Mike Lopinto
Page Content
Stage Director
Bio
A dynamic, multidisciplinary theatre artist, director and creative leader, Dr. Mike Lopinto has built a distinctive career spanning musical theatre direction, music direction, writing, performance, scenic and lighting design, and arts leadership. His Southern Miss directing credits include The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins, Sweeney Todd, The Music Man and Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, among numerous other productions. His work has earned national recognition through The American Prize, including the 2018–19 American Prize in Musical Theatre for The Phantom of the Opera with Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company and for James and the Giant Peach with Hub City Players, as well as the 2024 American Prize in Directing, the Charles Nelson Reilly Prize. His work also extends throughout the region through FestivalSouth®, Mississippi’s only multi-week, multi-genre arts festival, and The Hub City Players, which he helped found.
Lopinto’s performance credits include Les Misérables, Hairspray!, The Producers, Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, Cats, Carousel and many others. His voice is familiar across Mississippi and the South as “The Voice of The Pride” at Southern Miss athletic events and through commercial work.
With a career that moves fluidly between the stage, creative direction and arts leadership, Lopinto brings an unusually broad perspective to musical theatre, connecting performance, production, storytelling and audience engagement in ways that have helped shape the cultural landscape of Southern Mississippi.
- D.M.A. - The University of Southern Mississippi
- M. A. - University of Mobile
- M. M. - The University of Southern Mississippi
- B.M. - The University of Southern Mississippi
THEATRICAL PRODUCTION CREDITS
2026 — Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 — Director, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; The Odd Couple — Producer, The Hub City Players; Disney’s Newsies! — Producer, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; Her Story by Julia Wolfe — Consultant, Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra; Coronation: ZTV — Director, Lighting Design, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2025 — Coronation: The Journey — Director, Lighting Design, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2024 — The Music Man — Producer, Director, Set and Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; Journey On — Lighting Design, FestivalSouth; Jersey Boys — Producer, Director, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; Coronation: Royal Roundup — Director, Lighting Design, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2023 — Amahl and the Night Visitors — Production Manager, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; Little Shop of Horrors — Producer, Co-Director, The Hub City Players; Iconic: Cirque/Symphony — Producer, Lighting Design, FestivalSouth; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast — Producer, Co-Director, Fight Choreographer, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; Coronation: Empire — Director, Lighting Design, Choreographer, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2022 — Coronation: Full House — Director, Lighting Design, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; A Tuna Christmas — Director, The Hub City Players; Guys and Dolls — Director, Set Design, Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; Forever: The Music of Queen — Producer, Costumer, Natchez Festival of Music and FestivalSouth; Sincerely, Stephen Sondheim — Producer/Performer, The Hub City Players at FestivalSouth; The Play That Goes Wrong — Producer, Fight Choreographer, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; Curtain Up! — Director, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; Coronation: Full House — Director, Lighting Design, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2021 — Motown Downtown Revival — Lighting Design, FestivalSouth; Broadway in the ‘Burg — Director/Performer, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; Kinky Boots (postponed) — Director, Producer, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; Viral Video Project — Video Director, Producer, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2020 — Showbiz: A Centennial of Showtunes — Director, Lighting and Set Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2019 — Sister Act — Director, Lighting and Set Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; 2018 — The Drowsy Chaperone — Director, Set and Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; Steel Magnolias — Producer, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players; Turandot — Lighting Design, Mississippi Opera/Southern Opera and Musical Theatre; Magic of the Musical Stage — Director, Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2017 — The Phantom of the Opera — Director, Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; James and the Giant Peach — Director, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; 2016 — Showbiz Harmony — Director, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; Rock of Ages — Director, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; 2015 — Mary Poppins — Director, Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2014 — Showbiz Showstoppers — Director, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2013 — Sweeney Todd — Director, Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2012 — Apparitions — Director, Designer, MKyle Productions; 2011 — Sondheim in the City — Director, MKyle Productions (Off-Broadway premiere).
STAGE CREDITS
2023 — Little Shop of Horrors — Audrey II, The Hub City Players; 2022 — Sincerely, Stephen Sondheim — Vocalist, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2021 — Broadway in the ’Burg — Host/Vocalist, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2020 — Zeus Coronation — Host/Vocalist, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2019 — Return to the Forbidden Planet — Newscaster (uncredited), Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera; 2019 — Zeus Coronation — Host/Vocalist, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2018 — LOL: Netflix and Chill — Vocalist, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2018 — Zeus Coronation — Emcee/Leading Player, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2017 — Zeus Coronation — Emcee/Leading Player, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2015 — A Catered Affair — Mr. Halloran, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera; 2015 — LOL: Always a Bridesmaid — Vocalist, The Hub City Players; 2015 — Lady Day at the Emerson’s — Extra, HBO; 2014 — WLOL: Festival Variety Show — Vocalist, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2014 — Les Misérables — Thenardier, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera; 2013 — Hairspray! — Edna Turnblad, Command Performance Broadway Intensive; 2013 — Die Fledermaus — Frosch, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2012 — The Producers — Roger De Bris, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera; 2012 — LOL: 1.5 — Vocalist, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2012 — Little Shop of Horrors — Audrey II, Jones Junior College (Guest Artist); 2010 — Beauty and the Beast — Cogsworth, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera; 2010 — LOL: Showtune Cabaret — Vocalist, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2007 — Cats — Old Deuteronomy, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera; 2006 — West Side Story — Doc, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2005 — The Not-Cracker — Jeanette, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 1992 — Amahl and the Night Visitors — Page, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 1991 — H.M.S. Pinafore — Ensemble, Southern Light Opera; 1991 — Trial by Jury — Ensemble, Southern Light Opera; 1986 — Carousel — Mr. Snow, Pike County Little Theatre; 1985 — Annie — Oliver Warbucks, Pike County Little Theatre; 1985 — Hello, Dolly!— Ensemble/Swing, Pike County Arts Council; 1981 — Fiddler on the Roof — Ensemble/Swing, Pike County Arts Council. Backstage Vocalist — Barnum, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Grease for Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera, and Ragtime for Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company.
SPECIAL EVENT PRODUCTON
2026 — Prelude Party — Producer, FestivalSouth; 2025 — Swagger & Suede Gala — Producer, FestivalSouth; 2024 — Oh, What a Night Gala — Producer, FestivalSouth; 2022 — A Diamond Affair Gala — Producer, Partners for the Arts; 2021 — Reminiscence — Streaming Video Producer, Opera Mississippi; 2020 — John Alexander Vocal Competition — Streaming Video Producer, Opera Mississippi; 2020 — Maskerade — Emcee, Producer, Partners for the Arts at USM; 2020 — FestivalSouth Re-imagined — Emcee, Producer, Hattiesburg Concert Association/FestivalSouth; 2019 — Casablanca Gala — Director, Partners for the Arts; 2019 — From Russia With Love — Decorator, Mississippi Opera Guild; 2019 — Linda Eder Returns — Producer/Lighting Design, FestivalSouth; 2018 — The Reel Big Movie Concert — Producer/Lighting Design, FestivalSouth; 2018 — LOL: Netflix and Chill — Lighting Design, The Hub City Players; 2018 — Mac McAnally — Lighting Design, Extra Table/FestivalSouth; 2017 — We Are Mississippi: Bicentennial Concert — Lighting Design, Mississippi Development Authority; 2016 — Rockin’ Christmas — Director, The Hub City Players; 2016 — BrewHaHa Gala — Designer, The Hub City Players; 2015 — Linda Eder in Concert — Producer/Lighting Design, FestivalSouth; 2015 — LOL: Always a Bridesmaid — Director, The Hub City Players; 2014 — WLOL: Festival Variety Show — Director, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2013 — Aria: A Cirque de la Symphonie Spectacular — Director/Designer, FestivalSouth; 2013 — LOL 1.5 — Director, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2012 — LOL Showtune Cabaret — Director, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2011 — Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber — Director, FestivalSouth; 2010 — Renée Fleming: The Voice of the Century — Producer, Mississippi Opera/Southern Miss; 2010 — Gold Centennial Arts Gala — Director/Designer, The University of Southern Mississippi; 2009 — Moulin Rouge Arts Gala — Director/Designer, The University of Southern Mississippi; 2008 — Shangri-La Symphony Gala — Director/Designer, The University of Southern Mississippi; 2007 — United in Song: A Tribute to Tena Clark featuring Patti LaBelle, Dionne Warwick, Patti Austin and more — Director/Producer, The University of Southern Mississippi; 2007 — Atlantis Symphony Gala — Director/Designer, The University of Southern Mississippi; 2005 — Plácido Domingo: One Voice. One Orchestra. One Night Only. The Concert Event of a Lifetime — Producer, Beau Rivage Casino Resort/Southern Miss.
CONCERT PRODUCER In alphabetical order
Events featuring Patti Austin, Manuel Barrueco, The Beach Boys, Joshua Bell, Plácido Domingo, Linda Eder, Renée Fleming, Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway, Vasti Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Yo Yo Ma, Ana Maria Martinez, Tom Malone, Kyle Dean Massey, Alli Mauzey, Mac McAnally, Edgar Meyer, Julia Murney, Ann Nesby, Sandi Patty, The Pointer Sisters, Christopher Parkening, Charley Pride, Doc Severinsen, Ricky Skaggs, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Marty Stuart, Victor Trevino, Rhonda Vincent, Deborah Voigt, Dionne Warwick, Mack Wilburg, Vesta Williams, Ransom Wilson, Julia Wolfe, Tom Wopat.
2026 — Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 — Director, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; The Odd Couple — Producer, The Hub City Players; Disney’s Newsies! — Producer, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; Her Story by Julia Wolfe — Consultant, Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra; Coronation: ZTV — Director, Lighting Design, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2025 — Coronation: The Journey — Director, Lighting Design, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2024 — The Music Man — Producer, Director, Set and Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; Journey On — Lighting Design, FestivalSouth; Jersey Boys — Producer, Director, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; Coronation: Royal Roundup — Director, Lighting Design, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2023 — Amahl and the Night Visitors — Production Manager, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; Little Shop of Horrors — Producer, Co-Director, The Hub City Players; Iconic: Cirque/Symphony — Producer, Lighting Design, FestivalSouth; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast — Producer, Co-Director, Fight Choreographer, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; Coronation: Empire — Director, Lighting Design, Choreographer, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2022 — Coronation: Full House — Director, Lighting Design, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; A Tuna Christmas — Director, The Hub City Players; Guys and Dolls — Director, Set Design, Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; Forever: The Music of Queen — Producer, Costumer, Natchez Festival of Music and FestivalSouth; Sincerely, Stephen Sondheim — Producer/Performer, The Hub City Players at FestivalSouth; The Play That Goes Wrong — Producer, Fight Choreographer, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; Curtain Up! — Director, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; Coronation: Full House — Director, Lighting Design, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2021 — Motown Downtown Revival — Lighting Design, FestivalSouth; Broadway in the ‘Burg — Director/Performer, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; Kinky Boots (postponed) — Director, Producer, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; Viral Video Project — Video Director, Producer, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2020 — Showbiz: A Centennial of Showtunes — Director, Lighting and Set Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2019 — Sister Act — Director, Lighting and Set Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; 2018 — The Drowsy Chaperone — Director, Set and Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; Steel Magnolias — Producer, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players; Turandot — Lighting Design, Mississippi Opera/Southern Opera and Musical Theatre; Magic of the Musical Stage — Director, Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2017 — The Phantom of the Opera — Director, Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; James and the Giant Peach — Director, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; 2016 — Showbiz Harmony — Director, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; Rock of Ages — Director, Lighting Design, The Hub City Players for FestivalSouth; 2015 — Mary Poppins — Director, Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2014 — Showbiz Showstoppers — Director, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2013 — Sweeney Todd — Director, Lighting Design, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2012 — Apparitions — Director, Designer, MKyle Productions; 2011 — Sondheim in the City — Director, MKyle Productions (Off-Broadway premiere).
STAGE CREDITS
2023 — Little Shop of Horrors — Audrey II, The Hub City Players; 2022 — Sincerely, Stephen Sondheim — Vocalist, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2021 — Broadway in the ’Burg — Host/Vocalist, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2020 — Zeus Coronation — Host/Vocalist, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2019 — Return to the Forbidden Planet — Newscaster (uncredited), Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera; 2019 — Zeus Coronation — Host/Vocalist, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2018 — LOL: Netflix and Chill — Vocalist, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2018 — Zeus Coronation — Emcee/Leading Player, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2017 — Zeus Coronation — Emcee/Leading Player, The Mystic Krewe of Zeus; 2015 — A Catered Affair — Mr. Halloran, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera; 2015 — LOL: Always a Bridesmaid — Vocalist, The Hub City Players; 2015 — Lady Day at the Emerson’s — Extra, HBO; 2014 — WLOL: Festival Variety Show — Vocalist, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2014 — Les Misérables — Thenardier, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera; 2013 — Hairspray! — Edna Turnblad, Command Performance Broadway Intensive; 2013 — Die Fledermaus — Frosch, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2012 — The Producers — Roger De Bris, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera; 2012 — LOL: 1.5 — Vocalist, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2012 — Little Shop of Horrors — Audrey II, Jones Junior College (Guest Artist); 2010 — Beauty and the Beast — Cogsworth, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera; 2010 — LOL: Showtune Cabaret — Vocalist, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2007 — Cats — Old Deuteronomy, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera; 2006 — West Side Story — Doc, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 2005 — The Not-Cracker — Jeanette, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 1992 — Amahl and the Night Visitors — Page, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company; 1991 — H.M.S. Pinafore — Ensemble, Southern Light Opera; 1991 — Trial by Jury — Ensemble, Southern Light Opera; 1986 — Carousel — Mr. Snow, Pike County Little Theatre; 1985 — Annie — Oliver Warbucks, Pike County Little Theatre; 1985 — Hello, Dolly!— Ensemble/Swing, Pike County Arts Council; 1981 — Fiddler on the Roof — Ensemble/Swing, Pike County Arts Council. Backstage Vocalist — Barnum, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Grease for Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera, and Ragtime for Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company.
SPECIAL EVENT PRODUCTON
2026 — Prelude Party — Producer, FestivalSouth; 2025 — Swagger & Suede Gala — Producer, FestivalSouth; 2024 — Oh, What a Night Gala — Producer, FestivalSouth; 2022 — A Diamond Affair Gala — Producer, Partners for the Arts; 2021 — Reminiscence — Streaming Video Producer, Opera Mississippi; 2020 — John Alexander Vocal Competition — Streaming Video Producer, Opera Mississippi; 2020 — Maskerade — Emcee, Producer, Partners for the Arts at USM; 2020 — FestivalSouth Re-imagined — Emcee, Producer, Hattiesburg Concert Association/FestivalSouth; 2019 — Casablanca Gala — Director, Partners for the Arts; 2019 — From Russia With Love — Decorator, Mississippi Opera Guild; 2019 — Linda Eder Returns — Producer/Lighting Design, FestivalSouth; 2018 — The Reel Big Movie Concert — Producer/Lighting Design, FestivalSouth; 2018 — LOL: Netflix and Chill — Lighting Design, The Hub City Players; 2018 — Mac McAnally — Lighting Design, Extra Table/FestivalSouth; 2017 — We Are Mississippi: Bicentennial Concert — Lighting Design, Mississippi Development Authority; 2016 — Rockin’ Christmas — Director, The Hub City Players; 2016 — BrewHaHa Gala — Designer, The Hub City Players; 2015 — Linda Eder in Concert — Producer/Lighting Design, FestivalSouth; 2015 — LOL: Always a Bridesmaid — Director, The Hub City Players; 2014 — WLOL: Festival Variety Show — Director, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2013 — Aria: A Cirque de la Symphonie Spectacular — Director/Designer, FestivalSouth; 2013 — LOL 1.5 — Director, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2012 — LOL Showtune Cabaret — Director, The Hub City Players/FestivalSouth; 2011 — Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber — Director, FestivalSouth; 2010 — Renée Fleming: The Voice of the Century — Producer, Mississippi Opera/Southern Miss; 2010 — Gold Centennial Arts Gala — Director/Designer, The University of Southern Mississippi; 2009 — Moulin Rouge Arts Gala — Director/Designer, The University of Southern Mississippi; 2008 — Shangri-La Symphony Gala — Director/Designer, The University of Southern Mississippi; 2007 — United in Song: A Tribute to Tena Clark featuring Patti LaBelle, Dionne Warwick, Patti Austin and more — Director/Producer, The University of Southern Mississippi; 2007 — Atlantis Symphony Gala — Director/Designer, The University of Southern Mississippi; 2005 — Plácido Domingo: One Voice. One Orchestra. One Night Only. The Concert Event of a Lifetime — Producer, Beau Rivage Casino Resort/Southern Miss.
CONCERT PRODUCER In alphabetical order
Events featuring Patti Austin, Manuel Barrueco, The Beach Boys, Joshua Bell, Plácido Domingo, Linda Eder, Renée Fleming, Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway, Vasti Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Yo Yo Ma, Ana Maria Martinez, Tom Malone, Kyle Dean Massey, Alli Mauzey, Mac McAnally, Edgar Meyer, Julia Murney, Ann Nesby, Sandi Patty, The Pointer Sisters, Christopher Parkening, Charley Pride, Doc Severinsen, Ricky Skaggs, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Marty Stuart, Victor Trevino, Rhonda Vincent, Deborah Voigt, Dionne Warwick, Mack Wilburg, Vesta Williams, Ransom Wilson, Julia Wolfe, Tom Wopat.