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The History Of Theatre In Natchez
The first play produced at NLT’s present home was Murder, My Sweet Matilda, which was slated to open 30 days after the building was purchased. The pulpit and choir area were removed and a stage was constructed using the original pews for the audience seating. Since 1948 , NLT has produced over 260 plays with volunteers for over 360,000 patrons.
A special thank you to Mary Jane Gaudet for the picture of the old Cathedral |
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© 2005
Natchez Little Theatre |
Natchez,
Mississippi, was the economic and cultural center of the Deep South in the
19th Century. The performing arts were an essential part of life in early
Natchez. Throughout the 1800’s riverboat shows stopped and performed in
Natchez. In 1828-29 and 1838-39 Junious Booth, the father
of John Wilkes Booth, appeared here in the roles of Hamlet and
King Lear. In the 1850’s, international operatic star, Jenny Lind, appeared in
the Natchez Temple Opera House, as did William S. Hart in 1914, prior to his
becoming America’s first western movie star. Sara Bernhard appeared at the Baker
Grand in 1917. The 20th Century found many a star of stage and screen in
Natchez, Mississippi, and the tradition has continued into the 21st Century.
In
1932 a group of local citizens met to organize The Little Theatre of Natchez.
Their first production was a one-act play, The Florist Shop, which had been
performed earlier in the 1920’s. The 1932 cast consisted of Eva Joo, Thomas
Reed, Michael Kullman, Clarice George and Martin Burke. The play and following
productions were performed at the old Cathedral High School auditorium on Main
Street.
The Natchez Little Theatre was
organized and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1948 and the first year’s productions were
The Cat and the Canary, Blithe Spirit
and Ah, Wilderness
performed at the Braden School auditorium. The auditorium at Braden became
too small for NLT’s growing audiences. 
The early leaders of NLT
considered building a theatre and purchased the Governor Holmes’ House for
that purpose. Costs were prohibitive and in 1969 NLT under Board President,
Jack Millstein, purchased the Wesley Methodist Church at 319 Linton Avenue.
NLT paid $2,000 and assumed a $14,500 mortgage that was held by the Church.
Within 90 days NLT paid off the mortgage by selling the Governor Holmes’
House. Mayweather Hall, the former parsonage, and a lot on Maple Street were
added to NLT’s property acquisitions. The latter became our current parking
lot.