{"id":339149,"date":"2026-09-06T02:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T02:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/339149\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T02:00:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T02:00:36","slug":"photos-show-snakes-auditioning-for-a-role-at-new-yorks-metropolitan-opera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/339149\/","title":{"rendered":"Photos show snakes auditioning for a role at New York\u2019s Metropolitan Opera"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Snakes auditioned for a role in the Metropolitan Opera\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte\u201d in New York, where performer Zoe Ziegfeld tested their comfort on stage. A boa constrictor named Princess won the part, with Nala as her understudy.<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-7f0000\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Animal talent expert Nancy Novograd, right, interacts with performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld, who plays the part of a snake charmer, during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,&quot; at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)\"  fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788660034_114_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Animal talent expert Nancy Novograd, right, interacts with performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld, who plays the part of a snake charmer, during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>Animal talent expert Nancy Novograd, right, interacts with performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld, who plays the part of a snake charmer, during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>                Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n<p>        Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n<p>            Share<\/p>\n<p>                            Read More<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-7f0001\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld, who plays the part of a snake charmer, handles a snake during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,&quot; at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)\"  fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788660034_914_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld, who plays the part of a snake charmer, handles a snake during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>Performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld, who plays the part of a snake charmer, handles a snake during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>                Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n<p>        Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n<p>            Share<\/p>\n<p>                            Read More<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-7f0002\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Animal talent expert Nancy Novograd poses for a portrait during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,&quot; at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)\"  fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788660034_269_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Animal talent expert Nancy Novograd poses for a portrait during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>Animal talent expert Nancy Novograd poses for a portrait during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>                Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n<p>        Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n<p>            Share<\/p>\n<p>                            Read More<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-7f0003\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A snake is auditioned for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,&quot; at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)\"  fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788660035_883_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A snake is auditioned for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>A snake is auditioned for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>                Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n<p>        Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n<p>            Share<\/p>\n<p>                            Read More<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-7f0004\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Animal talent expert Nancy Novograd, right, interacts with performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld, who plays the part of a snake charmer, during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,&quot; at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)\"  fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788660035_59_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Animal talent expert Nancy Novograd, right, interacts with performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld, who plays the part of a snake charmer, during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>Animal talent expert Nancy Novograd, right, interacts with performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld, who plays the part of a snake charmer, during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>                Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n<p>        Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n<p>            Share<\/p>\n<p>                            Read More<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-7f0005\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld, who plays the part of a snake charmer, handles a snake during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,&quot; at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)\"  fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788660035_975_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld, who plays the part of a snake charmer, handles a snake during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>Performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld, who plays the part of a snake charmer, handles a snake during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>                Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n<p>        Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n<p>            Share<\/p>\n<p>                            Read More<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-7f0006\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A snake attends an audition for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,&quot; at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)\"  fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788660036_500_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A snake attends an audition for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>A snake attends an audition for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>                Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n<p>        Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n<p>            Share<\/p>\n<p>                            Read More<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-7f0007\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld who plays the part of a snake charmer poses for a portrait with a snake during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,&quot; at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)\"  fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788660036_625_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld who plays the part of a snake charmer poses for a portrait with a snake during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>Performance artist Zoe Ziegfeld who plays the part of a snake charmer poses for a portrait with a snake during auditions to select a snake for a part in an adaptation of Mozart\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Andres Kudacki)<\/p>\n<p>                Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n<p>        Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n<p>            Share<\/p>\n<p>                            Read More<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Snakes auditioned for a role in the Metropolitan Opera\u2019s \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte\u201d in New&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":339150,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[157,417,9,11,10,16650,23392,1076,127338],"class_list":["post-339149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-entertainment","tag-general-news","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-news","tag-photo-galleries","tag-trending-photo","tag-world-news","tag-zoe-ziegfeld"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=339149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339149\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/339150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=339149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=339149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=339149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}