Beau Rivage Brings a True Broadway-Style Experience to Biloxi With Shrek The Musical
Somewhere between the talking donkey, the oversized green ogre, and a room full of adults laughing just as hard as the kids, you realize Shrek The Musical was never really just a children’s story.
Running June 11 through July 2 at Beau Rivage Theatre, the Broadway-style production transforms the beloved DreamWorks film into a live theatrical experience packed with humor, nostalgia, elaborate costumes, massive set pieces, energetic musical numbers, and just enough heart to remind audiences why the story has lasted for generations.
What surprised me most is how much of that magic is built long before the curtain ever rises.
Before opening night, I was able to go behind the scenes during rehearsals and speak with director Jeb K. Rand, president and executive producer of Las Vegas-based Rand Productions, Inc. Walking into that space felt less like a local theater rehearsal and more like stepping into a full-scale touring production in motion.
Massive props filled the stage, including an enormous dragon, oversized fairytale set pieces, and a towering horse that immediately made it clear this is not a small production dressed up to look big. It already is.
Watching rehearsals unfold gave a different appreciation for what audiences eventually see on stage. Lighting cues, choreography, costume changes, and set movement all happened at once in a kind of controlled chaos that only works when every person in the room knows their exact role.
Rand, a former amateur and professional figure skater turned producer and director, has spent years developing large-scale productions designed to feel immersive and accessible for audiences of all ages. That approach is exactly what gives Shrek The Musical its energy before it ever reaches a crowd.
The cast was selected from thousands of performers during auditions in New York City, bringing a true Broadway-level talent pool to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. That becomes obvious quickly. The vocals, timing, and stage presence carry the polish of a national touring production rather than a regional theater run.
And that partnership is nothing new.
MGM Resorts and Beau Rivage have worked with Rand Productions for more than a decade, bringing a steady lineup of seasonal and summer productions to the Beau Rivage Theatre, including Christmas on Ice, Christmas in the Air, Finding Christmas, Grease, Footloose, Elf the Musical, and most recently A Christmas Story: The Musical. It’s a collaboration that has helped define the theatre’s identity as a consistent destination for large-scale live entertainment on the Coast.
For readers unfamiliar, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino sits on the Biloxi beachfront and serves as one of the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s central entertainment destinations. The property blends a full casino floor with a luxury hotel, fine dining, retail spaces, nightlife, and a dedicated theatre that hosts touring productions and seasonal shows year-round. It’s the kind of place where a night out can turn into an entire weekend without ever leaving the property.
For anyone unfamiliar with the story, Shrek The Musical follows an unlikely hero a swamp-dwelling ogre who would rather be left alone as he’s pulled into an unexpected journey involving a talkative donkey, a sharp-witted princess, and a kingdom full of fairytale characters who don’t quite fit into their own stories. What begins as comedy slowly unfolds into a story about identity, acceptance, and finding connection in unexpected places.
And Beau Rivage is not stopping at the theater.
The resort has built an entire layered experience around the production, extending the fairytale theme into dining, nightlife, and interactive activations across the property.
Roasted Bean Café will feature themed menu items inspired by the show, including Ogre Onion Rings and a Porky Cheese sandwich, along with Shrek-themed refillable cups offering complimentary soda refills throughout the day.
Lux Lounge and MGM Golf are also joining the experience with “Once Upon a Swamp,” an immersive themed event taking place June 12 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The lounge will transform into a swamp-inspired setting complete with interactive golf bay experiences, themed décor, photo opportunities, trivia, and specialty cocktails like the Ogre-rita and Donkey’s Waffle Old Fashioned.
It’s one of the more creative extensions of a theatre production I’ve seen here because it turns a single show into something guests can step into before and after curtain call.
And maybe that’s what makes Shrek work so well here. Underneath the humor and chaos, the story has always been about embracing what makes people different instead of hiding it. About realizing perfection is overrated. About finding connection in places you didn’t expect.
That message lands differently as an adult than it does as a kid. What I noticed most was how naturally that experience bridges generations. Parents who grew up with the film now get to share it with their kids, while younger audiences experience it for the first time in a completely new format. Somehow, both walk out entertained for different reasons, but with the same reaction.
Weekday performances begin at 7 p.m., while select Saturday and Sunday performances include 2 p.m. matinees. Tickets for Shrek The Musical start at $25, with family four-pack packages available using promotional codes “ONIONS” and “SWAMP.” Guests can also upgrade to a VIP experience for an additional $30 with ticket purchase, which includes a cast photo opportunity, commemorative show laminate, and autographed poster.
Tickets and show information are available through Beau Rivage Theatre.
Whether you come for the nostalgia, the music, the immersive experiences, or just a night out on the Coast, Shrek The Musical delivers exactly what summer entertainment should feel like: fun, theatrical, and memorable.
Shrek The Musical runs June 11 through July 12 at Beau Rivage Theatre in Biloxi.
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