The Dominic Cunetto Award for Best Production

Secondary Theatre

Dr. Dominic J. Cunetto is originally from St. Louis, Missouri where he received his B.A.from Washington University with a major in theatre. He also attended the University of Florida where he received his M.A. and Ph.D. in theatre. While in Florida he taught at Terry Parker H.S., Cardinal Mooney H.S., and St. Petersburg Junior College. In l963 he accepted a position at Mississippi
State University where he initiated the theatre program.

He developed and taught courses in theatre, directed over 80 plays, and was the Founder of the First Statewide High School Drama Festival in l963. He has been a long time member of M.T.A., and has served as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, President, and S.E.T.C. State Representative. He is presently serving as historian.

He has received awards for his work in theatre from Washington University, University of Florida, and Mississippi State University.

In l988 Cunetto was awarded the Cowboy Maloney Award "for his outstanding contributions to the Mississippi Theatre Association." He retired from MSU in 1991 when the theatre in McComas Hall was completed . In that same year at MTA's Convention Dr. Cunetto was bestowed with the honor of having the winner of the State High School Drama Festival named "The Dominic Cunetto Award for Best Production."

  • 1963 When Shakespeare's Ladies Meet, St. Francis Xavier Academy
  • 1964 Bull In A China Shop, Tupelo High School
  • 1968 Suppressed Desires, Tupelo High School
  • 1970 The Way Of The Cross, Petal High School
  • 1971 Elevator, Tupelo High School
  • 1972 Death Of A Hired Man, Lanier High School
  • 1973 Impromptu, Warren Central High School
  • 1974 When Shakespeare's Gentlemen Get Together, Tupelo High School
  • 1975 The Sandbox, Warren Central High School
  • 1976 Interview, Callaway High School
  • 1977 Alice In Wonderland, Callaway High School
  • 1978 The Serpent, Callaway High School, Winner Of SETC
  • 1979 Postcards, Southaven High School
  • 1980 The Cop And The Anthem, Oxford High School
  • 1981 The Autograph Hound, Long Beach High School
  • 1982 Terminal, Lafayette High School
  • 1983 The Valiant, Washington High School
  • 1984 The Bald Soprano, Mercy Cross High School
  • 1985 Juvie, Gulfport High School
  • 1986 Rise And Shine, Starkville High School
  • 1987 When Shakespeare's Ladies Meet, Washington High School
  • 1988 Aria Da Capo, Washington High School
  • 1990 I Know I Saw Gypsies, Gulfport High School
  • 1991 I Never Saw Another Butterfly, Washington High School, Winner Of SETC
  • 1992 A Thousand Cranes, Starkville High School
  • 1993 Just A High School Play, Corinth High School
  • 1994 The Dining Room, Hattiesburg High School
  • 1995 Romance, Romance, Hattiesburg High School
  • 1996 Growing Up Naked, Biloxi High School
  • 1997 Midsummer Night's Dream, Oak Grove High School
  • 1998 Amelia Earhart, Starkville High School
  • 1999 Jerry Finnegan's Sister, Hattiesburg High School
  • 2000 The Zen Substitute, Ocean Springs High School
  • 2001 Subway Circus, Oak Grove High School
  • 2002 The Laramie Project, Hattiesburg High School
  • 2003 Tartuffe [A one-act play by Moliere], Ocean Springs High School
  • 2004 The Serpent by Jean-Claude van Itallie. Ocean Springs High School. Directed by Sandra Camphor.
  • 2005 Crow and Weasel by Jim Leonard, Jr. Oak Grove High School. Directed by Suzanne Allmon.
  • 2006 The Katrina Project: Hell and High Water, Hattiesburg High School. Directed by Michael Marks and Mackenzie Westmoreland