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Devin Klugh talks to the cast of Mary Poppins Tuesday after rehearsal at the Natchez Little Theatre. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Devin Klugh reads over the script while talking to members of the cast of Mary Poppins Tuesday after rehearsal at the Natchez Little Theatre. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Devin Klugh enccourages cast members of Mary Poppins to project Tuesday during rehearsal at the Natchez Little Theatre. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Cast members of Mary Poppins listen to director Devin Klugh Tuesday after rehearsal at the Natchez Little Theatre. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Devin Klugh instructs the cast of Mary Poppins Tuesday during rehearsal at the Natchez Little Theatre. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Devin Klugh instructs the cast of Mary Poppins while helping with the set Tuesday during rehearsal at the Natchez Little Theatre. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

Devin Klugh talks with the cast of Mary Poppins Tuesday during rehearsal at the Natchez Little Theatre. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — Just like a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down, learning your lines makes an actor’s part so much better.

Devin Klugh, however, said she wants more from actors in her plays than just to learn their lines. She wants them to learn to love the theater as much as she does.

The theater, Klugh said, has been more than just a creative outlet for her. It also has been a place to grow as a person and a place Klugh said she feels most at home.

Klugh is directing Natchez Little Theatre’s upcoming production of “Mary Poppins,” which will star a junior cast of children 7 to 18 years old.

“I did theater growing up, and it gave me so much confidence,” Klugh said, “and the ability to speak to different people and be able to relate to people in any situation.”

Klugh, who moved to Natchez in August from Georgia, said she has been involved with theatre since she was 7 years old. She later went to New York University and earned a master’s degree in theatre.

Klugh said her debut at Natchez Little Theatre was as an actor in “The Crucible,” but now she is happy to have moved on to the director’s chair.

“I like directing because you kind of get to have the vision for the show,” Klugh said, “and get to help the actors grow and find their characters.”

Klugh said the process is especially enjoyable with children and watching them find personalities for their characters

Since 2014, Klugh said she has worked with children as a theatre director and has taught theatre to children in schools, community organizations and juvenile detention centers.

“It’s really important to me to create an atmosphere where they feel safe to explore and try new things,” Klugh said, “and really we want to put on a great show, but it’s more about the process to learn how to communicate and tell the story.”

Klugh said that if you can ask any of the children in the play, they will tell you she is strict about them learning their lines and taking their roles seriously.

Ultimately, however, Klugh said she just wants to create an environment where students are safe to experiment with their creativity.

“It’s really important for me to let them try the creative process even if it means trying and failing,” Klugh said, “and I want them to feel like they’re safe to fail without them feeling like it’s going to be dangerous and scary.”

“Mary Poppins” opens 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7. Tickets are $20 each. Performances will run through the weekend with a 2 p.m. matinee Feb. 10.

For reservations go to www. Natcheztheatre.org or call 601-442-2233.

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