Barney Rubble belted it in the bath. Spongebob stole Squidward's thunder by singing it underwater. And most famously, Bugs gnawed his way through several rounds of "Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!" in the toon classic, "Rabbit of Seville." Between its easily followed romcom plot and a score made universally familiar by the aforementioned pop culture references, Rossini's The Barber of Seville is an ideal introduction to opera. Tacoma Opera's presentation will follow the exploits of Seville's self-celebrating barber, Figaro - a character who literally sings his own praises. Everybody shares secrets with their barbers, and this barber is only too happy put what he learns to work.

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE, 7:30 p.m., also 2 p.m. Sunday, Deb. 9, Rialto Theater, 310 S. Ninth St., Tacoma, $28-$68, 253.591.5894