[6] Following Katrina, repairs and upgrades were made including the addition of enhanced lighting and a new sound system, orchestra shell, ballet floor, and digital cinema screen.

[6][7] About a week of events from January 8 through January 17, 2009, celebrated the reopening of the theater, including a free performance by Kermit Ruffins, Irma Thomas, and Marva Wright as well as paid performances by Allen Toussaint, Yolanda Adams, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra with Itzhak Perlman, New Orleans Ballet Association with members of the San Francisco and New York City Ballets, and the New Orleans Opera Association with Plácido Domingo.

[11] On June 25, 2009, Broadway Across America and Mayor Ray Nagin announced that touring shows would return to the theater for the 2009–10 season.

Shows included were: Cirque Dreams Illumination, RAIN, Spamalot, West Side Story, and Shrek.

The Lion King, which was originally set to have its Louisiana debut at the Saenger Theatre in spring 2012, played instead at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.