Greetings, Natchez and the Miss-Lou.

It’s hard to imagine, but another season has begun at Natchez Little Theatre, Mississippi’s oldest community theatre, celebrating 82 years of entertainment as a charitable non-profit organization. NLT is proud to launch its 67th season with the musical comedy, “Bugsy Malone,” Thursday through Sunday.

NLT produced “Bugsy Malone” 10 years ago to celebrate the first NLT Summer Youth Workshop. This time around, not only will there be the performers from NLT’s 2014 Summer Youth Workshop, but we’ve incorporated some grown-ups, too.

This pint-sized, pin-striped classic is a tongue-in-cheek musical tribute to the gangster films of the 1920s. Based on the hit 1976 film starring a preteen Scott Baio and Jodi Foster and featuring a catchy, swinging score by the composer of “The Muppet Movie,” Paul Williams, with book by Alan Parker,  “Bugsy Malone” is good, clean, comedic fun.

Two gangs, comprised mostly of children, in a fictitious New York City, comprised mostly of children, are in a 1920’s rivalry of Capone-ian standards. Dandy Dan’s gang has gotten the upper hand since getting their hands on the “splurge” gun (a weapon that shoots silly string).

Now, Fat Sam and his bumbling buffoons (the grown ups) are in real trouble. Bugsy Malone, a one-time boxer, is thrust not-so-willingly into the gangster limelight, when he becomes the last chance Fat Sam’s gang has of surviving.  All Bugsy really wants to do is spend time with his new love Blousey Brown.

Starring in “Bugsy Malone” are Jason Martin in his stage debut as Bugsy; Abbie Dill as Blousey Brown; Dwight Williams, who was in NLT’s original production, as Fat Sam; Michael Ware as Dandy Dan; and in her NLT debut, Jasmine Winding as Tallulah.

Filling out this talented cast are Jasmine Jackson as Fizzy; Gillian Thompson as Lena Marrelli; Anabella Laird as Louella; Patricia Ware, Juliana Martin, Camille Taylor, Bailey Thompson, Parker Maxwell and Abby Rose Mire as Tallulah’s girls; Bo Allen, Katie Borum, Stacey Carden, Allen Laird and Terrence Robinson as Dandy Dan’s Gang; Cody Bonds, Adair Carey, Piper Mophett, Matthew Starr, Tomihana Starr and Maggie Waddill as Fat Sam’s Gang; with Alexes Denson, Penny Starr, Curtlein Griffin, Carolyne Heatherly, Addison Laird, Marcos Medrano and Don Vesterse.

I am thrilled to direct the show again after 10 years with assistance from Shemeka Ware as choreographer and Terrence Robinson as musical director.  The sets are by Don Vesterse. Alethea Shelton cast the show and was set to direct, but has had to move away to pursue her education.

All this excitement runs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday with a 2 p.m. final matinee Sunday. All tickets are $20 and should be reserved by calling NLT at 601-442-2233 or guarantee your tickets by purchasing online at natcheztheatre.org. NLT is located at 319 Linton Ave. at Maple Street.

There will be a preview/benefit performance at 7 p.m. Wednesday to raise money for NLT’s Summer Youth Workshop Scholarship Fund, which enables children in need to attend NLT’s workshop. Tickets for this performance are $15 and tickets can be reserved by calling or emailing the theatre at natchez@bellsouth.net.

I hope to see you at “Bugsy Malone.”

 

Layne Taylor is the director of “Bugsy Malone” and artistic and executive director of the Natchez Little Theatre.