Since its founding, the goal of the Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera (HCLO) has been to bring quality entertainment to Hattiesburg residents and provide an outlet for community members to share their various artistic talents with their neighbors. The HCLO was founded by Bob Mesrobian in 1976, with the integral support of the Hattiesburg Mayor and Commissioners and Forrest County Supervisors. Mesrobian served as the first artistic director. The first Board of Directors was led by Jess Hughes (president), Dr. William Poirier (vice president), Martha Tatum (treasurer), and Glenda Brundage (secretary). The first HCLO production was The Barber of Seville, which was staged at the Thames School Auditorium in the spring of 1976.
Also in 1976, the HCLO joined other civic organizations in renovating the Saenger Theatre in downtown Hattiesburg. With money from the city and various fund raising efforts, the HCLO renovated the performance facilities at the Saenger, while other organizations concentrated on restoring the lobby, based on the original architectural plans of the building. The first performance in the newly renovated Saenger was Amahl and the Night Visitors (December 1976).
The HCLO was chartered as a non-profit organization in 1977, and in the years since its inception, it has produced 71 shows (as of 2005). These productions spice up the night- life of downtown Hattiesburg, and participation in the HCLO performances has allowed hundreds of locals to learn about play production and share their talents and enthusiasm for artistic endeavors with other members of the community.
