by Gilbert & Sullivan.

For information, call 816-471-7344 or visit a href="http://www.kcopera.org'>www.kcopera.org