It's showtime, folks! The ghost-with-the-most makes his Broadway return in this edgy and irreverent musical comedy 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.
n assessing Beetlejuice as a night out at the theatre, the show sparkles with its spectacular sets, bright and flashing lights, and intricate props and costumes. Its aesthetic is perfect for the Halloween season but can still be appreciated by lovers of general spookiness all year round. It has a good mix of big numbers showing off the ranges of the ensemble members as they switch characters in between scenes, as well as big solos that feature strong vocals by the leading actors. Modern musical theatre as a whole tends to have a distinct, pop-like sound, but Eddie Perfect's score works well in this instance as it is executed very well. Lydia is played by Isabella Esler, who should feel very lucky having the right timing to tour the country playing a role that exemplifies her great abilities so wonderfully, especially as her professional debut. Meanwhile, Matthew Michael Janisse stepped into the role of Beetlejuice on Tuesday, January 16th, and he claimed the role so well that anyone would be lucky to see him go on in one of his limited-edition performances as the titular character.
Don’t worry if you don’t remember (or have never seen) Tim Burton’s brilliant Beetlejuice, because book writers Scott Brown & Anthony King retain only the bare bones of Michael McDowell & Larry Wilson’s original screen story, drastically reshuffling plot points and character relationships. But Lydia (Isabella Esler) is still a lonely, afterlife-obsessed teen who befriends Adam (Will Burton) and Barbara (Britney Coleman), a klutzy couple of recently-deceased ghosts. Together, they unwittingly unleash a foul-mouthed demon named Beetlejuice (Justin Collette), whose name must be uttered thrice before he can molest mortals.
2018 | Washington, DC (Regional) |
Pre-Broadway Engagement at National Theatre Washington, DC (Regional) |
2019 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2022 | Broadway |
Broadway Return Broadway |
2022 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Touring Production | Beetlejuice |
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