La Cieca has just heard that, following up on the resounding critical and popular success of Tobias Picker‘s An American Tragedy, the Metropolitan Opera has rushed into the pipeline a new piece by Jake Heggie, Brokeback Mountain, based on the short story by Annie Proulx, with a libretto by Terrence McNally. Current plans are to “roll over” the American Tragedy cast into the new work, with Nathan Gunn as Ennis del Mar, William Burden as Jack Twist, Susan Graham as Alma and Anna Christy as Lureen. Dolora Zajick is rumored for the Randy Quaid role. Ms. Graham will include Alma’s aria, “You boys don’t go up there to fish!” in her upcoming recital tour. Director Francesca Zambello has recently sent out a casting call seeking “buff, masculine, uncut guys with tattoos, no fats or fems,” but a source tells us that actually these extras will be appearing in Zambello’s production of Suor Angelica.