“Gold in the Hills,” proclaimed the world’s longest-running melodrama by the “Guinness Book of World Records” will be performed this weekend and next at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre.

Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, and will resume at 7:30 p.m. April 7 and 8 at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre, 101 Iowa Ave.

The 1890s New York melodrama, presented by the Vicksburg Theatre Guild, has been produced in the River City since 1936, and was listed as one of the 10 Things You Really Have To Do in Mississippi by OnlyInYourState.com, last year.

The cast includes a hero, heroine and a villain and features sing-along musical numbers.

Paul Ballard, who is one of the show’s cast members and plays Happy the singing waiter, said it was an honor to perform in the melodrama.

“There is this large measure of privilege because you are doing now what people have done for 80 years,” he said.

Ballard has played his character between 30 to 40 years he said, and added that each “Gold in the Hills’ performance is unique.

Because the cast of characters rotates performers, every show is different because each person brings something special to the stage, he said.

During the performance, Ballard said there are a couple of places in the show where the audience is invited to sing along with the cast.

Song sheets are passed out, and tunes from the 1890s sung include “Sweet Marie,” “Bird in a Guilded Cage,” “The Bowery” and “East Side West Side.”

Tickets are $12 and $6 for ages 12 and younger. For groups of 15 or more tickets are $10 and $4 for ages 12 and younger and are available at the Box Office starting one hour before curtain time.  There is no reserved seating.

For more information, visit vicksburgtheatreguild.com.