Natchez Little Theatre’s Sixth Annual Standing Ovation Awards, celebrating the best of the 61st season and the volunteers that made it all happen, will be celebrated at the awards gala at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Natchez Little Theatre at 319 Linton Ave., at Maple Street in Natchez. The gala is a fundraiser for Natchez Little Theatre, a non-profit organization and Mississippi’s oldest community theatre.

The Standing Ovation Awards is an evening of celebration. Delicious hors ‘doeuvres donated by chefs, local eateries and caterers, champagne, wine, live entertainment celebrating the hits of the 61st season and a sneak preview of the upcoming 62nd season, and the awards presentation, make for a memorable evening of fun, friendship, food and music. Rusty Jenkins and Ryan Richardson, of Natchez, will serve as the masters of ceremonies for the black-tie event.

Entertainment will feature Kristin Hogans, Danielle Thornton, Elizabeth Cowan, Marylee Williams, Randa Morace, Casey Gilbert, Darrick Little, Amanda Wingfield and Darlene McCune. Twenty-four awards will be presented starting at 7 p.m. in the Natchez Little Theatre Auditorium.

Natchez Little Theatre is a volunteer community theatre. Its success comes from the countless hours and tireless efforts of many to create this outstanding community theatre and one of Natchez’s greatest assets. The winners of all these awards are determined by the membership of Natchez Little Theatre who attended all of the season’s productions.

The nominees were selected from all the participants of NLT’s productions throughout the season and narrowed down to the nominees listed below by the NLT awards committee and board of directors.

And the nominees are…

Best Play

*”Rough Crossing”

* “Southern Exposure”

*”To Kill a Mockingbird”

*”Twelfth Night”

Best Director of a Play

Tommy Jackson for “Twelfth Night”

Lynn Mann for “Rough Crossing”

Layne Taylor for “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Don Vesterse for “Southern Exposure”

Best Actor in a Play

Casey Gilbert in “Twelfth Night”

Owen Shugard in “Twelfth Night”

Jay Underkofler in “Rough Crossing”

Jay Underkofler in “Southern Exposure”

Best Actress in a Play

Gwen Ball in “Rough Crossing”

Teresa Busby in “Twelfth Night”

Lynn Mann in “Southern Exposure”

Sydney Eidt in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Deanne Tanksley in “Twelfth Night”

Best Supoorting Actor in a Play

*Rusty Jenkins in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

* Cain Madden in “Tweflth Night”

* Layne Taylor in “Twelfth Night”

*Rudy Timm in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

* John Elliot Ward in “To Kill a Mockingbird

Best Supporting Actress in a Play

Bennie Boone in “Southern Exposure”

Kimberle Cobb in “Southern Exposure”

Chanda Alisha Graham in “Southern Exposure”

Patricia Knight in “Rough Crossing”

Danielle Thornton in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Best Cameo by an Actor in a Play

John Harter in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Royal Hill, Jr. in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

G. Mark LaFrancis in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Don Vesterse in “Southern Exposure”

Best Cameo by and Actress in a Play

*Elaine Harter in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

*Rachel Lindsey in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

*Jordan Richard in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

*Danielle Thornton in “Southern Exposure”

Best Musical

A Natchez Christmas Carol

Big River

Once on This Island

Sweeney Todd

Best Director of a Musical

*Tommy Jackson for “Sweeney Todd”

*Landon Henry for “A Natchez Christmas Carol”

*Lynn Mann for “Big River”

*Layne Taylor for “Once on This Island”

Best Actor in a Musical

Landon Henry in “Big River”

Bucky Merritt in “Sweeney Todd”

Don Vesterse in “A Natchez Christmas Carol”

Best Actress in a Musical

*Kristin Hogans in “Once on This Island”

*Darlene McCune in “Sweeney Todd”

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical

Casey Gilbert in “Sweeney Todd”

Tommy Jackson in “Big River”

Layne Taylor in “Big River”

Layne Taylor in “Sweeney Todd”

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical

*Janey Dixey in “Once on This Island”

*Chanda Alisha Graham in “Once on This Island”

*Randa Morace in “Once on This Island”

*Amanda Wingfield in “Sweeney Todd”

Best Cameo Actor in a Musical

Casey Gilbert in “Big River”

William Ladner in “A Natchez Christmas Carol”

Cain Madden in “A Natchez Christmas Carol”

Dwight Williams in “A Natchez Christmas Carol”

Don Vesterse in “Big River”

Best Cameo Actress in a Musical

*Shelby Millican in “Big River”

*Danielle Thornton in “Big River”

*Danielle Thornton in “Sweeney Todd”

*Katherine Timm in “Once on This Island”

Best Debut by an Actor

G. Mark LaFrancis in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Owen Shugard in “Twelfth Night”

Jay Underkofler in “Rough Crossing”

Edwin Ward in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Best Debut by an Actress

*Beverly Adams in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

*Gwen Ball in “Rough Crossing”

*Teresa Busby in “Twelfth Night”

* Patricia Knight in “Rough Crossing”

*Amanda Wingfield in “A Natchez Christmas Carol”

Best Sets

* Once On This Island by Don Vesterse

*Rough Crossing by Don Vesterse

*Southern Exposure by Don Vesterse

* To Kill a Mockingbird by Don Vesterse

Life Time Achievement

*Tommy Jo Netterville Blackmon

*Ann Burns

*Don Vesterse

*Tootsie Yelverton

Volunteer of the Year

*Tommy Jackson

*Cain Madden

*Lynn Mann

*Nancy McFarland

*Anna Rife

*Judy York

Best Youth Actor

William Ladner in “A Natchez Christmas Carol”

Rudy Timm in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

John Elliot Ward in “To Kill a Mockinbird”

Dwight Williams in “A Natchez Christmas Carol”

Best Youth Actress

*Janey Dixey in “Once On This Island”

*Sydney Eidt in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

*Kristin Hogans in “Once On This Island”

*Shelby Millican in “Big River”

*Katherine Timm in “Once on This Island”

Dawn Taylor Memorial Scholarship Youth Volunteer/ $500 Scholarship

Chanda Alisha Graham

Cain Madden

Danielle Thornton

Dwight Williams

All tickets are $15 (nominees and performers are admitted for free). This is also one of your last opportunities to join Natchez Little Theatre as it celebrates its 62nd Season with “The Wizard of Oz;” “Fauntleroy;” “The Importance of Being Earnest;” “A Natchez Christmas Carol;” “A Raisin in the Sun;” “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas;” “Southern Exposure;” and “The King and I.”

Reservations for the gala may be made by calling 601-442-2233, toll free at 1-877-440-2233, by e-mail at natchez@bellsouth.net or go on-line to www.natcheztheatre.com.

I hope to see you at the Natchez Little Theatre.

Tommy Jackson is on the Natchez Little Theatre board of directors.