Greetings, Natchez and the Miss-Lou!

Natchez Little Theatre, Mississippi’s oldest community theatre and a charitable non-profit volunteer organization, celebrating 84 years of entertainment, is proud to present as a part of the Natchez Tricentennial the musical adventure of Huckleberry Finn, “Big River,” adapted from Mark Twain. This tale of adventure and self-discovery begins on a raft on the Mississippi River in the 1840s, where Huck, played by Tim Leak of Woodville, escaping from his drunken father, played by Wade Heatherly, meets up with Jim, a runaway slave played by Benta’ Thomas.

The story of their journey downstream is an American classic that captures the rhythms, sounds and spirit of life on the big river. Mark Twain’s timeless classic sweeps us down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend, Jim, a slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Propelled by an award winning score from Roger Miller, the king of country music, this jaunty journey provides a brilliantly theatrical celebration of pure Americana. Based on Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” one of the greatest creations in American fiction, “Big River” transforms Mark Twain’s classic to the stage, blending music, voice and dance in an unforgettable journey.

Huck and Jim’s adventures along the way are hilarious, suspenseful and heartwarming, bringing to life your favorite characters from the novel — the Widow Douglas, played by Myla Waddill, and her stern sister, Miss Watson played by Morgan Mizell; the uproarious King, played by Chris Cavette, and Duke, played by Layne Taylor, who may or may not be as harmless as they seem; Huck’s partner in crime, Tom Sawyer, played by Chandler Johnson, and their rowdy gang of pals played by Tony Fields IV, Ma’J Hayes, Bradly Richardson and Jonathan Rosso; Huck’s drunken father, the sinister Pap Finn; the lovely Mary Jane Wilkes, played by Ashleigh Johnson, and her trusting family played by Addison Laird and Sarah Freeman.

The remainder of the cast includes Bo Allen, Sara Davis, Jasmine Jackson, Terrence Robinson, Jaylon Coleman, Anabella Laird, Maggie Waddill, Kirahn Mills, Courtney Fleming, Joy Roland, Justin Roland and myself. I am the director for the production; Terrence Robinson, musical director; Courtney Fleming, assistant director; lighting and sound technician, Shemeka Ware, and I designed and constructed the sets.

“Big River” runs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings Jan. 28-30, and closes with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, Jan. 31. All tickets are $20, if you are not a member or sponsor of NLT and should be reserved by calling Natchez Little Theatre at 319 Linton Ave. at Maple Street in Natchez at 601-442-2233; toll free at 1-877-440-2233 or you may purchase tickets in advance securely on-line at natcheztheatre.com. There will be two student matinees on Monday, February 1, at 9 a.m. and 12 noon, for local area students.

Don’t miss this lively slice of Americana and I hope to see you at Natchez Little Theatre for “Big River!”

 

Don Vesterse is the director of “Big River.”