This August, the musical adaptation of Tim Burton’s beloved, fan-favorite film Beetlejuice is coming to Salt Lake City, Utah! The iconic film made waves in 1998 and became a staple among fantasy horror fans. Thus, the musical adaptation, written by playwrights Scott Brown and Anthony King, hits the road this 2023 and will conquer the Eccles Theater from August 8 to 13, 2023! If you loved the film, you would surely enjoy this stage adaptation with a stellar cast and an award-winning creative team!
Beetlejuice tells the story of a deceased couple, Adam and Barbara Maitland, who try to haunt their old home, which is occupied by new, living inhabitants. The inhabitants include a young girl named Lydia, who’s grieving her mother’s (Emily Deetz) death and is neglected by her father, Charles. After trying to haunt the house with no acclaim, the couple sought the help of a demon/ghost called Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice can be summoned by calling out his name three times. Beetlejuice arrives and promises to help them adjust to the afterlife. Beetlejuice teaches the couple how to be scary through demonstration. But despite his best attempts, Beetlejuice failed to scare the couple. Beetle juice retreats to the attic to sulk. He is later found by Lydia, who he realizes can see him. What will happen to the Maitlands? Will they get their house back, or are they forced to live with the human inhabitants forever? Meanwhile, what would become of their fate now that Lydia can see Beetlejuice? Find out about this classic ‘80s epic horror comedy by scoring your tickets to see the musical at the Eccles Theater!
Beetlejuice is directed by Tony Award-winning director Alex Timbers while Australian songwriter Eddie Perfect wrote the music and lyrics. The musical’s story is based on the 1988 film of the same name, directed by acclaimed director Tim Burton and written by Michael McDowell and Warren Skaaren. In 2018, the musical had a trial run in Washington, D.C., where it opened at the National Theatre. One year later, the musical finally opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in spring. The initial Broadway run lasted only a year due to the pandemic, but it reopened in the spring of 2022 at the Marquis Theatre. This 2023, the musical is set to hit the road and go on a U.S. national tour.
This 2023, guests who will experience Beetlejuice the musical can look forward to a stellar cast. Award-wininng actor and writer Justin Collette play the role of Beetlejuice. Isabella Esler will make her professional debut as Lydia, while Britney Coleman and Will Burton will star as Barabara and Adam. The show is also spearheaded by an incredible creative team that includes David Korins on scenic design, William Ivey Long on costume, Kenneth Posner on lighting, and Peter Hylenski on sound, among others.
Unlike the film, where the title character doesn’t appear until much later in the story and has relatively little screen time, he’s front and center. But he’s no imperious god from “Hadestown” or philosophizing corpse-handler from “Gary.” In the role that Michael Keaton originated in the film, Alex Brightman (“School of Rock”) plays him like a raspy vaudevillian on crack: frenzied, shameless, audience-aware, and very funny as the living/dead embodiment of the uncensored id, while celebrating from the get-go what the show is about: Death. And more death. Laughing yet? – Frank Rizzo from Variety.
The musical garnered many positive reviews from professional critics. Rober Russo from Stage Left described the cast as “top-notch of first-rate comedians.” He added that the musical had “an unexpected punch” and a “ghoulishly good time.” Meanwhile, Frank Rizzo from Variety, who saw the Broadway show, commended the cast’s performance. “Alex Brightman plays him (Beetlejuice) like a raspy vaudevillian on crack.” He added that the character portrayal was frenzied, shameless, and audience-aware.” The Guardian’s Alexis Soloski expressed in his review that the musical “provides an enjoyable, silly night out.”
Indeed, if you are looking for an enjoyable night out with a musical worth your time, you must check out Beetlejuice at the Eccles Theater. Guests are guaranteed to have an incredible night of entertainment with the venue’s top-tier facilities and state-of-the-art light and sound technology. The 2,500-capacity theater, which was built in 2014 and opened two years later, has become one of Salt Lake City’s hottest entertainment destinations. The venue has hosted some of the biggest, most exciting musicals and concerts since opening in 2016!
Tickets to see Beetlejuice the musical at the Eccles Theater are now available! Score your passes now to see the devilish humor from the classic ‘80s film that scared and made us laugh at the same time!
An enjoyably silly night out – The Guardian.
Director Alex Timbers, book writers Scott Brown and Anthony King, Australian songwriter Eddie Perfect, and a top-notch cast of first-rate comedians have come together to craft a musical once in danger of being an overwrought retread of a beloved film (out-of-town reviews were devastating—and deservingly so) into a ghoulishly good time that pays loving homage to the mythology of “Beetlejuice” the movie while fundamentally reorienting the story and lending it an unexpected punch of pathos amid its crass and crude mania. – Robert Russo from Stage Left