When Theatre Baton Rouge shut down in 2025, the lights on Florida Boulevard could easily have stayed off. Instead, a group of local arts leaders took over the nonprofit, built a brand-new board and leadership team, and gave the place a new name: Mid City Civic Theatre.

This December, the new company puts a holiday classic on that historic stage.

Scrooge returns to Mid City

Mid City Civic Theatre is staging A Christmas Carol, Richard Hellesen's adaptation of the Charles Dickens story, with original music by David De Berry and lyrics drawn from traditional sources. It's a version that leans heavily on Dickens' own words, with the songs woven right into the ghost story.

Caty LeJeune and Shannon Walsh direct, with music direction by Cierra Fountian. Robby Wilson plays Ebenezer Scrooge, Elijah Wilson is Bob Cratchit and Madelyn Young plays Tiny Tim, leading a cast of more than 30.

Showtimes

Friday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m. (opening night)

Saturday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 13, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 20, 2 p.m. (closing)

Seating is reserved. Adult tickets are $40 and student/child tickets are $20 through the theatre's online box office, linked from midcitycivic.org.

Seventy-plus years in the making

Community theatre in the capital city traces back to 1946, when local arts advocates formed the Baton Rouge Civic Theater. That group became Baton Rouge Little Theater in 1951 and later Theatre Baton Rouge, one of Louisiana's longest-running community theatres. The new name nods to both the neighborhood and those civic roots.

MCCT is gearing up for its first full season in 2027, and it's raising money through its A New Day campaign to care for the building and grow youth programs.

For a December night out that also helps keep a Baton Rouge stage alive, this one is easy to circle on the calendar.

Photo courtesy of Mid City Civic Theatre.