MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Mayor Cavalier Johnson attended a Milwaukee Rep performance of A Christmas Carol at Milwaukee's Pabst Theater Thursday, Dec. 4, and when it was over, he proclaimed December "A Christmas Carol Month."

This is the 50th year for The Rep's annual staging of Charles Dickens' beloved story. It's become a hometown tradition, with a lot of people coming to see Scrooge and his ghosts year after year. 

For The Rep's artistic director, Mark Clements, the proclamation was extra special, since he adapted this version of the show back in 2016. 

"As well as 50 years, it's a bit of a landmark for me, you know, with a decade of doing that," Clements said. "And so, it was really very moving, actually, this morning."

"It's really engrained into Milwaukee's DNA during the holiday times and there's no better place to see this play than right here," Mayor Johnson said. "They do an excellent job."

A Christmas Carol runs through Christmas Eve at The Pabst Theater. 

Mayor Johnson says he'll be on stage for a future performance, in a non-speaking role.