HATTIESBURG — The Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company at The University of Southern Mississippi has announced plans for two main-stage productions during the 2018-19 school year.

Winner of five Tony Awards, the Broadway hit musical comedy “The Drowsy Chaperone” will take to the boards on Oct. 25-27, for three performances in the Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium on the Hattiesburg campus. On April 4, 2019, the comical “Too Many Sopranos” will have audiences cheering and laughing, 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 Lopinto. “It is truly the best show you’ve likely never heard of – but you will never forget it once you’ve experienced it.”

“Too Many Sopranos” tells the tale of a group of sopranos trying to get into heaven, but there is no more room in the heavenly choir. So, something has to be done, and it looks like some will be sent to Hell. An opera in two acts in English by Indiana University Jacobs School of Music faculty member Edwin Penhorwood, it features a myriad of songs from opera’s various periods.

Auditions for “The Drowsy Chaperone” will be on Aug. 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, visit usm.edu/music and click on “The Drowsy Chaperone” logo.

Auditions for “Too Many Sopranos” 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.