Greetings Natchez and the Miss-Lou!  Fall is upon us and so is the Natchez Fall Pilgrimage.

Natchez Little Theatre’s 69th season is proud to present its original musical production of “Mississippi Medicine Show” after a four-year hiatus. The Mississippi Bicentennial “Mississippi Medicine Show” takes you back to the Natchez of the 19th century.  A recreation of old steamboat times when traveling shows pedaled their miracle cures up and down the mighty Mississippi River with the top talent of the day.  Dr. Morphineus Codeine Shingles, portrayed by Terrence Robinson touts his “Magic Wondrous Healing Oil, the Elixir of Life!” and brings with him his hilarious sidekick, Miss Scarlette, played by Morgan Mizell and a group of performers singing the popular music of the 1800’s and about Mississippi and the river, a true celebration of American Music that was birthed right here in Mississippi.  Classics by Stephen Foster, Roger Miller, Delta Blues, gospel, blue grass and songs of the South performed in period costumes as well as the wit and wisdom of Mark Twain, portrayed by Rusty Jenkins.  This year Natchez native daughter, Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, the Black Swan, portrayed by Alisha Solano is on the Showboat!

“Mississippi Medicine Show,” an original Natchez Little Theatre production, has been entertaining audiences from around the world since 1976. Conceived by the NLT board of directors in 1975, as an entertainment for visitors to Natchez during the first Fall Pilgrimage, “Mississippi Medicine Show” derives its name from the traveling shows, which traversed the country in olden times. From the first show presented at Natchez Little Theatre, the unique variety show has delighted tens of thousands of Natchez visitors, not to mention its road performances in New Orleans, San Antonio, Philadelphia, throughout Alabama and aboard the steamboat, Delta Queen.  The show so delighted audiences that is was called back for seventeen performances during the New Orleans World’s Fair of 1984.

This year finds the Showboat comes to Natchez Little Theatre with a host of talent on board!  Featured soloists, musicians and a 19th century magic clown act are Jon Borum, Brittany Mitchell, Sara Davis, Judy Wiggins, Julie Emerick, Mary Jane Richards, Bo Allen, Jonathan Rosso and Julia Richardson.  I staged the production and rewrote the script along with Rusty Jenkins and Jennifer Rosso has created a set reminiscent of Under-the-Hill along the river in the 1800s.

“Mississippi Medicine Show” celebrates its 41st  year at NLT this Pilgrimage.  “Mississippi Medicine Show” is executive produced by the Adams County Board of Supervisors; Dr. Ed & Mary Jane Gaudet, Silas Simmons, LLC, and Smith Printing & Office Supply and produced by Dr. Charles & Chris Borum/Family Heath Clinic, Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Dr. Vikram Dulam/Miss-Lou Health, Dr. Lee England, Natchez Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Jack Rodriguez, 104.7 The Gator and 107.1 Bridge Radio.

“Mississippi Medicine Show” runs at 7: 30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday during the Natchez Fall Pilgrimage, Sept. 22 through Oct. 8, 2017; at 7: 30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 2, and will close on Sunday, Oct. 8, with a 2 p.m. matinee. All tickets are $15 and reservations should be made by calling Natchez Little Theatre, located at 319 Linton Ave., at 601-442-2233; toll free at 1-877-440-2233 or by purchasing your tickets securely on-line at natcheztheatre.org.

I look forward to seeing you at the Mississippi Bicentennial Production of “Mississippi Medicine Show!”
Layne Taylor is the Natchez Little Theatre artistic and executive director.