NATCHEZ — When Jarielle Gibson recently stepped on stage at Natchez Little Theatre for the first time, she made history.

The Natchez High School junior is the first black actor to play the part of energetic tour guide Mary Belle Tucker, a role traditionally played by white actors.

“Southern Exposure” is in its 53rd year at NLT and is the second production for director Bo Allen, who offered Gibson the role of Mary Belle after the actor originally cast became ill.

“I told her, ‘Look … we have a chance to make history at NLT,’” Allen said. “She just lit up.”

Mary Belle is Gibson’s debut role, and the actor said she is honored to be a part of making history at NLT.

“I felt like it was the opportunity of a lifetime,” she said.

Gibson said she never even thought twice about taking the role.

“I wasn’t nervous at all,” she said. “It adds a twist to ‘Southern Exposure’ that I think it needed.”

Allen took over the direction of “Southern Exposure” with the intention of revamping the traditional Pilgrimage play. Allen made changes to the play during his first year as director in 2013.

“This play has been around for a very long time … and something needed to happen to add a little spice to it,” Allen said. “I’m glad I was able, with the board of directors’ approval, to make changes, including this drastic one, if you would even call it a drastic change.”

The change has ruffled some feathers, Allen said, with a few playgoers questioning the plausibility of a black Pilgrimage tour guide in 1950s Natchez, especially one who addresses the white ladies in the play by their first names as Mary Belle does.

But the majority of the feedback about Gibson’s performance has been positive, Allen said.

“The people who speak to me after the show will say, “Who’s the young lady playing Mary Belle Tucker?’” Allen said. “They will say, ‘She is so talented,’ or ‘She is so beautiful.’”

“Southern Exposure” tells the story of Penelope Mayweather, a formerly beautiful Natchez belle trying to save her home, Mayweather Hall, from financial ruin in 1950s Natchez. She is appalled by the nosy tourists, who are especially handsy with her family heirlooms, led through her home by tour guide Mary Belle Tucker at fifty cents a head.

The money is not enough to keep Mayweather Hall out of the clutches of the bank, so when young author John Salguod comes to town, she is persuaded to take him in as a boarder.

Penelope is forced to hide the writer’s identity because he was the author who wrote a best-selling book that was banned in Natchez because locals considered it libelous. The situation is further complicated when her young cousin Carol comes to spend the night.

“Southern Exposure” will continue showing at 7:30 p.m. today, Saturday, Sunday and end Tuesday.

Tickets are $15 and should be reserved by calling NLT, located at 319 Linton Ave., at 601-442-2233 or online at natchezlittletheatre.org