By Mary Kathryn Carpenter

Jason and Juliana Martin were not sure they wanted to be in a Natchez Little Theatre play when they attended the first practice earlier this summer.

Now, the siblings are considered rising stars among NLT members.

Jason, an 11-year-old student at Delta Charter School, will play the starring role in the play “Bugsy Malone” as Bugsy Malone and Juliana will play Tilly the showgirl.

NLT Executive Director Layne Taylor said he is proud of the children and their accomplishments as budding actors.

“They have both been delightful to work with,” Taylor said. “(Jason) is Bugsy Malone. He is very believable in the part, and I am very proud of him. Juliana has ‘it.’ ‘It’ is a gift that can’t be taught. She was born with ‘it.’”

Jason enjoys acting, but attends rehearsals to spend time with the cast. He believes the hardest part of being in the play is remembering his lines, but he counts on his sister to help him.

“(Being the lead) is nerve wracking because everyone is depending on me, and I had to learn all of my lines like that,” Jason said, snapping his fingers. “When I need help with the lines, (Juliana) keeps track of where we are and will help me.”

Juliana, 9, shows no nerves when preparing to go on stage.

“I’m a chorus girl, so I’m in front most of the time,” Juliana said as she was being called to the stage. “I dance, sing, come on stage a lot and wear a pretty outfit.”

The siblings have been preparing for the NLT’s performance of “Bugsy Malone” since the beginning of June and are ready to take the stage for opening night Thursday.

The musical comedy is about two rival gangs in New York City battling for territory.

“It is a pint-sized, pin-striped homage to the gangster movies of the 1930s and 40s,” Taylor said. “It takes place in the roaring 20s in a fictitious New York City. All of the inhabitants are children, but they act like adults.”

This is the second time the Natchez Little Theatre has performed “Bugsy Malone.”

The play was performed 10 years ago during the first summer workshop the theater hosted.

Taylor decided performing the play again, with a twist, would be a good way to celebrate 10-year anniversary of the first workshop.

“The twist is the differences of (the performances),” Taylor said. “This year, we brought in adult actors. I have several six-foot-plus gentlemen playing the gangsters. The violence in the play will be depicted with silly string.”

The show will open at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at NLT and will continue at that time through Saturday. A matinee performance will be at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20 per person.

A benefit performance at 7 p.m. today will fund scholarships for children to attend the workshop next summer. Tickets are $15 per person for tonight’s show only.

To reserve tickets, call 601-442-2233 or visit natchezlittletheatre.org.