Biloxi’s iconic Saenger Theatre officially reopens with grand celebration

After eight years of waiting, hundreds of fans of the performing arts celebrated the reopening of the Saenger Theatre in Downtown Biloxi with Saturday’s Homecoming celebration.

Inside the theater, visitors were greeted with a lobby serving food and drinks before they could enter the main auditorium for the two-act celebration featuring live music, dance choreography and brief acting scenes from a total of 36 individual performers. The event also featured five organizations, including the Biloxi Civic Orchestra, Nancy’s School of Dance, Gulf Coast School of Performing Arts, The Next Level Performing Arts Studio and Donna’s Dance.

While the theater has been updated with new electrical work, lighting, sound systems and HVAC systems, the theater is still reminiscent of the 1920s aesthetic that made it an icon in the community.

Technical Director Rafe O’Neal announced the effort with Kathy Majewska of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to create Historic League of Southern Theaters, an organization that would “unite all the Saenger Theatres in a league for the first time since the 40s.” The league would also help to initiate the rebuild of the Saenger Theatre in Pine Bluff.

The Biloxi Civic Orchestra kicked off the event with the playing of a fanfare, and was followed by 30 performances in the first act. After an intermission, 15 more performances were showcased before curtain call to cap off the evening.

See our favorite photos from the event below.