Natchez Little Theatre, Mississippi’s oldest community theatre celebrating 79 years of entertainment is proud to present its third production of the 64th Season, Shakespeare’s “Othello,” Wednesday through Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoon, at Natchez Little Theatre at 319 Linton Ave. at Maple Street in Historic Natchez.

Wednesday’s benefit performance is for Natchez Christmas in Lights and is at 7 p.m.

All tickets for the benefit are $10 with all proceeds going to Natchez Christmas in Lights. Thursday through Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday’s matinee is at 2 p.m.

All non-members’ tickets are $15 and should be reserved by calling NLT at 601-442-2233; toll free at 1-877-440-2233; or purchase tickets online at www.natcheztheatre.org.

NLT presented sold-out student matinees for the Jefferson County Public School System Tuesday.

“Othello, the Moor of Venice” is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written circa 1603.

It was first performed on Hallamas (All Saints Day), 1604, being the first of November at the Banketinghouse in White Hall.

Based on the Italian short story “Un Capitano Moro” (“A Moorish Captain”) by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565, the work revolves around four central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army; his wife Desdemona; his lieutenant, Cassio; and his trusted ensign Iago.

Because of its varied and current themes of racism, love, jealousy and betrayal, Othello is still often performed in professional and community theatres alike and has been the basis for numerous operatic, film and literary adaptations.

Natchez Little Theatre’s production was cast by the production’s adapter/director, the late Tommy Jackson, whose untimely and unexpected death came one month into rehearsals.

I replaced Tommy with able assistance by assistant director and fight choreographer, Bo Allen.

The cast includes veterans and newcomers alike.

Making their NLT stage debuts are Bryan Carroll as Othello and Steen Williams as Cassio.

NLT veteran actors, Layne Taylor plays the antagonist, Iago, and Miranda Long is Desdemona. Other NLT acting debuts are Johnny Lavance Allen as Montano; Michael Ware as a Senator and Soldier; and Lee Dellinger as a Soldier and the Clown.

Veteran actors include, Bo Allen as Brabantio; Rho Baker as Emilia; Arden McMillin as Bianca; Dwight Williams as the Duke of Venice and Gratiano and Chris Jackson as Lodovico.

Don Vesterse designed and constructed the sets and Dr. Bob Sizemore composed and plays original music for the production.

Lynn Mann is the lighting tech and Rose Temple is the sound tech.

Natchez Little Theatre is partially funded by the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Natchez Little Theatre, the cast and crew of “Othello” dedicate this production in loving memory to Tommy Jackson.

“Good night, sweet prince, parting is such sweet sorrow.”

We hope to see you at Othello!

Don Vesterse is the director of “Othello” and the Natchez Little Theatre general manager and technical director.