Southern Miss Symphony, Opera Company Adds Extra Performance

HATTIESBURG -- When the University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and the Southern Opera Musical Theatre Company (SOMTC) began rehearsals at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center for their latest collaboration, West Side Story, excitement spread throughout the area, and tickets became scarce.

“This is another important collaboration for our music and theater students,” said producer Maryann Kyle, who directs SOMTC at Southern Miss.  “Early ticket sales and the positive response from our patrons have been as exciting as producing the show itself.”

This early response prompted the company to add a Sunday matinee to the lineup. "The regularly scheduled performances on Thursday, Feb. 23, and Saturday, Feb. 25, were already almost sold out before we began to advertise the show," Kyle said. 

Set in the Upper West Side of New York City in the late 1950s, West Side Story is an energetic, widely acclaimed, melodramatic musical of tragedy evolving from conflict between rival street gangs. 

“West Side Story is one of the most momentous musicals of all time,” Kyle said.   “We pulled out all the stops to make it one of those events that will be talked about for years to come.”

The play, based on Arthur Laurents’ book with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, reworked the traditional love story material of Romeo and Juliet-- lovers that crossed racial/ethnic barriers--and translated it into a radically novel style for a musical.

Its story personifies racial strife between rival New York street gangs (newly arrived Puerto Ricans and second-generation Americans from white European immigrant families), juvenile delinquency and inner-city problems of the mid-20th century.

Featuring exceptional talents of Southern Miss students, alumni and community performers, the production is under the stage direction of Rob Mulholland, who also designed the set.

Ricardo Robinson’s choreography gives the production its sizzle, and the Symphony will be conducted by its music director, Dr. Jay Dean.

"The buzz from rehearsals sent ticket sales through the roof," said John Michael Lopinto, marketing director of the orchestra and cast member.  "The cast is exceptional, the dancing is remarkable, and the orchestra is fantastic! The word got out, and tickets got scarce."