Festival South announces eighth season lineup and the beat goes on.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The following is a press release from Festival South.

FestivalSouth®, will return to Hattiesburg event venues, June 1-17, with an unprecedented line-up of events, performances, and presentations. Now in its eighth season, The Hattiesburg Concert Association presents Mississippi’s only multi-week, multi-genre festival, offering both free and ticketed events that showcase the area’s rich creative economy.

On opening weekend, Broadway and television heart-throb Kyle Dean Massey sings in an exclusive engagement at The Bottling Company. Star of hits including Wicked, Pippin, and the ABC and CMT series “Nashville,” Kyle Dean is sensational

singer, actor and dancer that will sweep you away on a musical journey.

Then, families will be able to enjoy the Mississippi premiere of Broadway’s James and the Giant Peach. This full-scale musical from the Golden Globe winners for best song in the acclaimed motion picture “La La Land,” features The Hub City Players on stage at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center in the classic tale sure to delight audiences everywhere. Don’t let your young actor miss out on the chance to audition for the lead role in this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Our most tried and true series heats up the summer with the FestivalClassical Headliners and Afternoons, featuring several returning groups, including the chamber players who brought Baroque the Future in Bach to the Burg, Latin Grammy Award winners Cuarteto Latinoamericano, the FestivalSouth Orchestral Academy, and our own Meistersingers Civic Chorus, fresh from their performance at Lincoln Center.

Cinema takes center stage at the FestivalSouth® Film Expo. Enjoy great independent films from around the globe in competition for this year’s top prize. Don’t miss the awards event with an exclusive late-night

screening of Labyrinth by Mississippi’s own Jim Henson and featuring the late great David Bowie.

FestivalSouth® 2017 also features The Life and Legacy of Jim Henson and our Mississippi Doodle Art events, specially created to commemorate, inspire, and celebrate 200 years of Mississippi's statehood. With a weekend full of homegrown talent, Live at Five will host a special FestivalSouth® edition at Town Square Park and the Craft Beer Festival celebrates it’s fifth anniversary in downtown Hattiesburg with an even bigger line-up celebrating the bicentennial by honoring Mississippi’s Craft Beer industry.

The FestivalOrchestra takes to the Mannoni Performing Arts Center stage presenting the original production of We Are Mississippi featuring special guest celebrities, including Vasti Jackson, singers, dancers and Elvis! Don’t miss this epic celebration of our vibrant music.

The FestivalFinale weekend welcomes Broadway and television personality Tom Wopat to present an intimate concert of music from the great American songbook. Best known for his starring role in the ’80s hit television series “The Dukes of Hazzard,” he is a multi-faceted entertainer who has enjoyed a career on stage and screen as well.

Finally, celebrating the 100 th birthday of the first lady of song, Ella Fitzgerald, FestivalSouth is thrilled to welcome Grammy Award-winner Patti Austin to the Saenger stage with the FestivalOrchestra on Saturday, June 17th. This dynamic Festival Finale evening will leave you breathless as she covers all of the great American classics that defined the legend.

Returning favorites include Artie Events for Families, the Festival5K, Best of the Pine Belt Awards Show, FestivalSpeaks, Coffee Concerts, Craft Beer Festival, and events for the whole family including music, art, theatre, dance, food, and more!

Tickets for events go on sale in April, 2017. Patrons can get in on the action early by becoming a member of the Hattiesburg Concert Association. Tax-deductible donations to become members or sponsors ensure they are part of the parties and get early announcements and access to happenings, concert events and more. At

certain levels, members are eligible for a Circle Pass that allows access to most events and early entry to many.

All information may be found at www.festivalsouth.org.