by Tina Ritaj
BEETLEJUICE was made into a cult classic by Tim Burton in the 1988 film, which encouraged many to come to the show dressed in appropriate Tim Burton style apparel. BEETLEJUICE the Musical opened on Broadway in 2019 to mixed reviews, but has since seen a strong comeback. Austin received its BEETLEJUICE premiere on February 6, 2024. The show runs February 6 -11 at Bass Concert Hall.
The theatrical performance is a pretty big departure from the nostalgic story we know from the movie. This adaptation is based on a book by Scott Brown and Anthony King and focuses on Lydia Deetz instead of the couple that dies in their home. The curtain opens to Lydia grieving at her mother’s funeral and is rudely interrupted by the narrator of the evening, Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice’s character, played by Justin Collette, plays to Gen Z and Gen X sensibilities with political jabs, cocaine jokes, and woke sexual humor.
BEETLEJUICE goes back and forth between focusing on the dead demon, Beetlejuice, and Lydia. Lydia is played by newcomer Isabella Esler. This is Esler’s professional debut, but you wouldn’t know it by watching her on stage. She has a great stage presence and a strong, beautiful singing voice. It’s exciting to see the story told from her perspective, but Beetlejuice still steals the show. His banter with the audience and comedic timing are spread throughout the show and a welcome interruption to the more sober storyline.
The musical numbers are fun and moving, especially when performed with the ensemble. A stand out number was of Beetlejuice and a slew of other Beetlejuice doppelgängers dancing and losing limbs across the stage. The music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect tie in the classic Harry Belafonte favorites and there is an undercurrent of that beat in many numbers. As with the movie, one of the highlights was Day-O! performed around the dining table as Barbara, played by Megan McGinnis, and Adam, played by understudy Matthew Michael Janisse ,attempt to scare the living out of their beloved home. Janisse was a welcome addition to the cast and became a character you really wanted to root for.
It was pleasing to see many nods to the Tim Burton movie, like the dead characters in the netherworld waiting room, the set design, the sand worm, and many other little easter eggs throughout the performance. Without those connections to the past, the story would seem too far from what people came looking for.
BEETLEJUICE was a witty, raunchy trist down memory lane but also invited us to another perspective of the story to consider. The finale felt a little bland compared to some of the numbers throughout the show, but still left us feeling entertained and jovial.
Tickets are available at TexasPerformingArts.org and double check the show start time as it varies. Leave the kiddos at home for this one, because it’s not appropriate for children under 13.
Song list:
Act I
“Prologue: Invisible” – Lydia and Ensemble
“The Whole ‘Being Dead’ Thing” – Beetlejuice and Ensemble
“Ready, Set, Not Yet” – Adam and Barbara
“The Whole ‘Being Dead’ Thing, Pt. 2” – Beetlejuice and Ensemble
“The Whole ‘Being Dead’ Thing, Pt. 3” – Beetlejuice†
“Dead Mom” – Lydia
“Fright of Their Lives” – Beetlejuice, Adam, Barbara and Ensemble
“Ready Set, Not Yet” (reprise) – Barbara and Adam
“No Reason” – Delia and Lydia
“Invisible” (reprise)/”On the Roof” – Beetlejuice
“Say My Name” – Beetlejuice, Lydia, Barbara and Adam
“Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” – Delia, Charles, Maxie, Maxine and Ensemble‡
Act II
“Girl Scout” – Skye
“That Beautiful Sound” – Beetlejuice, Lydia and Ensemble
“That Beautiful Sound” (reprise) – Beetlejuice and Ensemble†
“Barbara 2.0” – Barbara and Adam
“The Whole ‘Being Dead’ Thing, Pt. 4” – Beetlejuice†
“Good Old Fashioned Wedding” – Beetlejuice†
“What I Know Now” – Miss Argentina and Ensemble
“Home” – Lydia
“Creepy Old Guy” – Lydia, Adam, Barbara, Beetlejuice, Charles, Delia and Ensemble
“Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)” / “Dead Mom” (reprise) / “Home” (reprise) / “Day-O” (reprise) – Lydia, Barbara, Adam, Delia and Charles‡
BEETLEJUICE is based on the 1988 Academy Award®-winning Geffen Company motion picture presented by Warner Bros. and directed by Tim Burton. The smash hit comedy starred Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder with story by Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson.
Texas Performing Arts is the professional arts presenting and producing program of The University of Texas at Austin. One of the largest and most active university-based performing arts centers in the U.S., Texas Performing Arts is an anchor institution in Austin’s arts, cultural, and entertainment landscape. Texas Performing Arts operates venues on the UT campus including Austin’s largest theatre, the newly renovated Bass Concert Hall. Its public programs include Broadway in Austin; the Texas Welcomes series of national touring artists; and a curated season of international dance, theatre, music and more. Texas Performing Arts is an integral unit of UT’s College of Fine Arts and engages thousands of students across the university every year. In calendar year 2022, TPA sold 250,000 tickets serving as a popular gateway to campus. Following a national search, Tony Award-winning producer Bob Bursey was appointed Executive and Artistic Director in January of 2020.
Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office and Broadway Brands. Led by 20-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations includeDisney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and Hamilton. Current productions include &Juliet, Hadestown, Hamilton, Kimberly Akimbo, MJ: The Musical and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
