Happy Holidays, Natchez and the Miss-Lou!

Christmas is fast approaching and the Natchez Little Theatre is once again ready to add to your holiday festivities with its original musical production of “A Natchez Christmas Carol,” adapted from the Charles Dickens’ classic by NLT Executive and Artistic Director Layne Taylor.

The story is set in Natchez in 1869 with period Christmas carols and costumes to make an enjoyable family outing for the holidays!

“A Natchez Christmas Carol” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Dec. 5 and 12 and Saturdays, Dec. 6 and 13.

There are two Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Dec. 7 and Dec. 14 at the Natchez Little Theatre at 319 Linton Ave. at Maple Street in Natchez.

The two student matinees on Thursday, Dec. 4 are sold out, but $10 tickets for the 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3 benefit performance for NLT’s Dawn Taylor Memorial College Scholarship fund are still available!

This classic Christmas tale is about Jacob Marley, who died seven years prior and left his home and his half of the cotton brokerage firm to his partner, Ebenezer Scrooge. Marley was a stingy old man, and Scrooge happily carries on the tradition. Scrooge doesn’t believe in charity, and he is certain that those who do are just lazy bums looking for a handout. Scrooge’s entire life is his business and he shuts out his nephew who is the only relative he has. He makes his employee Bob Cratchit’s life miserable. But Scrooge, played by Don Vesterse, is visited by the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley, played by Dwight Williams, who warns him that if he continues to live his life in such an unchristian way, he will spend all eternity trying to make up for it. Three other ghosts, played by William Ladner, Niclas Carroll and Erica Harper, show Scrooge the error of his ways. Because of what he sees and learns, Scrooge opens his heart to the people around him, especially toward the Cratchits and their crippled son, Tiny Tim, played by Reanetta Robertson, and learns charity and love.

Throughout the show, popular Christmas songs such as “In the Bleak Midwinter,” “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Silent Night,” “Christmas Is Coming,” “Jingle Bells,” “Joy to the World,” “Deck the Halls,” “Away In a Manger,” “Hark the Herald” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” will add additional holiday flavor to what has become a Natchez holiday tradition!

Bob Cratchit, played by Edwin Smith, sings “What Child is This?” The spiritual, “Sweet Little Jesus Boy,” is performed by Martha Cratchit played by Althea Stewart.

I am making my directing debut with a very talented cast of newcomers, veterans and musical director and accompanist, Burnley Cook. Alisha Graham is my assistant director and stage manager and Don Vesterse designed and constructed the beautiful sets.

Janice Gibson as Mrs. Cratchit, Emmanuel Morris as Peter Cratchit and Debra Whitley as Mary Cratchit, sing “Go Tell it on the Mountain.”

Scrooge’s nephew is played by Cain Madden with Danielle Thornton as his wife, Eliza, and Marylee Williams, as her sister, Olivia. The Fezziwigs are portrayed by Ryan Wingfield as Mr. Fezziwig, LaNe’ Zucarro as Mrs. Fezziwig and Randa Morace as Belle Fezziwig, who sings ‘The Holly and the Ivy,’ with Kate Junkin, Carley Allen, and Brittany McCalip as the other Fezziwig daughters.

Jeremy Cable plays the young Jacob Marley; Chase Patrick portrays the young Ebenezer and Katie Borum is his little sister, Fan. The citizens of 1869 Natchez are wonderfully portrayed by Amanda Wingfield, Kristin Hogans, Elizabeth Cowan, Anne White, Kira Toles, Caroline Cotton, Jaylin Gibson, Arriena Johnson, Darrick Little and Mieshae Moore.

“A Natchez Christmas Carol” is made possible by the generous support of executive producers and sponsors.

The show runs 90 minutes and there is no intermission. Reservations are highly recommended. Adult admission is $15; senior citizens (60 and older) and youth (18 and under) are $12.

The box office opens one hour prior to performance and you reserve your tickets by calling the NLT at 601-442-2233 or toll free at 1-877-440-2233.

Visit NLT’s Web site for further details; to purchase tickets online and information about upcoming auditions for “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Southern Exposure’” at www.natcheztheatre.com.

May your holidays be merry and blessed and I hope you will bring your family and friends to Natchez Little Theatre in December to enjoy “A Natchez Christmas Carol!”

Merry Christmas!

Landon Henry is the director of “A Natchez Christmas Carol.”