Broadway’s Beetlejuice stage musical, based on Tim Burton’s 1988 horror comedy film of the same name, opened at the Winter Garden Theatre in April 2019. With music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect and book by Scott Brown and Anthony King, Beetlejuice aims to bring the beloved film about a rambunctious ghost named Beetlejuice to the Broadway stage.
So is Beetlejuice worth seeing on Broadway? The short answer is yes – Beetlejuice is a delightfully entertaining show that successfully captures the spirit of the original film. Fans of the movie will appreciate the musical’s faithfulness to the characters and plot, while the songs and technical elements add extra flair. The talented cast shines in their roles, especially Alex Brightman in the title role. While it has some flaws, Beetlejuice ultimately provides an evening of outrageous fun.
Story and Characters
The plot of Broadway’s Beetlejuice closely follows that of the original movie. It centers around a recently deceased couple, Adam and Barbara Maitland, who are stuck haunting their quaint New England home. When an obnoxious new family, the Deetzes, move in, the ghost couple enlist the help of a crass “bio-exorcist” named Beetlejuice to scare them away. But Beetlejuice’s haunted hijinks soon spiral out of control.
The musical features all the beloved characters from the film, including Lydia Deetz, the goth teenager who can see the ghosts, and Beetlejuice himself, a fast-talking con man of a ghost (played by Alex Brightman). While the characterization stays true to the movie, the musical expands on the characters’ backstories and motivations through song. For example, Beetlejuice gets a poignant solo about his isolation in the afterlife before meeting Lydia.
Fans of the movie will be pleased to see their favorite scenes recreated on stage, from the dinner party gone wrong to Beetlejuice’s outrageous wedding. The musical captures all the creepy, kooky, and ooky charm that made the movie a cult classic.
Music and Performances
One of the highlights of Beetlejuice on Broadway is the catchy musical score by Eddie Perfect. The songs run the gamut from comic showstoppers to emotional power ballads, with toe-tapping numbers like “The Whole Being Dead Thing” and “Say My Name.” Alex Brightman brings manic energy to his performance as Beetlejuice, stealing scenes with his wild facial expressions, physical comedy, and strong vocals.
Sophia Anne Caruso is excellent as the brooding Lydia, with a powerful rock belt that propels emotional songs like “Dead Mom.” Two-time Tony winner Rob McClure provides plenty of laughs as the hapless Adam Maitland, and Kerry Butler is delightful as the bubbly life coach Barbara. All in all, the cast seems to be having a blast in their roles.
While the songs don’t necessarily advance the plot, they capture the spirit of each character and provide entertaining interludes. The set pieces and aerial stuntwork during the musical numbers add an extra dose of supernatural magic. Overall, the performances and music make this stage adaptation feel truly larger than life.
Sets, Costumes, and Effects
From a technical standpoint, Beetlejuice features impressive set design, costumes, props, and special effects. The set by David Korins shifts seamlessly between locations like the Maitlands’ house, Netherworld, and Beetlejuice’s crazy miniature world. Korins incorporates clever transformations, like furniture and windows flipping around and set pieces moving across the stage via invisible wires.
The costumes by William Ivey Long perfectly capture the personalities of each character, from Beetlejuice’s grungy black-and-white suit to Lydia’s Edward Gorey-inspired dress. The hair and makeup design gives the living characters a natural look while turning the ghosts an eerie pale blue.
Plenty of props, puppets, and illusions add to the supernatural hijinks, including a giant sandworm and Beetlejuice’s detachable limbs. The lighting, sound, and projections create dynamic atmospheres for both the world of the living and dead. While not every effect goes off seamlessly, the visuals and stunts delight the eye.
Laughs and Scares
Staying true to the movie, Beetlejuice on Broadway has plenty of scares and laughs in equal measure. The ghostly encounters and creepy creatures provide frights for any timid audience members while younger fans likely won’t find it too scary. Yet the show never takes itself too seriously, balancing the spookier moments with outrageous comedy.
Alex Brightman’s Beetlejuice is hilarious with his crazy one-liners, lewd jokes, meta commentary, and physical gags. He breaks the fourth wall frequently, directly interacting with audience members for extra laughs. Supporting characters like the Maitlands and Lydia’s pretentious parents also get funny lines poking fun at the world of the living.
While all ages can enjoy the humor, some jokes cater specifically to adult audiences, with sexual innuendos and crass language. Parents might want to keep this in mind when considering bringing small children. For older teens and adults, the mature humor adds to the outrageous fun.
Weaknesses
Although Beetlejuice succeeds as an entertaining stage spectacle, it isn’t without some flaws. The main weakness of the show is that it relies heavily on the audience’s familiarity with the movie. Many jokes directly reference iconic lines and scenes that could confuse those new to the story. The plot also lags a bit in Act 2 when Beetlejuice is absent from the stage for an extended time.
Additionally, while the set design and effects are impressive, some technical elements look noticeably low budget, like visible wires and puppets lacking detail. The music, though catchy, isn’t particularly groundbreaking either. While energetic, the choreography by Connor Gallagher can feel a bit cluttered and chaotic at times.
These issues don’t detract too much from the fun overall, but they prevent the show from feeling like a masterpiece. Fans of the movie may be disappointed if they expect an exact replication of the beloved film. But taken as its own interpretation, the musical captures the cartoonish weirdness that makes Beetlejuice so endlessly watchable.
How It Compares to Other Movie Adaptations
As far as movie adaptations go, Beetlejuice follows the successful blueprint of shows like School of Rock, Legally Blonde, and Mean Girls. It stays loyal to the characters and basic plot points while expanding the story through songs. Compared to lackluster adaptations like Big Fish and Groundhog Day, Beetlejuice gets the tone and spirit of the original right.
It sits on the sillier end of the spectrum for movie musicals, more comparable to projects like Be More Chill than serious Oscar contenders like The Band’s Visit. The music and effects contribute to the supernatural ambiance rather than moving the drama forward. Still, the songs are arguably more memorable and cohesive than in other comedy-horror musicals like Evil Dead: The Musical.
Like Heathers, Beetlejuice has a devout cult following from the original movie that helps buoy the stage adaptation. But even those unfamiliar with the film can still appreciate the kooky comedy. In terms of production value and faithfulness to the source, Beetlejuice ranks among the better film-to-stage conversions.
Conclusion
For both diehard fans and new audiences, Beetlejuice provides an evening of outrageous supernatural hijinks, catchy songs, stunning visuals, and nonstop laughs. Alex Brightman is a riot as the manic title ghost, while Sophia Anne Caruso impresses as the moody Lydia. Though not a flawless masterpiece, the musical captures the weird and wild spirit of Tim Burton’s beloved 1988 film.
Minor flaws aside, Beetlejuice succeeds as an irreverent, laugh-out-loud comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The technical wizardry amazes without distracting from the story and characters. For those looking for a fun night at the theater that feels like a wild Halloween party, Beetlejuice offers a good time for fans of all ages. Its over-the-top moments and strong performances make it worth seeing on Broadway.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
So for fans of the movie eager to revisit these characters and world, and for those just seeking an evening of supernatural entertainment, fun, and laughter, Beetlejuice is worth seeing live at the Winter Garden Theatre. This raucous, irreverent musical will leave you feeling “strange and unusual,” in all the best ways.
Tickets and Lottery Options
Beetlejuice is currently performing at the Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway, New York, NY 10019). You can purchase tickets directly from the Beetlejuice website or ticket sellers like Ticketmaster.
Standard ticket prices currently range from:
- Rear Mezzanine: $69-99
- Mid Mezzanine: $99-129
- Front Mezzanine: $129-159
- Rear Orchestra: $129-199
- Mid Orchestra: $149-229
- Front Orchestra: $179-259
Premium seats go up to $349 for the best views. You can often find discounts on sites like TodayTix, Offerpad, and BroadwayBox that may lower prices 20-50% off. These discounted tickets are subject to availability.
Many Broadway shows, including Beetlejuice, also offer lottery and rush ticket options:
Lottery: A limited number of $49 seats are available through an online lottery system. You can enter the lottery 2.5 hours before each performance. Winners are notified 2 hours before showtime and have 1 hour to purchase.
Rush: A limited number of rush tickets are sold for $49 at the box office 2.5 hours before each performance. It’s first come, first served.
Check the Beetlejuice website for the most up-to-date lottery and rush policies to try scoring affordable last minute tickets.
Future of the Show
After receiving eight Tony nominations, Beetlejuice has cemented itself as a crowd-pleasing fixture on Broadway. It recently celebrated its 1,000th performance on Broadway and remains a hot ticket at the Winter Garden Theatre.
The original leads Alex Brightman, Sophia Anne Caruso, and Rob McClure have all departed the production after successful runs in their roles. However, Beetlejuice has continued thriving with replacement performers like Elizabeth Teeter as Lydia and Andrew Barth Feldman in the title role.
The Broadway production has expanded Beetlejuice into a global franchise. An Australian production is currently running, while South Korea, Italy, and Germany will all launch productions in 2023. The musical has proven it has staying power, with no signs of Broadway’s run closing anytime soon.
Fans hoping to see Alex Brightman’s original, Tony-nominated take on Beetlejuice may be disappointed, as he has confirmed his Broadway run is complete. However, the musical continues bringing explosive energy and outrageous fun to the stage even with new performers taking over the roles.
Given its popularity with audiences and ongoing international expansion, expect Beetlejuice to haunt the Winter Garden Theatre for years to come. This delightfully weird and wacky musical has cemented its place as a new Broadway classic.
