Posted by Brooks on Mar 19, 2018

Mike Lopinto, Festival South

Mike Lopinto has written, directed, choreographed, music directed, designed sets and lighting for numerous productions, most recently directing Showbiz Harmony (2016), Rock of Ages (2016), Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins (2015), Showbiz Showstoppers (2014), Sweeney Todd (2013) and Sondheim in the City in its Off-Broadway premiere (2011). Upcoming engagements include direction of James and the Giant Peach (2017) and Phantom of the Opera (2017). He completed his Doctor of Musical Arts at Southern Miss and currently serves as the PR/Marketing and Event Coordinator for the School of Music. There, he has coordinated all facets of events with classical celebrities from Plåcido Domingo, Renée Fleming, and Sir James Galway to pop icons Dionne Warwick, the Pointer Sisters, and Patti LaBelle as well as directing the award-winning Symphony Galas and later, the College of Arts and Letters Galas. He is artistic director of FestivalSouth®, a multi-week, multi-genre arts festival. Lopinto is one of the founding members of The Hub City Players, that has produced LOL comedy cabarets, variety shows and more statewide. On stage, his theatrical credits include Les Misérables (Thenardier), Hairspray! (Edna Turnblad), The Producers (Roger DeBris); Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey II), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth), Cats (Old Deuteronomy), A Catered Affair (Mr. Halloran), Annie (Daddy Warbucks), Carousel (Mr. Snow), Die Fledermaus (Frosch) and many more. His voice can be heard at all Southern Miss games as "The Voice of The Pride" and on commercials across the South.