NATCHEZ &8212; George Deal is headed to Hollywood, but he&8217;s decided to grace the Natchez Little Theatre stage with his presence on the way.

&8220;I&8217;m going to be a movie star so I can get money, millions and millions,&8221; the 7-year-old said.

This month he&8217;s busy being Tiny Tim in &8220;A Natchez Christmas Carol,&8221; a production that also includes Deal&8217;s 11-year-old sister Precious and mom Arlana Hargrave.

Acting became a family affair about three years ago when Hargrave answered an ad for black actresses at NLT. Precious came along for the audition and ended up in the play.

Since day one George has begged to participate, Hargrave said, but wasn&8217;t old enough. He got his first real taste last summer and has been a part of four productions since then.

This time the challenge was learning to walk with a crutch, he said. But the props are his favorite part of the stage world, and mom likes the things George learns from being part of the theater.

&8220;He knows what a scene is, knows what a prop is,&8221; she said. &8220;It gives them a chance to be exposed to how theater works.&8221;

And it teaches young children discipline, she said.

&8220;It&8217;s hard, hard, hard,&8221; Hargrave said. &8220;You have to be able to follow directions. Everybody tries to help and keep George at least in the area.&8221;

With lead roles herself, Hargrave doesn&8217;t have time once the show starts to make sure George and Precious are where they are supposed to be, when they are supposed to be there, with the right props, she said.

When weekend rehearsals turn into weeknight rehearsals just before the show, things get even more complicated, she said.

&8220;Rehearsal takes a lot of time,&8221; Hargrave said. &8220;I tell them to have their homework started by the time I get off work. Then we come to rehearsal, and then they finish homework after. Bed time is pushed back.&8221;

Precious won&8217;t admit that the productions are fun, saying she has to come along because of the other two family members, but she keeps doing them.

And that&8217;s the plan for the whole family, at least for now, Hargrave said.

&8220;As long as it&8217;s fun,&8221; she said.

Hargrave and her husband Johnathan serve on the NLT board, and Johnathan makes it possible for mom and kids to be in the shows, she said.

George is a second-grader at Frazier Primary, and Precious is a sixth-grader at Morgantown Elementary.

Precious is Mary Cratchit in &8220;A Natchez Christmas Carol;&8221; Hargrave is Mrs. Cratchit.

&8220;A Natchez Christmas Carol&8221; will play at the theater from now until Christmas with shows on Dec. 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 23 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. and on Dec. 11 and 18 at 2 p.m.