Season pass: Preview the Capital Region’s upcoming cultural season

All the world’s a stage, but the Capital Region is the only place to see many of the unique cultural productions unfolding here this season. Performing arts groups and venues reimagine familiar works with fresh perspectives, from The Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou to The Music of Star Wars. Others explore history from a modern lens, like Bridge in the Distance and 1984. Expect a year of celebratory milestones, including River City Jazz Masters’ 20th anniversary and Of Moving Colors Productions’ 40th birthday. And above all, count on events steeped in Louisiana heritage, from the community-grown sounds of River City Jazz Masters to the locally written musical comedy Strings Attached. Here’s a look at the encore-worthy lineup.

Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge

River City Jazz Masters rings in its 20th anniversary on Oct. 7, with Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodríguez featuring percussionist Pedrito Martinez. The show is followed by trumpeter Wendell Brunious & The New Orleans Legends on Nov. 11, nine-time Grammy nominee The Tierney Sutton Band on Jan. 14, and Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra on April 7. The Arts Council keeps the music going year round, from its Batiste Legacy Sessions concert series on the third Wednesday of each month to a new outdoor festival and concert series in St. George set to debut later this year.

Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre

BRBT glides into fall with Lagniappe: Classical Masterpieces & Contemporary Visions on Oct. 1 at Baton Rouge Magnet High. Holiday sugar plums get a Louisiana twist when the iconic local classic The Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou prances into the River Center Theatre Dec. 18-20. Mary Poppins brings another spoonful of sugar to the Baton Rouge Community College’s Magnolia Performing Arts Theatre April 17-18.

Broadway in Baton Rouge

The fun starts with Jersey Boys on Sept. 28, followed by the comedic whodunit Clue: Live on Stage! on Oct. 24. The spring lineup bends and snaps with Legally Blonde: The Musical on April 28, before concluding with the soulful, Tony Award-winning The Wiz on June 8.

Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra

Themed “From Darkness to Light,” BRSO’s season rides through historic milestones and pop culture moments alike. Its orchestral series features works like Ellis Island: The Dream of America on Sept. 17, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 on Nov. 12, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 on March 4, all before concluding in a galaxy far away with The Music of Star Wars on May 13. Enjoy Bach alongside brats and beer at the Oct. 9 outdoor show Bachtoberfest. The Concerts in the Cosmos series returns to the Louisiana Art & Science Museum planetarium on Oct. 28-29 for “Family Fright Night.” Enjoy festive carols at St. Joseph Cathedral during Holiday Brass on Dec. 2.

Cangelosi Dance Project

Designed to make dance accessible to all, Cangelosi Dance Project will bring ballet beyond the stage throughout November and December via its Community Connection Outreach Performance Program at local libraries, retirement communities, nursing homes, after-school programs, festivals and more.

Civic Orchestra of Baton Rouge

The volunteer-led nonprofit is set to stage several concerts at the Main Library at Goodwood this season. Spend an afternoon with the seven-year-old organization during shows on Oct. 25, Dec. 5, March 20 and June 5.

Christian Youth Theater

Catch CYT’s last three Fiddler on the Roof shows Aug. 1-2 at LSU’s Shaver Theater, exploring themes of family, faith and tradition. Then follow the yellow brick road to The Wizard of Oz Nov. 5-7 as student actors take the stage at Abundant Life Church for their rendition of the classic.

Manship Theatre

The downtown venue is known for its indie film screenings, and it brings more to the box office with the Baton Rouge Irish Film Festival on Aug. 1 and The Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival Aug. 27-30. Winter summons holiday programming, including Hitmakers Come Home for the Holidays, a gathering of singer-songwriters on Dec. 29. Snag tickets for acts like comedian Sean Patton (Dec. 18) or concerts such as BoDeans (Sept. 16), The Lone Bellow (Oct. 4) and Orleans (March 6).

UpStage Theatre Company

Committed to celebrating Black artists and stories, the 24-year-old theater group takes center stage at Southern University’s Frank Hayden Theater Aug. 15-16 for Bridge in the Distance. Written by New Orleans native Clarence Holmes Jr., the play explores faith and justice against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement in 1966 in Selma, Alabama. Experience a night of poetry, comedy performances and more during Star Night at the Mic!, hosted by comedian D Roc on Aug. 2.

Mid City Civic Theatre

The newest local performing arts group kicks off its fall season with Entr’Acte, a youth musical cabaret on Aug. 7. The event doubles as a fundraiser benefiting its Civic Conservatory youth training program. From Sept. 11-20, Dear Evan Hansen, a Tony Award-winning musical exploring themes of adolescent mental health and grief, will unfold on the all-volunteer nonprofit’s main stage.

Of Moving Colors Productions

As OMC celebrates its 40th birthday, highlights include the Byrde’s Dancers Scholarship Luncheon in September, a collaborative Partner Works performance on Oct. 11, Love Revolution in collaboration with the Big Buddy Program in January, and the immersive Legends Gala: Heroes & Villains in March. OMC will also continue its year-round outreach, such as its Dance for Parkinson’s – Baton Rouge program offering dance classes for people living with Parkinson’s and their caretakers.

Opéra Louisiane

Delivering powerful voices and operatic storytelling, Opéra Louisiane’s fall season opens with Life, Liberty & Laughter: The American Dream in Operetta on Sept. 20, followed by American lyric tenor Matthew Polenzani and concert pianist Ken Noda on Nov. 13. Celebrate the holidays with Amahl & the Night Visitors Dec. 18-20. Learn why Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata became a global phenomenon May 14-16.

Playmakers of Baton Rouge

The 44th season of this nonprofit professional theater group tailored to young audiences is tickled pink, launching with Legally Blonde Jr. Aug. 21-30. Expect a stylishly costumed cast to bring Elle Woods-worthy determination to LSU’s Reilly Theatre.

Red Magnolia Theatre Company

Join the expedition with Men on Boats, Jaclyn Backhaus’ comedic retelling of a “true-ish” 1869 Colorado River adventure. Catch the female-focused community theater group tackling the bold and silly production Aug. 21-30 at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center.

Sullivan Theater

The volunteer-run theater wraps up its run of The Addams Family on Aug. 2. Next, journey to the underworld with Hadestown: Teen Edition Aug. 13-16. The spooks continue with Blithe Spirit Sept. 25-Oct. 4. Have a seat at the premiere of Strings Attached, a new musical comedy from two local writers, Oct. 16-25. Revel in the holidays with It’s a Wonderful Life Dec. 4-13.

LSU School of Theatre & Swine Palace

Catch a range of student productions from the LSU School of Theatre, including POTUS Sept. 24-Oct. 4 at Shaver Theatre and George Orwell’s dystopian 1984 Feb. 11-21 at the Reilly Theatre. Swine Palace’s season gets a Shakespearean start with A Midsummer Night’s Dream Nov. 12-22. It’s followed up by Lynn Nottage’s 20th-century New York drama Intimate Apparel April 8-18. Both shows take place at the Reilly Theatre. Watch for lots of other on-campus programming in between, including the Take 13 Film Festival on May 2.

This article was originally published in the August 2026 issue of 225 Magazine.