The entertainment industry is no stranger to the art of spinning stories anew. Movies like The Lion King, Mean Girls, and School of Rock have been pulled from the silver screen and turned into successful Broadway musicals, allowing fans the experience to see their favorite characters come to life on stage. As it often goes with adaptations, small revisions are usually made to the original stories in order to better fit the new medium. (After all, if you are going to change a movie into a musical, you at least have to add some new songs!) But what if a film was changed so much that it became nearly unrecognizable? Wouldn’t fans be outraged? A musical adaptation that almost completely breaks from its cinematic roots could not possibly be a smash hit, right?
Enter the case of Beetlejuice: The Musical. On paper, it should have been a complete failure. The idea to turn the quirky Tim Burton classic into a musical was probably laughed at when first suggested in the writers’ room, especially since doing so would require reinventing the entire plot and making Beetlejuice sing. Fans would surely storm down the street with pitchforks and torches if the executives ever approved of that. However, someone must’ve liked the idea, because now the musical exists—and people love it.
“‘Beetlejuice’[…]is a ghoulishly good time that pays loving homage to the mythology of the movie while fundamentally reorienting the story and lending it an unexpected punch of pathos,” Robert Russo from Stage Left writes. He isn’t the only one who feels this way, either. Fans, particularly from Gen Z, praise the show for its fun characters and catchy soundtrack.
Beetlejuice, the star of the production, is a black-and-white clad demon who steals the show the moment he steps onto the stage. Although he is an all-powerful being, he’s been cursed to remain trapped in the mortal world, unable to be seen or heard by anyone. He cannot utilize his magical abilities until a living human utters his name three times. Unlike in the movie, where this character only has 12 minutes of total screen time, the musical’s version of Beetlejuice is in almost every scene, which makes sense given the show is named after him. He keeps jokes rolling for the entire 2-hour runtime with ridiculous gags and pop culture references whilst simultaneously proving himself a worthy opponent to the protagonists. Alex Brightman, the actor who portrayed Beetlejuice in the original Broadway cast, put a unique spin on the role by utilizing a rare genetic mutation in his vocal chords to create a gravelly voice befitting for a millennium-old underworld creature. The bizarre nature of Beetlejuice’s antics delight audiences so much that they can not help but root for him despite his status as the story’s antagonist.
Although she was a relatively minor character in the original movie, Lydia Deetz has a much larger role in the theatrical adaptation—in fact, she is the protagonist. This change may shock fans of the film, but her expanded arc brings in a level of emotion that grounds the otherwise wacky plot line. As the curtain opens, Lydia (portrayed by Sophia Anne Caruso in the original cast) is at a funeral grieving the loss of her mother. Lydia feels like she is “invisible” to people who don’t understand her pain and wishes there was a way “for somebody to see [her].” She wants to honor her mom’s legacy because everyone else is indifferent, and this desire fuels her actions throughout the entire show. Lydia is a character with just the right amount of goth aesthetic, wittiness, and raw heartache to intrigue the audience and capture their sympathy.
Other characters, such Adam and Barbara Maitland (played by Rob McClure and Kerry Butler), Charles Deetz (played Adam Dannheisser), and Delia (played by Leslie Kritzer) round out the main cast and add to the fun. The show also has an ensemble of goofy side characters and hauntingly harmonic vocalists that make for an incredible experience.
Another aspect of the show worth mentioning is the soundtrack, written by Eddie Perfect. Much of the score leans into a sort of 80’s/90’s rock vibe while occasionally veering off into moving ballads that are perfect for singing in the shower. The two most popular songs—“Dead Mom” and “Say My Name”—have been shared repeatedly on video platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, contributing greatly to the success of the musical.
“Dead Mom” is a loud, powerful solo sung by Lydia near the top of the show. We, as the audience, get a glimpse into what her relationship with her (now deceased) mother may have looked like, allowing us to understand Lydia’s frustration and heartbreak in the present. Sophia Anne Caruso sings the song with the kind of raw emotion that can only be found in musical theater, beautifully portraying all the in’s and out’s of Lydia’s character. It’s impossible to hate her after she lays her heart out on the stage for all to see.
In the karaoke-worthy duet, “Say My Name,” Beetlejuice and Lydia come face to face for the first time. Beetlejuice begins the number with confidence, believing he can successfully manipulate Lydia into helping him break the curse he is currently under. He encourages her to say his name three times (remember—this is the only way for him to be set free) and promises her enticing rewards if she follows through. Halfway through the song, Lydia takes the lead and taunts Beetlejuice for his foolish behavior. She has the upper hand for the remainder of the song whilst Beetlejuice can only stand by, flabbergasted. From this point forward, Lydia and Beetlejuice begin an adversarial relationship that is intriguing to watch play out as the plot unfolds.
There is no better way to get into the Halloween spirit than to learn more about Beetlejuice. While the musical has sadly left Broadway, the official soundtrack can still be streamed on most music platforms. It’s truly a wonderful show that many people have poured their love into for several years. To miss out on this masterpiece is to miss out on a new pillar of pop culture. Yes, it differs from the original source material, but it still manages to tell a beautiful, hilarious story of friendship and family (and maniacal demons).
