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2018-19 Season

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 Elixir of Love

Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company Announces 2018-19 Season

The Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company (SOMTC) at The University of Southern Mississippi is happy to announce two main-stage productions for the 2018-19 school year. Winner of five Tony Awards, the Broadway hit musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone will take to the boards on October 25 – 27, 2018 for three performances in the Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium. In the spring, Gaetano Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore will have audiences captivated on April 4 and 6 also in the MPAC.

The Drowsy Chaperone is a parody of American musical comedy of the 1920s. The story concerns a middle-aged, musical theatre fan as he plays the record of his favorite musical, the (fictional) 1928 hit “The Drowsy Chaperone.” The show comes to life onstage as he wryly comments on the music, story, and actors. With a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, the SOMTC production will be directed by the team that brought local audiences The Phantom of the Opera, including Mike Lopinto, director, Michael Miles, music director, Ryan Anthony, choreographer and Tammy Mansfield, costumes.

“It is one of my favorite shows; absolutely one of the funniest I’ve ever seen!” said Mike Lopinto, the show’s director. “It is truly the best show you’ve likely never heard of – but you will never forget it once you’ve experienced it.”

L'elisir d'amore tells the love story of Adina, an affluent landowner, and Nemorino, a simple peasant. After hearing the legendary tale of Tristan and Isolde, Nemorino decides to get himself a magical love potion to gain Adina's heart, who appears to have no interest in him. Composed by Gaetano Donizetti, this marvelous opera in two acts is sure to bring good laughs to the audience, as well as to touch the most intimate fibers of one's core in the name of love.

Auditions for The Drowsy Chaperone will be on Monday, August 27 starting at 4 p.m. in Fine Arts Building, Room 122 and continuing with dance call on the MPAC stage that evening at 7 p.m. The auditions are open to School of Music students, the university community, and the Hattiesburg-area community, though all must register online for a spot. To sign up and for more information, please visit usm.edu/music and click on The Drowsy Chaperone logo.

Auditions for L'Elisir d'amore will occur later in the semester and will be announced as information is available.

Tickets for both performances and the entire Symphony Season that includes these will be on sale mid-summer. 

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Laurie.RinkoFREEMississippi

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