Skip to main content Skip to footer site map
Review: BEETLEJUICE at Detroit Opera House

Review: BEETLEJUICE at Detroit Opera House

BEETLEJUICE will play at the Detroit Opera House from January 31 – February 12, 2023

Beetlejuice
Isabella Esler (Lydia Deetz) and Justin Collette (Beetlejuice)

It's showtime! The ghost-with-the-most will make his Detroit debut in this edgy and irreverent new Broadway musical comedy.

BEETLEJUICE will play at the Opera House from January 31 - February 12, 2023, as part of Broadway In Detroit's 2022-23 Season. Season tickets are now on sale and will be available online at Ticketmaster.com, BroadwayinDetroit.com, charge by phone at (800) 982-2787, and in person at the Fisher Theatre Box Office.

Based on Tim Burton's dearly beloved film, BEETLEJUICE tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and Beetlejuice, a demon with a thing for stripes. When Lydia calls on Beetlejuice to scare away anyone with a pulse, this double-crossing specter unleashes a (Nether)world of pandemonium, and the biggest sandworm Broadway has ever seen.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beeeeee-cause you are reading this review, I assume you are very interested in visiting the netherworld, and who can blame you? People are dying to get in! This show is not only for the fans of the cult classic film starring Michael Keaton, but it's also for Broadway lovers! Beetlejuice has fantastic music and lyrics from Tony award nominee Eddie Perfect.

The Beetlejuice soundtrack is one you will be flying home to download because every song is extremely catchy and entices you to want to listen to it on repeat! The first time I saw this show was in New York, and I was blown away by the performances and scenic design. I feared the experience would be hard to transfer to a national tour. However, the national touring cast didn't just calm my fears but defeated them. The whole cast exceeded my expectations and truly made it their own. Isabella Esler (Lydia) is making her professional debut on this tour and has just recently graduated high school. Watch out for Isabella Esler in future productions because this up-and-coming ingénue is a marvelous talent and proves that an authentic performance has no age.

I was impressed by her earnest portrayal of a grieving teenager while also giving attitude and immense power as she challenged and befriended Beetlejuice, played by Justin Collette. Speaking of the title character, Justin Collette brought a new exciting perspective to this character. He made a local reference to Detroit that had the audience reeling with laughter. Throughout the show, Beetlejuice breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the audience, which is highly entertaining. Justin Collette has a very natural charisma in his performance, which was the perfect compliment to the demon we know and love. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the show, and I encourage anyone to go to the Opera House to experience this show.

Trigger Warning the show contains many flashing lights throughout the performance.



Related Stories
BEETLEJUICE at the Ohio Theatre - A Farcical Show About Death Photo
A seemingly crowd-pleasing, high-energy, sensory-overloaded BEETLEJUICE was resurrected at the Ohio Theatre on Tuesday night to a devoted cult fan following. While slapstick jokes, disturbing references, and visual diversions dominate much of the show, there are also moments of heart-warming tenderness, much thanks to the incredible performance of Isabella Esler who plays Lydia.

Interview: Britney Coleman Says BEETLEJUICE at Wharton Center is a Lot Funnier Than People Photo
Making its Wharton Center debut March 14-19 is Beetlejuice, the modern cult classic musical based on the movie from 1988.

Review: BEETLEJUICE THE MUSICAL at Connon Place Photo
What did our critic think of BEETLEJUICE THE MUSICAL at Connon Place?

Video: BEETLEJUICE Takes its Final Bow On Broadway Photo
The beloved musical adaptation of BEETLEJUICE ended its Broadway run this weekend after 679 performances on Broadway. See video from the show's final performance featuring a sell-out crowd of devoted fans, an appearance from the show's Tony-winning director Alex Timbers, and a very grateful cast.

Buy at the Theatre Shop

T-Shirts, Mugs, Phone Cases & More



From This Author - Emily Schenk

Emily Schenk is a wife and owner of a farm in Milford where she raises ducks, chickens, and her two dogs Daisy Rey and Scrumpy. She is a former thespian and current Broadway fanatic. She enjoys an ... (read more about this author)


Review: ASSASSINS at The RingwaldReview: ASSASSINS at The Ringwald
March 8, 2023

Assassins will run through March 20th. Tickets are $30 for performances Fridays-Sundays and $20 for Monday performances. Tickets are currently available at theRingwald.com. Performances on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays are at 8:00 PM, and Sundays at 3:00 PM. The Ringwald is located inside Affirmations Community Center.

Review: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at The Fisher TheatreReview: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at The Fisher Theatre
March 1, 2023

Jesus Christ Superstar is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks of the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas. The legendary score includes 'I Don't Know How to Love Him 'Superstar.' Now playing at the Fisher Theatre through Mar 5, 2023. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com

Review: JAGGED LITTLE PILL at The Fisher TheatreReview: JAGGED LITTLE PILL at The Fisher Theatre
February 21, 2023

SOME SHOWS YOU SEE. THIS SHOW YOU FEEL. Joy, rage, love, heartache, strength, wisdom, catharsis, LIFE: everything we've been waiting to see on a Broadway stage is back, in this exhilarating, fearless new musical based on Alanis Morissette's world-changing music. Jagged Little Pill will perform at The Fisher Theatre in Detroit through February 26th. You can purchase tickets at Jagged Little Pill (Touring) Tickets | Event Dates & Schedule | Ticketmaster.com.

Review: THE FUTURE IS FEMALE at Flint Repertory TheatreReview: THE FUTURE IS FEMALE at Flint Repertory Theatre
February 7, 2023

The Flint Repertory Theatre is proud to present the world premiere comedy of The Future is Female, written by and starring Nandita Shenoy. The Future is Female will perform at the Flint Repertory Theatre from February 3rd-19th, 2023. For more information on the production and to buy tickets, please call 810-237-7333 or visit tickets.thefim.org.

Review: BEETLEJUICE at Detroit Opera HouseReview: BEETLEJUICE at Detroit Opera House
February 2, 2023

It's showtime! The ghost-with-the-most will make his Detroit debut in this edgy and irreverent new Broadway musical comedy. BEETLEJUICE will play at the Opera House from January 31 – February 12, 2023. Tickets go on sale Friday, November 4 at 10:00 a.m. and will be available online at Ticketmaster.com or BroadwayinDetroit.com.