Greetings, Natchez and the Miss-Lou!

With summer temperatures still surrounding us, it is hard to believe that Fall Pilgrimage is here.

Natchez Little Theatre is proud to present the eccentric Southern comedy “Belles” about six Natchez sisters in two acts and 45 phone calls Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. currently running through Oct. 6, with a final 2 p.m. Sunday matinee on Oct. 7. Tickets are $15 for non-member/sponsors of Natchez Little Theatre and reservations are recommended even for members/sponsors. Call NLT at 601-442-2233 or purchase tickets securely at natcheztheatre.org.

“Belles” is one of our funniest, most delightful and endearing plays about Southern women. It is the hilarious and poignant story of the six Walker sisters, who, over the course of an autumn weekend, seek to bridge the physical and emotional distance between them via the telephone, and in the process come to terms with their shattered family history. The six Walker sisters all hail from Natchez, but they are now scattered all over the country. Only, Peggy, played by Rachel Lindsey, still lives in Natchez, where she cares for Mama.

When the play begins, Peggy is phoning her sisters with the latest about Mama … whether they want to hear it or not. As the Walker sisters there are six incredible actresses playing the roles.

NLT, veteran actress Rachel Lindsey of Vidalia as oldest widowed sister Peggy. NLT award-winning actress Morgan Groover formerly Mizell is the next to oldest sister, Aneece, who is a commercial banker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jennifer Greer makes her NLT debut as Roseanne, a preacher’s wife living in Atlanta.

Married sister, Audrey, is played by NLT award-winning actress Nicole Harris who lives in Belzoni, while her husband spends his time hunting and fishing. LaRisa Morace makes her NLT debut playing the space queen sister Sherry, who now goes by the name Dust and lives in a yurt in Washington state. Last but certainly no least is baby sister, Paige, who is working on her masters’ degree at the University of Texas in Austin, and is played by Natalie Ainsworth of Ferriday, who made her unforgettable NLT debut as Rafiki in NLT’s summer hit musical Disney’s “The Lion King.”

I am proud to direct these awesome actresses in this great Southern comedy with assistance from my assistant director, Janet McNeely. The six unique sets that represent the residences of these sisters were designed by myself and beautifully executed by Stacey Carden, Devin Arnold, Derek Saxon, Timothy Tanner and Laci Arnold and Myla Waddill helped me to gather the props. Devin Arnold also is the voice of Paige’s never seen UT boyfriend, Mike Kozlowski, a good ole Texas boy; plus, he serves as stage manager on the production.

Come see the incredible local talent we have right here in our area and don’t miss “Belles.” It’s a laugh riot.

NLT is located at 319 Linton Avenue at Maple Street in Natchez. Auditions for NLT’s popular and acclaimed holiday family musical “A Natchez Christmas Carol” will be 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Oct. 13 and 14 at NLT. A large diverse cast of all ages is needed. No experience is necessary but you must be able to sing as it is a musical.

Layne Taylor, Director of “Belles” and nlt’s artistic and executive director.