Step inside the architectural marvel that is the Shaw Center for the Arts and—besides the LSU Museum of Art, the Glassell Gallery, and one of Baton Rouge’s most popular Japanese restaurants—you’ll find the Manship Theatre: a beacon for culture, creativity, and unforgettable live experiences in the Capital City. Celebrating its twentieth anniversary in 2025, the Manship has redefined Baton Rouge’s downtown as a vibrant destination for experiencing live performances of all kinds.
A Portal to the Arts in Downtown Baton Rouge
In March of 2005, the 125,000 square foot Shaw Center for the Arts opened to the public—a centerpiece of the larger movement to revitalize downtown Baton Rouge, made possible through a partnership between LSU, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, and the state of Louisiana. Leaders from these organizations hoped to transform the mostly abandoned downtown district of the Capitol City into a destination that was vibrant, culturally-rich, and innovative.
“It really kickstarted this new era downtown. It breathed new life to the whole area."
— Jason Langlois, Executive Director of Manship Theatre
A vital part of this vision was a performing arts space that would attract touring artists, cultivating an engaged community of theatre- and concertgoers in the area. The Manship was named in honor of newspaperman and founder of WBRZ Douglas Lewis Manship, Sr.—a longtime patron of the arts—and the theatre was designed to replicate European opera houses as a more intimate alternative to the stadium-style River Center Theatre. With just over three hundred seats in its elegant auditorium, a show at the Manship always offers a front-row feel, no matter which seat you’re in.
As a portal to the arts, the theatre helped to change the energy in downtown Baton Rouge for the better—paving the way for the restaurants, hotels, and other small businesses that have flocked to the district in the years since the Shaw Center’s opening. “It really kickstarted this new era downtown,” says the Manship’s Executive Director Jason Langlois. “It breathed new life to the whole area.”

Manship Theatre serves as a visual arts center with performances consisting of concerts, plays, and other live entertainment.
Everything a Stage Can Hold
Operating as a nonprofit organization, the Manship has come to be known for its dynamic lineup of globally and nationally touring musicians and theatre productions on its Main, Studio, and Workshop stages, while also offering Baton Rouge residents the special experience of a boutique indie movie theatre. You might as easily spend an evening at the Manship swaying to a Grammy-award winning country musician as catching a local improv show, marveling at a modern dance performance, or viewing a cult-classic film.
Langlois began at the Theatre soon after it opened and has held almost every position at the Manship, from beverage manager to film and comedy programmer to now, Executive Director. Having watched the organization grow and evolve these past twenty years, he describes this milestone as “surreal.”
“It’s a dream come true,” he says.
Celebrate Twenty Years on the Red Carpet
On March 15, the Manship Theatre will celebrate its twentieth anniversary serving Baton Rouge with an exclusive, red carpet-style gala featuring special guest Matteo Bocelli. It’ll be an evening of glamour and creative community, with an extraordinary performance by the internationally-acclaimed Italian classical singer.

Proceeds from Manship Theatre's annual fundraiser gala benefits local schools and nursing homes.
As the Manship’s only annual fundraiser, the gala will also provide vital funding that supports the organization’s continued outreach efforts—bringing world-class performances beyond just the stage, but also to local schools and nursing homes.
To learn more about gala sponsorship opportunities, contact Jason Langlois at jlanglois@manshiptheatre.org or (225) 389-7266. Learn more about the Manship’s mission and upcoming events at manshiptheatre.org.