NATCHEZ — For the first time in six years, the wily Dr. Morphineus Codeine Shingles is returning to Natchez for a production of the Mississippi Medicine Show.

An original production of the Little Natchez Theatre, the show debuts Friday and will last throughout Fall Pilgrimage, concluding with a matinee 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8. Tickets are $15 for nonmembers of the theater.

“This year, we decided to bring (the show) back in celebration of the Mississippi Bicentennial,” Natchez Little Theatre executive and artistic director Layne Taylor said.

Taylor said the Mississippi Medicine Show would display the “mind-blowing” musical talent of its local cast.

“These are local people, and their training has all been local,” Taylor said. “We are happy to be able to showcase (their talent).”

The show takes audiences on a journey back to the mid-19th century, and the plot revolves around a time when medicine mongers traveled up and down the Mississippi River on steamboats promoting their magical cures.

Forty-one years after the theater first presented the Mississippi Medicine Show, Taylor said he reworks the script to ensure audiences get a different experience with each edition of the performance.

“I adapt the script every year to make it new and fresh and different so that local audiences, which comprises of about 50 percent of our audience, don’t feel like they’re coming to see the same show over and over again,” Taylor said.

One of the “fresh” additions to this year’s performance relates to its main character.

For the first time, Taylor said, Dr. Shingles will be portrayed by an African-American actor and singer, Terrence Robinson.

Taylor said Rusty Jenkins, who had played Dr. Shingles in years past, would play the role of Mark Twain this year.

Rounding out the trio of the show’s “hosts” is Shingles’ sidekick, Miss Scarlette, played by Morgan Mizell.

For the opening act, the stage will belong to Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, played by Alisha Solano. Greenfield, also known as “The Black Swan,” tells of her story as a former slave who gained freedom, becoming a renowned concert singer in the process.

As the show progresses, audiences will also be treated to songs from a black gospel a cappella quartet, comprised of Robinson, Solano, Brittany Mitchell and Sara Davis.

Fans of the film “O Brother, Where Art Thou” might be happy to hear that the show also contains renditions of songs from the movie’s soundtrack, sung by musical trio The Quilts. Judy Wiggins and her two grown daughters, Julie Emerick and Mary Jane Richards make up the trio.

The show will also contain a 19th-century-clown act — which Taylor said he has been trying to incorporate since he joined the theater in 2001 — featuring longtime performer Bo Allen and Cathedral student Jonathan Rosso.

Local musician John Borum and Julia Richardson, another Cathedral student, are also part of the Mississippi Medicine Show cast. Natchez Little Theatre board member Jennifer Rosso handled set design duties for this year’s production.

Taylor said he is “proud” that he and the cast are able to showcase the musical majesty of Mississippi.

“That’s what this is about. It’s a celebration of Mississippi’s 200th birthday and the music of Mississippi that transformed and became … the No. 1 sound on the planet earth,” Taylor said.

Those wishing to reserve tickets for any of the eight performances can call the Natchez Little Theatre at 601-442-2233 or toll free at 877-440-2233. Tickets are also available for purchase online at natcheztheatre.org.

Between Friday and Oct. 8, the performances will take place 7:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday as well as the 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8 matinee.