Southern Opera and Musical Theatre
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The Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company has accrued a reputation as one of
the finest opera and musical theatre collegiate companies in the region—attracting
a range of diverse and dazzling performers and presenting professional quality productions
for the community.
The Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company regularly offers students opportunities to perform in opera and musical theatre productions, as well as recitals and concerts. Fully staged productions have included Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Mary Poppins, Carmen, The Mikado, and Rigoletto.
The Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company regularly offers students opportunities to perform in opera and musical theatre productions, as well as recitals and concerts. Fully staged productions have included Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Mary Poppins, Carmen, The Mikado, and Rigoletto.
This past year’s opera and musical theatre stage productions were by all accounts, “epic.” From the landmark, sold-out production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera to Puccini’s masterwork, Turandot, which was presented in a joint production with the Mississippi Opera. Turandot was the largest operatic production ever produced in the state of Mississippi and completed a banner year for the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company.
Why Choose the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company at Southern Miss?
- Over 40 faculty members of dedicated teacher-artists
- Professional voice teachers and stage directors
- An active opera program producing multiple fully staged productions each year
- Frequent master classes and performances by musicians of international stature
Guest Artists
Major vocal artists are frequently featured with the orchestra and/or opera, including
(among others) Thomas Palmer (1972), Roberta Peters (1977), Denyce Graves (1998),
Plácido Domingo (2005), David Lomeli (2009), Renee Fleming (2010), Deborah Voigt (2015),
Linda Eder (2015), Kirstin Chavez (2016), and Sandi Patty (2016).
Professional Partnerships
Students in this program also have the opportunity to become apprentice artists with
the Mississippi Opera, the ninth oldest continuously operating opera company in the
United States, as well as the local professional company, The Hub City Players, and
community theatre, Hattiesburg Community Theatre, among others.
Upcoming Auditions
The Music Man
Audition for the 2024 Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company production of The Music Man, that runs October 31 - November 2 in the Mannoni Performing Arts Center. Open to all Southern Miss Students.
Requirements
- You will be required to upload videos of two (2) contrasting Golden Age (pre-1970)
musical theatre songs that best represent you and the character you are interested
in portraying.
- We suggest one ballad and one up tempo/patter song.
- You will also be required to upload a current headshot.
- To participate in the musical, you must enroll in MUP 490/590 and be available for
all class time rehearsals.
- The class period for MUP 490/590 is M-Th 4:00-5:15p, Fri. 2:30-3:15p, and TTH evenings
5:30 - 6:45p. There will also be some Friday/weekend rehearsals immediately prior
to the performances.
- The class period for MUP 490/590 is M-Th 4:00-5:15p, Fri. 2:30-3:15p, and TTH evenings
5:30 - 6:45p. There will also be some Friday/weekend rehearsals immediately prior
to the performances.
