Top of the Morning, parents and kids of Natchez and the Miss-Lou.

Natchez Little Theatre is opening its 61st season with “Once on this Island,” a fantasy island musical. It’s time to take center stage. Natchez Little Theatre’s Summer Youth Workshop is back. This Top of the Morning is calling to all children, pre-teens, teenagers, and their parents.

The Summer Youth Workshop started four years ago with “Bugsy Malone,” which opened the 58th season. The workshop’s other productions were “The Hobbit,” that opened the 59th season; “Into the Woods” and “Grease,” that opened the Diamond Jubilee 60th season.

The workshop teaches you the basics of acting, auditioning, choreography, dance, costuming, lights and sound, make-up, movement and stagecraft. There are many more substantial things you get from the workshop, like friends from different schools, self-confidence, and, hopefully, a hobby that you won’t want to let go of.

Many of the youth that are heavily involved in the Natchez Little Theatre got their start in the Summer Youth Workshop: Landon Henry, Nicole Ballard, Dwight Williams, Rudy Timm, Chanda Douglas, Janey Dixey, Chase Caldwell and I all started in “Bugsy Malone.”

If you are a youth who is in the second grade through 12th grade, come to Natchez Little Theatre at noon Monday and Tuesday, June 9 and 10, for audition, orientation and registration. Your parents need to accompany you to the registration if you are 15 years of age and younger. Come prepared to sing — don’t worry, you can sing “Happy Birthday” if you like — and read from the script. You don’t need any experience and it is a whole lot of fun as everyone is helpful and friendly.

The workshop will be June 17 to July 31, Tuesday through Thursday, from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be a mid-term break from June 27 to July 7. The workshop will end with opening of “Once on this Island” on July 31 to August 3, 2008.

Perhaps butterflies may creep into your stomach while reading this article. I have a cure for that — The Natchez Little Theatre, June 9 and 10. Come and audition! You will have a chance to work with professional teachers who have worked all over the country in theatre, music and dance. It will be a summer you won’t ever forget.

So, children, pre-teens, teenagers … and their parents, try something new this summer. Make your stage debut and come travel to the islands of the Caribbean with us at Natchez Little Theatre!

Hope to see you there!

Marylee Williams is a student at Trinity Episcopal Day School and a member of Natchez Little Theatre.