FestivalSouth® opened its 12th season in person and online with a FestivalFavorite, the Hub City Players, in a special show created just for our audiences - Broadway in the ‘Burg, Saturday, June 5, 7:30 p.m. at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center on the Southern Miss Campus. Featuring a special reunion of the Hub City Players casts of Rock of Ages, James and the Giant Peach, Steel Magnolias, Sister Act, and Kinky Boots, as well as Hub City Players LOL Cabaret regulars, the night included highlights from each of their past shows, a live band, and a few surprises.

“After such a long hiatus from the stage, this show is a cathartic family reunion that we as performers and Hattiesburg needs,” said Tammy Mansfield. “While the show contains ovation-worthy hit after hit, I think the audience is going to be particularly moved by the opening number Mike Lopinto has planned.”

The Hub City Players were formed in 2012 for a one-night-only original FestivalSouth cabaret production entitled, LOL: A Showtune Cabaret. The event was a smashing success and led to several follow-up concerts including LOL 1.5, WLOL: Festival Variety Show, LOL: Never a Bridesmaid, and LOL: Netflix and Chill.  Soon the full-scale productions and Best of the Pine Belt winners became mainstays of the Hattiesburg’s professional theatre scene. In 2016, they supported the local non-profit Extra Table by writing and performing Rockin’ Christmas at the historic downtown Saenger Theater.  After hosting their own fundraisers, Brewhaha and Brewhoho, the troupe embarked on annual, fully-staged musical theatre productions.  In 2014, the Hub City Players was the winner of the esteemed national award The American Prize for Musical Theater Performance for their production of James and the Giant Peach. The troupe has a cult-like following that has come to expect exceptional performances and a wonderful evening.