MIKE LOPINTO • FESTIVAL SOUTH
Dr. Mike Lopinto, originally from New Orleans, is a true Renaissance man, he has written, directed, music directed, designed sets and lighting for numerous productions, most recently directing shows including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera (2017—American Prize for Musical Theatre Semi-Finalist), to Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins (2015), for the Southern Miss School of Music and James and the Giant Peach (2017– American Prize for Musical Theatre Semi-Finalist), and Rock of Ages for the Hub City Players, Hattiesburg’s professional theatre company. This summer, he will direct Sister Act to open the 10th anniversary of FestivalSouth.
Lopinto spent a decade teaching in some of the most successful programs in Texas winning state and national honors and continues to judge music and visual arts events internationally. Currently, he serves as the Assistant to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for Arts PR/Marketing at Southern Miss.
During his tenure, he brought a new level of recognition to arts programs in Mississippi, most notably the acclaimed symphony orchestra. He coordinated events with world-renowned classical celebrities to pop icons as well as designing and directing the award-winning Symphony Galas. He has become a favorite emcee for the Mystic Krewe of Zeus and his voice can be heard at all Southern Miss games as "The Voice of The Pride" and on commercials across the South.
He is the artistic director of FestivalSouth® that has reshaped summers in the Hub City and the creative director of Consult M, a multi-faceted arts development organization that has worked regionally with performing arts organizations.
