Greetings, Natchez and the Miss-Lou!

Natchez Little Theatre’s eight annual Standing Ovation Awards, celebrating the volunteers and eight productions of the 63rd Season, will be at 6 p.m. Saturday evening at the Natchez Little Theatre at 319 Linton Ave. at Maple Street in historic Natchez. The gala is the final fundraiser for Natchez Little Theatre this 63rd season. Natchez Little Theatre, Mississippi’s oldest community theatre, is a non-profit organization and has been entertaining the area since 1932.

Each year, delicious hors d’oeuvres donated by local chefs, restaurants and caterers, wine, champagne, a silent auction, live entertainment celebrating the hits of the 63rd season’s outstanding musicals and a sneak preview of the upcoming 64th season’s musicals as well as the awards ceremonies, make a memorable evening of friends, fun, food and music. Rusty Jenkins will once again serve as the master of ceremonies for the gala evening with the ever lovely Lynn Mann, NLT vice president of production, as his able assistant.

Entertainment will feature Gabrielle Richardson from “Beauty and the Beast,” John Ashton Hicks from “The Secret Garden,” Taylor Spring, Rudy Timm and Benta Thomas from “Big River,” Alethea Shelton from “The Mississippi Medicine Show” and the cast of “Hairspray.”

The winners of 24 awards are determined by eligible members and sponsors of Natchez Little Theatre who have attended all of the season’s eight productions. The final nominees are selected from all the participants of NLT’s 63rd season productions: “Beauty and the Beast,” “Big River,” “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” “A Natchez Christmas Carol,” “Moon Over Buffalo,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, “Southern Exposure” and “The Secret Garden.” Then they are narrowed down by the NLT awards committee and board of directors.

Natchez Little Theatre would like to thank the many businesses and organizations who have supported NLT financially during the past season. Their support makes possible the many youth programs and performances offered for more than 10,000 students from Mississippi and Louisiana throughout the year as well as the benefit fundraising performances for other local non-profit organizations.

We hope you will come enjoy the food, fellowship and entertainment at Natchez Little Theatre’s eighth annual Standing Ovation Awards Gala Saturday, and celebrate Natchez’s leading tourist attraction, as well as the more than 150 volunteers who put in more than 100 hours of community service per show to entertain you and the guests who visit our fair city. All tickets are $15, and remember, this is a fundraiser, so bring your checkbook, Visa or MasterCard and come prepared to bid on some exciting and creative silent auction items and renew or join Natchez Little Theatre as it celebrates its 79th year of entertainment. Season memberships will not be available after this event.

Reservations for the gala may be made by calling 601-442-2233, toll free at 1-877-440-2233, or purchase them and memberships online at www.natcheztheatre.org.

I hope to see you at NLT.

Darryl Grennell is the president of the Natchez Little Theatre board of directors.