Musical 'Das Barbecü' is a cowboy spin on Wagner's 'Ring'

Yearning for a rousing chorus of "Hog Tie Your Man"? You are in luck, pardner. It's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" time at the grand ole Seattle Opry House. And this year, Richard Wagner's epic opera cycle is being served up with a side of "Das Barbecü."

For newbies to Seattle "Ring" lore, that's the ingeniously lampoony and tunesome Scott Warrender-Jim Luigs musical of "outtakes" from the Wagnerian work. It has the same mythic characters but is reset in the Lone Star State, where cowboys and cowgirls sing, strut and pack six-shooters. Yee ha!

"Das Barbecü" hasn't been spotted in these parts since ACT encored it in 1995. (It premiered here in 1991, as commissioned by the Seattle Opera.) But the musical has been roaming the range, in well-received productions Off Broadway and around the U.S.

The show has more than 30 musical numbers. And as always with the Seattle-based Warrender's sophisticated compositions, it requires a fine hoedown band. And it needs versatile singer-actors, like those in the ACT cast — including Anne Allgood, Billie Wildrick and, as the kingpin Wotan of Dallas, Richard Ziman.

In the same vein, ACT will also present the country-campy combo Purty Mouth's new revue, "Wedding Singers," as its late-night Central Heating Lab attraction during the run.

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com