Greetings, Natchez and the Miss-Lou!

Natchez Little Theatre, Mississippi’s oldest community theatre celebrating 84 years of entertainment, has wrapped up its box office breaking 67th season and wants you to come celebrate all the volunteers and local performing artists that make NLT one of the most active volunteer, charitable, non-profit community theaters in the nation. I am proud to have been a part of this incredible organization for 16 years and its outstanding growth and diversity are something our community should be very proud of and support!

Over 300 volunteers participated in NLT’s 67th season and over 60 performers made their NLT debut! And we want you to come help us celebrate these talented, tireless volunteers. The 12th annual Standing Ovation Awards is NLT’s biggest party and fundraiser and a celebration of all those who participated in NLT’s huge 67th season that spanned from July 2014 through December 2015, as NLT transitioned its season to a calendar to celebrate the Natchez Tricentennial celebration. The gala is at 6 p.m. at the Natchez Little Theatre at 319 Linton Ave. at Maple Street in historic Natchez. Tickets are $20 for those who were not grand sponsors of NLT’s 67th season and may be purchased securely in advance at natcheztheatre.org or by calling the theater’s box office at 601-442-2233.

The evening will start at 6 p.m. in NLT’s Millstein Room where heavy hors d’ouevres, cocktails, wine and champagne will flow. We will have a silent auction with many creative items donated by local artists, businesses and sponsors. There will be a silent auction for children as well. At 7 p.m., the guests will take their seats in the auditorium for the awards ceremony where 26 awards will be presented along with live performances from “Bugsy Malone,” “A Natchez Christmas Carol,” “The Music Man,” “Peter Pan,” “Big River,” “Mississippi Pinocchio” and “The Little Mermaid.” Performers will include Gabrielle Richardson, Terrence Robinson, Addison Laird, Abbie Dill, Jasmine Jackson, Shemeka Ware, Timothy Leak and some of the participants in NLT’s 2015 Winter Youth Workshop.

This event helps NLT raise money for the upcoming season, the Dawn Taylor Memorial Scholarship, the Summer Youth and Winter workshops and to help cover the costs of some very expensive renovations that are necessary to keep NLT’s home standing for future generations. In addition, NLT feeds and cares for numerous neighborhood feral cats that need to be neutered and spayed.

So, please come to the party and celebrate and support Natchez Little Theatre and its family of volunteers! And please consider joining NLT for the 68th season as a member, sponsor or advertiser in our 68th season program that will be given to thousands of attendees this coming season. Forms are available at the theater, online and on NLT’s Facebook page.

Thank you to all who supported the theater this season as sponsors, members and advertisers. We couldn’t do all we do without you! And I hope to see you all at the 12th annual Standing Ovations Awards on Saturday!

 

Layne Taylor is the artistic and executive director for the Natchez Little Theatre.